Our customers ask many questions about our products.  Some of the more common questions are listed here.  Most of these questions are related to our standard stock magnets which are Sintered Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnets.

What does the Grade of the magnet mean?

The grade of a magnet directly refers to the Maximum Energy Product of the material that composes the magnet. It in no way refers to the physical properties of the magnet. Simplistically, grade is generally used to describe how "strong" a permanent magnet material is. The energy product is specified in the units Gauss Oersted. One MGOe is 1,000,000 Gauss Oersted. A grade forty (N40) would have a Maximum Energy Product of 40 MGOe. The higher the grade the “stronger” the magnet.

What is the pull strength of your magnets?

Pull strength is a very subjective measure that is dependent upon many factors such as:

1. Type of material being pulled against;

2. Surface conditions;

3. Physical contact;

4. Magnet characteristics such as plating composition; and

5. Presence or absence of lateral and rotational forces.

All that being said, our 1 inch diameter by 1/8 inch thick plated Nd-Fe-B disc magnet will lift about 10lbs of ferrous steel under ideal conditions.

What is the Gauss of your magnets?

The Remanence of Grade 40 magnetic material has a maximum value of about 12,900 Gauss (1.29 Tesla). This measurement is an indication of the strength of the magnetic material not the individual magnet you are purchasing. The actual magnetic induction measured on the surface of a magnet using a gaussmeter is generally much less.

How long will a magnet stay magnetized?

Sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets will remain magnetized indefinitely. They experience a miniscule reduction in flux density over time. Generally the magnet will experience a degradation in its physical properties, such as corrosion, prior to it demagnetizing because of age. However, heat and high magnetic fields can demagnetize these magnets.

Will my magnets demagnetize if I heat them?

Yes, if you heat them beyond 170 degrees Fahrenheit (80 degrees Celsius) the magnets will quickly loose their magnetic properties. Sustaining these temperatures for a length of time or heating the magnet significantly higher than this will permanently demagnetize it.  Other types of magnets such as Samarium-Cobalt have higher heat resistance.  There are also other types of Nd-Fe-B magnets that are not as susceptible to heat induced flux degradation.

Can Nd-Fe-B magnets be drilled and machined?

Not easily or safely. Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets behave like a ceramic. They have tendency to crack and chip when drilled. Additionally, the powder produced when machining these magnets is flammable. Lastly, machining causes heat to build up in the magnet which may result in it being demagnetized.

Can magnets cure disease?

As far as we know, no one has definitively linked static magnetic field to the cure of any medical ailment. You should seek qualified medical assistance if you have a health problem.

Is it safe to take magnets on airplanes?

Yes and no. Magnets can affect the navigational equipment on an aircraft. Most single small magnets are not capable of significantly affecting these instruments from a moderate distance. The US Department of Transportation and the International Air Transport Association have set precise guidelines for the transport of magnets by air. If the magnets you are transporting exceed certain thresholds, they will be considered Class 9 Hazardous Materials and should only be placed on an aircraft by trained and certified personnel. We recommend that you keep all magnets on the ground and transport them by surface transport only.

I would like to get a single pole magnet?

They don’t exist. All magnets have two poles.