snjroy I have a love-hate relationship with magnetized screwdrivers. Mostly hate. When I need to get a small screw in a small, deep area, I put a dab of silicone on the head of the screw. When done, I just wipe it off. Losing a screw on a brass loco can be a major headache! Simon
I have a love-hate relationship with magnetized screwdrivers. Mostly hate. When I need to get a small screw in a small, deep area, I put a dab of silicone on the head of the screw. When done, I just wipe it off. Losing a screw on a brass loco can be a major headache!
Simon
I'm with you, no magnatized tools, I picked up some tweezers at one of the railroad shows and all were magnatized, it is a PITA to install grabs with those things, I have one good set of stainless tweezers that I end up using for installing grabs.
Also many of the screws are plastic or brass and having a magnatized screw driver is of no or little use.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
PC101 What, nobody has any Kadee between the track magnets laying around? in service or out of service. I also use those screw grabbers with two, three and four prongs, works great for any slotted or phillips screws.
What, nobody has any Kadee between the track magnets laying around? in service or out of service.
I also use those screw grabbers with two, three and four prongs, works great for any slotted or phillips screws.
I also use those screw grabbers with two, three and four prongs, works great to start or remove a screw that is already loose for any slotted or phillips screws.
Thanks JJF! I appreciate your comment and advice!
IDRick Wow, yesterday, I made quite the silly, off-the-cuff, uninformed comment about potentially retrieving a magnet from a broken microwave... As many pointed out, not a very bright idea nor necessary... Note to self, always do your research first to avoid looking foolish on forums, got it! I like the Wiha magnetizer but will look for a larger refrigerator magnet which would probably do the trick for me since I only want a short-term magnetized precision screwdriver. Spike, there is beryllium in microwaves. Take it up with the EHSS if you want to argue. Simon, thanks for the silicone tip, will certainly try that! Several suggested the Grabber tool, a really nice and handy tool. I have one ordered and should be shipped today! Have a great day everyone!
Wow, yesterday, I made quite the silly, off-the-cuff, uninformed comment about potentially retrieving a magnet from a broken microwave... As many pointed out, not a very bright idea nor necessary... Note to self, always do your research first to avoid looking foolish on forums, got it!
I like the Wiha magnetizer but will look for a larger refrigerator magnet which would probably do the trick for me since I only want a short-term magnetized precision screwdriver.
Spike, there is beryllium in microwaves. Take it up with the EHSS if you want to argue.
Simon, thanks for the silicone tip, will certainly try that!
Several suggested the Grabber tool, a really nice and handy tool. I have one ordered and should be shipped today!
Have a great day everyone!
HaHa. You did not look that foolish. But yes, absolutely more trouble than it would be worth. Microwaves are not something to be trifled with. As mentioned, the super capacitor could stop your heart. Let alone all of the toxic materials. Best of luck in all your endeavors. Happy railroading!
JJF
Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing.
Yesterday is History.
Tomorrow is a Mystery.
But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present.
I use those "grabbers" for tiny screws.
Mike.
My You Tube
I think Dave's right; the best way to 'magnetize' a fine screwdriver is to put a small magnet or magnetic ring on it. Any of the cheap NIB eBay magnets are likely to work if the screwdriver is magnetizable in the first place.
Some hex tools now come with a ring-shaped magnet attachment that makes the steel bits magnetic on demand. I suspect someone has already made a similar 'attachment' for micro-screwdriver/ratcheting screwdriver sets that use small bits.
I just used my ex-radio-cart demagnetizer on 60Hz power to get rid of residual magnetism in watch screwdrivers. Put the tool at the center of the coil, and with the power turned on, slowly move the tool out of the magnetic field.
Good god man! Open a magnetron! Just go to your local hardware store and buy a three dollar magnet! *grumble-grumble, young people, grumble-grumble, back when I was, grumble-grumble.
Magnetizing a screwdriver (or another tool) is easy. Demagnetizing is even easier.
To magnetize, stroke the tool with one pole of a magnet, always in the same direction. After a few strokes it will be magnetized.
To demagnetize, simply scrub the tool with the magnet. This will disorient the magnetic domains in the metal. There may be some residual magnetism left, but this method works, and doesn't require anything more than the magnet you used to magentize the tool in the first place.
Hi IDRick,
I don't think that you need anything as large as the magnet from a microwave or a hard drive. In fact, I think that just putting a magnet that large on your workbench would wreak havoc. Everything within six inches that is magnetic would immediately launch itself through space in the direction of the magnet. I'm no expert mind you, but I would be extremely wary of using a magnet that large.
All I use to temporarily magnetize my small screwdrivers is a neodymium cylindrical magnet about 1/8" dia. x 1/2" long, and it has plenty of pull. In fact, it is so strong that I have to be careful attaching it to the screwdriver shank because it is starting to chip from the force of its own impact.
That's just my opinion. Like I said, I am no expert.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Henry and Dave, thanks for the tip on the gripster, love it, on my list of items to purchase!
Mel, my friend, thanks for sharing your experience with the magnetizer, on my list too!
John, good thought, only have small refrigerator magnets, large enough for the job? Oh yeah, I have a microwave that gave up the ghost, should be magnets somewhere in there with a magnetron! Never been inside a microwave, anything to be concerned about? Been sitting in a dry storage shed for six months...
Update: Is it safe to open a magnetron?
I just put a small magnet on the shank of the screwdriver. It works fine for as long as the magnet is attached, and when the magnet is removed there is very little residual magnetism left in the screwdriver.
BigDaddyI picked up a tool that may have been a knock off of one of these, at a train show. It holds a screw well enough that you can make a couple turns and until the screw has purchase into the threads.
The tool that Henry suggested (above) works well for non-magnetic screws like stainless steel, brass and nylon. They will also grip small nuts and washers (getting the right grip on a washer can be tricky).
Brain cramp. I picked up a tool that may have been a knock off of one of these, at a train show.
It holds a screw well enough that you can make a couple turns and until the screw has purchase into the threads.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
IDRickI have some precision screwdrivers. could something like this be used to magnetize or demagnetize as needed? Wiha magnetizer
You could use that, or you could just get a magnet you may have laying around and magetize the screwdriver.
Demagnetizing a screwdriver is not as easy.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
The Wiha magnetizer works very good, the demagnetizer not so good. An old 110 volt transformer core works great to demagnetize tools. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California Turned 84 in July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
I have some precision screwdrivers. could something like this be used to magnetize or demagnetize as needed? Wiha magnetizer
Add in: I see Henry is suggesting that very process!
tstageWiha.
Wiha wasn't in the Urban Dictionary. but can't you just magnetize the screwdrivers you have now with a magnet?
Wiha.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
A magnetic screwdriver makes life a lot easier, especially with the many small screws with model railroading. What do you guys use for magnetic screwdrivers?