How do these Magnetizer/Demagnetizers work?

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  • čas přidán 16. 02. 2024
  • These cheap screwdriver magnetizer/demagnetizers are amazingly effective. In the video, we look at how to use them and how they actually work. And most importantly, solve the mystery about what the staircase in the demagnetizer section is actually for.
  • Věda a technologie

Komentáře • 691

  • @dr_jaymz
    @dr_jaymz Před 4 měsíci +703

    They are more effective than I judged they have a right to be. You'd expect the magnetizer to not really magnetize and the demagnetizer to not really demagnetize but what you get is something that is very effective at both. So its not transferring anything to the screwdriver, its just lining up existing magnetic domains within the steel or partially randomizing them. A very cool and handy piece of kit, even the super cheap ones.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +104

      Exactly what I thought - amazing little devices. I wish I knew who came up with the ingenious designs that so cheap and yet so effective.

    • @djmips
      @djmips Před 4 měsíci +13

      ​​​@@ElectromagneticVideos
      One should be able to make their own? - crudely or with a nice 3D printed case.

    • @5hirtandtieler
      @5hirtandtieler Před 4 měsíci +32

      @@djmipsTrue but this is probably one of the few things it’s cheaper to just buy lol - it’s hard to beat $3 at a local walmart or $1 on Temu, vs the costs for the pla, electricity, magnets, and your time

    • @5hirtandtieler
      @5hirtandtieler Před 4 měsíci

      ⁠@@ElectromagneticVideosThe earliest one I found was a patent in 1967 by Cloyd D Smith (US3467926A)!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +11

      @@djmips Yes - the hardest though would be to find a suitably shaped magnet.

  • @redblack9858
    @redblack9858 Před 4 měsíci +243

    The drawing was very helpful for understanding how the demagnetiser works.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +14

      I glad it helped - I always find a diagram makes things easier to understand or visualize.

    • @rogerwilco2
      @rogerwilco2 Před 2 měsíci +1

      Indeed.

  • @Petertronic
    @Petertronic Před 4 měsíci +163

    It seems so simple when the construction is revealed. I always wondered how these things worked.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +17

      I think I referred to it as "magical" in the video and it is! It did take a me a while to clue in what the steps were for.

    • @assasin19991999
      @assasin19991999 Před 3 měsíci +2

      The first thing I did, after seeing it work, was break it open 😅

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 3 měsíci +2

      @@assasin19991999 Its so intriguing its hard not to do that :)

  • @lloydprunier4415
    @lloydprunier4415 Před 4 měsíci +186

    I bought one of those and found it really works. Didn't get detailed instructions on how to use it. Now I know thanks to your posting this. Thanks for your help!

  • @trueriver1950
    @trueriver1950 Před 3 měsíci +4

    5:58 this is where Technology Connections would cite "by the magic of buying two of them..."

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 3 měsíci +2

      Your not the first one who pointed out I was negligent in not saying that :)

  • @whatthehell2592
    @whatthehell2592 Před 4 měsíci +65

    Had one for decades but never knew it worked that fast and didn’t know about the stairs. Always just left it in over night not knowing. Thanks.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +15

      Your welcome! Others have thought that running it though the magnetize section a few times would help. Its too bad most or all don't come with instructions.

  • @BasedBidoof
    @BasedBidoof Před 4 měsíci +48

    I have wondered how these work. I debated buying one just to open up, but I wasn't that curious. Glad you made this video

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +9

      Glad I did - seems like I save a number of these gizmos from being chopped up!

  • @IanSebryk
    @IanSebryk Před 4 měsíci +57

    been using these things for decades and i never really considered WHY. thank you so much! :D

  • @Snargfargle
    @Snargfargle Před 4 měsíci +20

    Nice explanation of how these devices work. I taught biology in college and would have loved it had I been able to put together such a nice, concise lesson. Usually I just rambled around a topic until my students either figured it on their own or were totally lost.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +6

      One trick which you dont have in a classroom is the ability to edit! You wouldnt believe how much stuff I edit out!

  • @fourtwizzy
    @fourtwizzy Před 4 měsíci +28

    I’ve literally always wondered what they point for the stairs were. I thought it could be just a quick visual indicator of what side you were about to use.
    Now I need to go try this myself! Thanks! 😊

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +8

      I few other people have said that and I think its secondary purpose is as an easy indicator. Really good ergonomics from that standpoint.

  • @bertiesworld
    @bertiesworld Před 4 měsíci +18

    I was given one of these way back in the '90's. First time I used, it was a wow moment. Pretty clever device that doesn't cost the earth..

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +2

      I have been wondering when these devices first appeared - so thanks to you I now know they were available in the 90s. Will be interesting to see if anyone mentions having one earlier than that.

    • @BusyElectrons
      @BusyElectrons Před 4 měsíci

      @@ElectromagneticVideos I bought one in the first half of the 2000's, but was aware of their existence about 5 years or so prior. That puts my earliest spotting of them in the latter half of the 1990's, coinciding with the account of @bertiesworld .

  • @robinw9118
    @robinw9118 Před 4 měsíci +37

    Really excellent video, thank you for this clear explanation. About 5 years ago, I bought a screwdriver set with one of these magnetic devices built into the storage rack, and until 15 minutes ago had no idea how to use it! I'm off to the garage NOW to try it 😄
    Thanks again, I've liked and subscribed!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      Well thank you so much! It is an intriguing little device with way more clever magnetics than one might at first expect.
      So glad you subscribed - I really appreciate it - always important for a small channel. Hope you enjoy some of my old - and future videos!

  • @djmips
    @djmips Před 4 měsíci +22

    It would be nice if you used your detector on the screwdriver during the last demonstration with the disassembled demagnetizer. Thanks so much for actually taking apart the demagnetizer!!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +16

      You know, its always a struggle as to how long - or short to make a video, and the youtube audience seems to have a short attention span. So unfortunately many things that could be in it get left out .... Glad you like seeing the actual inside of the device!

  • @itsJoshW
    @itsJoshW Před 4 měsíci +41

    I use that exact kind of one every time I use a new screwdriver. I love it lol.

  • @CocoaBeachLiving
    @CocoaBeachLiving Před 4 měsíci +10

    I use one of these for my work fixing/ servicing laser printers/ MFDs in an enterprise environment and this simple device makes my work a lot less stressful!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      Interesting - never thought about it but the laser printers etc you work on are probably the most mechanically intricate piece of equipment used in homes and offices. With all the screws and tiny parts I can imagine how this little device would be useful for that.

  • @myboringdesktop
    @myboringdesktop Před 4 měsíci +17

    Very cool explanation. Maybe including one of those jars of oil with iron filings in them to show the fields around the tool would make the fields even more apparent.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +8

      Yes! Someone even pointed out that you can now get an even easier to use variant of that which is somehow made into a green flexible sheet. Next time!

  • @bradarmstrong3952
    @bradarmstrong3952 Před 4 měsíci +43

    Clear, informative, concise -- well presented! I learned everything one needs to know about this device -- thanks!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      Thanks so much! Glad you found the video useful!

    • @Im-BAD-at-satire
      @Im-BAD-at-satire Před 4 měsíci

      Agree here, it gives the information you need in a straightforward and direct manner.
      Though,
      I wouldn't be disrespectful towards those who prefer a different video style since it'll come down to viewer preference.

  • @ayumuchan3541
    @ayumuchan3541 Před 2 měsíci +3

    i have actually never seen those, i didn't even know they existed! Now i know i need one.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 2 měsíci +1

      I'm sure my videos has inadvertently resulted in sales of thousands of these devices - to bad I don't get a royalty :) . They are so cheap and so useful to have its well worth picking up one if you happen to see one in a hardware store.

    • @ayumuchan3541
      @ayumuchan3541 Před 2 měsíci +1

      @@ElectromagneticVideos the only way i knew to magnetized something is to keep rubbing a magnet over and over (not so different from device), or wrap a coil around object and tap it to a car battery which is not always possible. To demagnetized i had no other way unless to super heat the object, again not always possible, this device makes all that easy!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 2 měsíci

      @@ayumuchan3541 Yes! I really take my hat off to whoever came up with with such a simple mechanism to do it - particularity the demagnetizing part!

  • @anuj68
    @anuj68 Před 2 měsíci +2

    If I understand correctly, passing the screwdriver over the magnet at those three different heights, in that order, puts the iron of the screwdriver in a close-to-random configuration. The closer to random it is, the less iron shavings it picks up. The goal of the device is to take a magnetized piece of iron and make it as random as possible while keeping the cost of material low and the procedure quick and easy to reproduce. This device accomplishes both objectives well!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 2 měsíci +2

      You described it better than I did! What a perfect summary!
      If your interested in a more detailed look at demagnetization, which is normally done with an AC magnetic field field that is gradually lowered (and is similar to what happens during each pass of the screwdriver) , I did a video going into more detail a while back: czcams.com/video/mGK8oYdEqyE/video.html

  • @justinbuddy56
    @justinbuddy56 Před 4 měsíci +8

    Really appreciated this video, so I figured I’d leave this comment to hopefully help this video in the CZcams algorithm.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +2

      Thank you so much!!!!! Yes - leaving comments really helps - really appreciate you - and everyone one else who comments - doing that!

  • @Chocomint_Queen
    @Chocomint_Queen Před 4 měsíci +3

    When I was in school, we did this with bare magnets; stroke a magnet longways down the shaft, physically touching, to magnetize, stroke through the air further and further away to demagnetize. Basically the same principle, but without a gadget.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      Yes - exactly! I vividly remember doing that in school too. Seemed amazing at the time. And it sort of still is!

  • @cbremer83
    @cbremer83 Před 3 měsíci +2

    I used to do oilfield work and one of our tools used the same principle to locate pipe collars in the casing. A CCL or Casing Collar Locator. The main bit of it was two magnets with the same pole facing each other vertically. Between them a coil of wire. The fields hit each other and go straight out a ways radially around the tool. As the tool moved through the well casing, any metal changes in the field induced a current in the coil. Like the mass change where two pipes are screwed together. That then went to the surface via a cable would register on computer software and as raw kicks on a meter directly attached to the line. This device is attached to every tool we ran down hole.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 2 měsíci

      That's fascinating - what a clever way to detect a discontinuity in the casing.
      When I was a student I had a magnetics Prof who designed pigs to go down oil pipes and magnetically look for problems. I wonder if that how the pigs did it too?

    • @cbremer83
      @cbremer83 Před 2 měsíci +1

      @@ElectromagneticVideos not sure on the pigs. Never worked on the pipelines. I always worked on the pads. Did what is called wireline. We ran anything from scientific and diagnostic tools to cutters and explosives. And plugs as well. A lot of the scientific stuff was to correlate our logs with drilling logs. For example, we would do cement bond logs on the casing. An acoustic tool that clicked kinda like sonar. The reflections off the casing would chart out on a plot. Showing the general constitution of the material behind the casing pipe. Generally a layer of concrete and then rock formations. Along with that tool was a gamma ray spectrometer and the CCL. The gama tool just reads the gamma radiation in the ground and can then give pretty detailed plots of the rock formations. Mainly detecting hydrocarbon deposits. But many things affect it. That log, along with CCL are used to verify and correlate out well logs with the drilling logs. Basically make sure our squiggly lines match theirs at any given depth. It gets a fair bit deeper, but this comment is probably too long already.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 2 měsíci

      @@cbremer83 It is amazing how hi-tech oil exploration and production is. Not sure of Schlumberger is still around, but way back in the 80s they would show up at my old university around graduation time and hire anyone who had taken the signal processing, electromagnetics and similar courses. I can sure see why fro what you describe.
      Never heard of the gamma tool either - fascinating!

  • @DavidPlayfair
    @DavidPlayfair Před 4 měsíci +9

    I've had one of these for many years and never really understood how, exactly, it worked.
    It just did!
    Many thanks for showing me. :)

  • @mazinz2
    @mazinz2 Před 4 měsíci +8

    Never even heard of such a device like this before. It’s pretty awesome and I wouldn’t mind having one here in the house. Plenty of times when I had to try and keep very small screws on a screwdriver which was not magnetic. This would solve that issue

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +2

      Most hardware stores and online retailers have them ranging in price from $3 to $20. I used the $3 or $4 ones. Well worth having one at that price!

  • @sunnyjim1355
    @sunnyjim1355 Před 3 měsíci +2

    My first experiment with magnatism (even though I wasn't aware of it as such at the time) was as a very small child, when I put a magnet onto the screen of our home CRT colour television. So enraptured was I by the effect (all those pretty colours in rainbow arcs) that I drew attention to the spectacle to my mother, who told me to 'stop doing that immediately' - I'm paraphrasing.
    😂

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 3 měsíci

      Ha! Me too actually. But both you and me were lucky - one commenter did the same but either had too strong a magnet or held it too close and apparently permanently magnetized the some part of the tube (shadow mask maybe?). Apparently none of the TV repair shops could fix the color shift and the TV had to be replaced - oops!

  • @steventhomas4499
    @steventhomas4499 Před měsícem +1

    This wasn't just a great explanation of how it works, it was a perfect walkthrough of the thought process of how to figure out how it works

  • @atklm1
    @atklm1 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I have precisely the same magnetizer, and I always wondered what's the function of those stairs. Now I know, thanks.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před měsícem +1

      Your welcome! I took me a while to figure out the purpose of the steps. I suspect decades ago there was an instruction manual with the first version of the device describing how to use it, but somehow over time that information got forgotten.

  • @BeingRomans829ed
    @BeingRomans829ed Před měsícem +1

    Thank you. I always assumed there was more to these little tools than that. Looked up my old mag'r/dem'r and used it with new understanding. Mine does not have the steps, but rather, has a "D" shaped demag area with the curve facing downwards. Magn'tzd a driver, then put it in the demag at the bottom and slid it up to the top while withdrawing and it worked perfectly.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před měsícem +1

      Your welcome! I haven't come across one like you describe, but it sound like a similar process - gradually reducing a changing magnetic field as the screwdriver is pulled though the demagnetizer. I'll have to keep my eyes ope for one like you describe!

  • @ThriftyToolShed
    @ThriftyToolShed Před 4 měsíci +5

    I have shown using these handy devices many times on my bench and it's really great to see inside and learn the science behind it. Excellent video as always! I Enjoyed it! Thanks.

  • @HeAndHimStudios
    @HeAndHimStudios Před 4 měsíci +4

    This is a clever device for how simple it is! I could sort of deduce how the magnetizer half worked, but I was totally stumped by the demagnetizer until you explained it.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      I couldn't agree more! I was baffled by the demagnetizer - and even after figuring it out, the staircase was a mystery -even after googling it. Took me a while to clue in that it was mimicking an AC demagnetizer as discussed here czcams.com/video/mGK8oYdEqyE/video.html

  • @chairman-jenkem-yogurt
    @chairman-jenkem-yogurt Před 4 měsíci +6

    Informative! This reminds me of the AC powered tape head degausser wand/tool I bought years ago. The instructions were that the tip of the degausser was to be moved away from the tape heads slowly. The steps on that magnetizer/demagnetizer block make sense now.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +6

      I have an AC powered bulk tape degausser and also one for CRTs - very similar in terms of moving away slowly. I did a video on that if you interested: czcams.com/video/mGK8oYdEqyE/video.html

  • @cillianennis9921
    @cillianennis9921 Před 4 měsíci +3

    I have seen a video on this before but the guy kinda ignored the stairs saying they where just a design thing but you've given a far better developed version of that explanation thank you.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +2

      Your welcome! To be fair - its not obvious how the steps could be of use given they are non-magnetic plastic and none of these devices seem to come with proper instructions. It did take me a while to clue in that it was much like the operation of an AC powered demagnetizer: pulling the screwdriver out of the hole makes a AC-like rotating magnetic field, and moving up the steps makes that AC field reduce in strength for each cycle. If you want to see how a AC demagnetizer works, I did a video on it a while back: czcams.com/video/mGK8oYdEqyE/video.html

  • @garymucher4082
    @garymucher4082 Před 4 měsíci +5

    Some times the more simplest things really do amazing jobs very well... Thumbs Up!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      I couldn't have said that better myself. An amazingly ingenious little device!

  • @TheOtherBill
    @TheOtherBill Před 4 měsíci +2

    I've seen these things around for so many years but never used one. Great explanation of how they work.
    YT showed this vid as a recommendation and after watching it I watched your about vid on your home page. You now have a new subscriber! Now I have some catch up binging to do.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      Hi Bill, welcome aboard! So glad you subscribed - hope you enjoy some of my old upcoming videos!

  • @fu1r4
    @fu1r4 Před 4 měsíci +6

    The only way to really demagnetize a tool is to use a coil from an old solenoid valve. You only have about 30 seconds to do it because the coil will get hot, but i guarantee you that it will be totally demagnetize. 😁

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +3

      Yes! This gizmo does a decent job but an AC field is really the way to do it. I did a video on that here: czcams.com/video/mGK8oYdEqyE/video.html

  • @DarkKingdomBlade
    @DarkKingdomBlade Před 3 měsíci +2

    You're a wonderful teacher! Thank you!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 3 měsíci

      Thank you so much! Thais what I am aiming for in this channel - to explain things in an understandable way!

  • @commandoconstruction2720
    @commandoconstruction2720 Před 3 měsíci +1

    I like the tool. It has worked for me. Thanks for breaking down the concept, and cutting into it!

  • @MyProjectBoxChannel
    @MyProjectBoxChannel Před 4 měsíci +2

    I feel like you could of mentioned the difference it makes if you have a hardened steel, from the screwdriver, vs untempered soft steel, on magnetization. PS I love the simplicity of the device. Thanks for the explanation👍

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      I get your point - but I'm sure you have also found that it is always a tough call as to what to put in a video and what to leave out. I find that the attention span of the general youtube audience is such that often keeping things to a minimum is better and so I purposely left out the aspects of different magnetic materials.
      A while back I did do a couple videos about magnetization in case your interested:
      Magnetizing: czcams.com/video/S21rlwrY74I/video.html
      DeMagentizing: czcams.com/video/mGK8oYdEqyE/video.html
      Just looked at your channel (actually just subscribed). see your from the UK. Regards from Canada!

    • @MyProjectBoxChannel
      @MyProjectBoxChannel Před 4 měsíci +1

      @@ElectromagneticVideos I know what you mean, I have definitely made the made mistake of adding too much information in my older videos🤔. It's finding the right balance of getting your message across(and keeping attention spans) without compromising too much. Thanks for subscribing👍😉

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      @@MyProjectBoxChannel Yeah - you wouldn't believe how much stuff I cut out of the final video before publishing. Well actually you probably do :) Anyway, looking forward to watching some of your videos!

  • @WolfardTheFurry
    @WolfardTheFurry Před 4 měsíci +2

    I have some speaker magnets on my bench and i use them to magnetize my screwdrivers, and it works like a charm!❤

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      You cant beat speaker magnets - they are some of the best - probably work better than the gizmo in the video too.

  • @nudebaboon4874
    @nudebaboon4874 Před 4 měsíci +5

    I have a identical one, very handy.
    Thanks for clearing up the mystery.

  • @christopherismcaceas4868
    @christopherismcaceas4868 Před 4 měsíci +3

    Had problems demagnetizing completely . Now I know. Thanks alot. Others say that stairs doesn't do anything because it's empty inside and just for show. ;D That's youtube for you

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      In fairness to other youtubers , these devices don't seem to have instructions on how to use them, and to deduce why the staircase is needed does take a bit more than an elementary under standing of magnetics, although its pretty simple once you understand it.
      Hope this solves your demagnetization issues. If not, see if you can find an old AC powered bulk tape demagnetizer which should be able to an even better job.

    • @christopherismcaceas4868
      @christopherismcaceas4868 Před 4 měsíci +1

      Just tried and this simple stairs solution helps. Sometimes it takes a couple of times but definitely works :)

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      @@christopherismcaceas4868 I found the same thing - I think it has a lot to do with positing the screwdriver just right for each step. If it dips down towards the magnet it can re-magnetize itself. Not a perfect device, but amazingly effective for its simplicity.

  • @Human_Taxidermist
    @Human_Taxidermist Před 2 měsíci +1

    This is awesome! I've been wondering about this exact thing for years. Thank you.

  • @madaknevarski6478
    @madaknevarski6478 Před 4 měsíci +5

    I have one of those exact magnetiser/demagnetisers, I always wanted to know, How? Now I know and understand how they work, thanks for that.

  • @Sean_but_Not_Heard
    @Sean_but_Not_Heard Před 4 měsíci +2

    I really appreciate this! I acquired one of these many years ago in a box of tools, and I’ve never really played with it..

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      Glad you liked the video. Those little devices are great to have in a toolbox for that one time you need to pick up hard to reach screw, or for that matter when a screwdrivers is annoyingly magnetized.

  • @opeltulikylkee7479
    @opeltulikylkee7479 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Very informative video! The drawn picture really helped me understand how it worked. I may never use this information but hey, now I have it.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 2 měsíci

      Thanks! Yes - sometimes its just nice knowing even without an actual use of the knowledge!

  • @asharpiesniffer7553
    @asharpiesniffer7553 Před 4 měsíci +18

    your voice is very relaxing and this video was very informative. thank you!

  • @jhonwask
    @jhonwask Před 23 dny +1

    Very nice magnetic field diagram and explanation.

  • @Rafael4
    @Rafael4 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Very detailed and high quality content! Thank you!

  • @1asdfasdfasdf
    @1asdfasdfasdf Před 4 měsíci +3

    As a teen in the 70's I remember my dad using his Weller soldering gun to magnetize his screwdrivers. He would wrap several loops of copper wire around a broom handle and connect the ends to the gun. Remove the broom handle, pull the trigger, slide the screw driver inside the coil, and voilà the tool was magnetized. I wonder if your magnetizer tool existed back then!? 🤔

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +3

      What a neat memory. The trick with magnetizing things that way is to turn the gun off while the AC field is at its peak so it leaves a string field in the screwdriver. Leave it on and pull the screwdriver away gradually and you can demagnetize the the screwdriver. I did a video that includes a Weller soldering gun doing just that here: czcams.com/video/mGK8oYdEqyE/video.html
      You know, I would be so interested to know when someone invented this little device. My guess is 1960s is the earliest it could have been developed because thats when plastics became in widespread use making it simple to manufacture. If anyone knows when they first appeared, or what company made the first one, please post!

  • @franklinshepardinc
    @franklinshepardinc Před 3 měsíci +1

    i really love the way you say "again"! thanks for a super informative video

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 3 měsíci

      Canadian pronunciation maybe? Or maybe a mish-mash of various English accents - when I was a kid my dad was posted to various foreign countries so I went to a variety English speaking schools and used to have an accent half way between Canadian/US/British/South African English. Anyway, glad you liked the video!

  • @allen-simpson
    @allen-simpson Před 4 měsíci +3

    Had one of these stuck to the inside of my supply cabinet for years. Lifesaver

  • @tenlittleindians
    @tenlittleindians Před 4 měsíci +3

    I got a demagnetizer that's over a hundred years old. It's a watchmakers tool. It's a coil of wire in a case with a switch that looks like a telegraph key to pulse it on.
    You can really feel the pull of the magnetic field when you pulse the switch with something metal such as a file inside the coil.
    This pull is probably where guys got the idea to build magnetic pulse guns.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +2

      What a cool vintage piece of equipment!
      I did a video on coil type demagnetizers a while back in case your in interested: czcams.com/video/mGK8oYdEqyE/video.html

    • @tenlittleindians
      @tenlittleindians Před 4 měsíci

      @@ElectromagneticVideos Look up "Vintage South Bend pocket watch demagnetizer" with a Google image search and you will see models like mine. They go for around $100 bucks as antiques these days.

  • @MichaelCowden
    @MichaelCowden Před 4 měsíci +2

    Thank you, Dr. Jones! I need to get one of those!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      I put the one I didn't hack apart in my toolbox. Well worth the few $ next time you are in a hardware store!

  • @Nianna_W
    @Nianna_W Před 4 měsíci

    Absolutely incredible video. Thank you!

  • @TroyCenter
    @TroyCenter Před 3 měsíci +1

    I’ve used these for decades. Great tool! It works!

  • @ElectricLumens
    @ElectricLumens Před 4 měsíci

    Thank you for this video. I'm now trying to visualise what the inside of my Wera Star one looks like. It doesn't have any holes in it like the normal types.
    I also see that you are taking the time to reply to everyone's comments. I think that's excellent!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      I had to google Wera Star - never seen that before! I'll have to get one (or two) and figure it out sometime. Like the one in this video, its not obvious how it works but will probably be obvious once its taken apart.
      I always try and answer comments - I appreciate when people take the time comment. And - as in your comment - there is often something really interesting in them. Its actually turned out to be fun. So thank you for commenting!

  • @iffyfox9749
    @iffyfox9749 Před 4 měsíci +20

    You cant fool me, magnets are just magic

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +3

      And this gizmo sure proves it :)

    • @curtisyue182
      @curtisyue182 Před 3 měsíci +1

      "Fuckin' magnets, how do they work?"
      -ICP 2010

    • @sirbilliam3455
      @sirbilliam3455 Před 3 měsíci

      ​@@curtisyue182 beat me to it, damnit

    • @thegenericnerd3189
      @thegenericnerd3189 Před 2 měsíci

      Electromagnetism as a whole is just magic we understand. It's got some awesome powers.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 2 měsíci

      @@thegenericnerd3189 It sure does some magical things! Sadly because of its complexity, Maxwell never got know they way Newton or Einstein did after figuring out the classical theory behined it.

  • @eamonia
    @eamonia Před 3 měsíci

    Cool. I always wondered _exactly_ how these things worked. I understood he concept but never fully understood how exactly the tool was interacting with the magnetic field. Thanks, buddy.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 3 měsíci

      Your welcome! Its really quite advanced magnetics that your wouldn't expect to find in such simple little thing.

  • @rmbritton
    @rmbritton Před 4 měsíci +2

    Oh.. I should have taken one of these apart myself.. Woot! thanks for sharing

  • @TheReal1953
    @TheReal1953 Před 4 měsíci +13

    Amazing! Had one of these for years on my hobby bench inside and although I figured out how to magnetize by fooling around, I had never been that successful demagnetising. I've never taken the gizmo seriously, so thanks for the explanation!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +7

      Glad I was of help! To demagentize well you have to be careful to pull the screwdriver out all the way each step, and then insert it one step up. If its slips down when inserting, repeat at that step and the move up.

  • @scottthomas3792
    @scottthomas3792 Před 4 měsíci +3

    I have seen those in stores, but never tried one. At my last job, we had an old ballast from a streetlight connected directly to 120 vac , with a momentary contact switch. If you were quick enough, you could magnetize with it. Hold the switch down and slowly move the screwdriver out of the coil to demagnetize...
    If I see one of the gizmos you demonstrated, I'm going to get one and experiment with it...
    Well done video.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      Thanks!
      How neat - what a great example of magnetizing and demagnetizing .
      If its of interest to you, I did some videos a while back on how things get magnetized: czcams.com/video/S21rlwrY74I/video.html and demagnetized: czcams.com/video/mGK8oYdEqyE/video.html with a lot of similarity to what you describe.
      Keep an eye open for one of those devices - some people even reported getting them free as part of some promotion!

  • @Mikej1592
    @Mikej1592 Před 4 měsíci +1

    awesome! one lifelong mystery solved, thanks.

  • @kerrygibbs8198
    @kerrygibbs8198 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Excellent explanation. I like the demonstrations. The drawing was helpful in me understanding!!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      Thanks! I always feel is picture is worth a thousand words - although I do wish I had fancier graphics sometime!

  • @LPMutagen
    @LPMutagen Před 3 měsíci +2

    I have one of these but the markings wore off of it a long time ago and I had forgotten which one was mag and demag. I also never knew what the stairs were for. Much appreciated explanation.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 3 měsíci +1

      You must have an old one! So far, I have not found out when the stairs first appeared - looks like the original did not have them. Its too bad that none seem to have an explanation of what the stairs are for.

  • @danielr.schafer9504
    @danielr.schafer9504 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Great job, I’ve wondered about this for a while!

  • @palokyu9891
    @palokyu9891 Před 2 měsíci +2

    You’re voice is so soothing, it’s making me sleepy in good way

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 2 měsíci

      Someone else said that :) Not sure if that's good if it puts people to sleep before the end of the video!

  • @jublywubly
    @jublywubly Před 4 měsíci +1

    Thanks for making this video. I learned a lot. 🙂

  • @vortexgen1
    @vortexgen1 Před 4 měsíci +1

    I knew this worked just didn't know how it worked, very cool. Thanks.

  • @TimPiggott
    @TimPiggott Před 4 měsíci +1

    Really clear and logical. Thanks for explaining ❤

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      Your very welcome! Glad you found it clear and logical - thats what I always try for!

  • @joegee2815
    @joegee2815 Před 4 měsíci +1

    I keep one of these near my desk/workbench. Very handy indeed.

  • @DaiBaNANA
    @DaiBaNANA Před 3 měsíci +1

    Had been wondering about this, thank you for the wonderful explanation!

  • @douggiles7647
    @douggiles7647 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Awesome video, very informative and all facts with no filler! I subscribed in hopes of seeing more great content like this.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      Thank you so much - so glad you liked it! I always try and present things much in the way you describe. The general theme of this channel is to make things understandable without the science and math background that would normally needed. Hope you enjoy my future - and old - videos!

  • @jamese9283
    @jamese9283 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Excellent video. I will be buying one!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      If you can, test it in the store. A small number of people have reported getting one that didn't work, sometimes missing magnets. I suspect for the low prices these things sell for, quality control is minimal!

  • @erigobelli
    @erigobelli Před 3 měsíci +1

    Thano you kind sir, for sharing your knowledge!

  • @LotusFlowerrr
    @LotusFlowerrr Před 3 měsíci +1

    I didn't even know this product existed. Thanks, man. You earned my sub, bell and like. Keep up the great content

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 3 měsíci +1

      Thank you so much! I really appreciate every subscription and like and it does help the channel greatly. Hope you enjoy some of my previous and future videos!

  • @dgassee
    @dgassee Před 4 měsíci +2

    Great video !!! I always wondered how they actually worked on the inside. I had maybe a very vague guess, but I didn’t think it was that simple. The diagram really illustrated it clearly.
    As I started watching the video, I thought: “he should get one of those green nanoparticle sheets that show magnetic fields” but then I saw the probe which is fantastic. I’d never seen one like it and was going to ask where it was from but then saw the link you posted on another comment.
    In any case, thank you so much for taking the time to make an original educational video about this ubiquitous little device.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      Woe - I had not seen those green magnetic field display sheets - just googled - will definitely have to get one! There used to be viewers to see the field on magnetic tape for editing, probably a similar device.
      Glad you found the link to the magnetic probe - here it is again in case anyone else needs it www.indigoinstruments.com/magnets/accessories/magnetic-force-3d-compass-magnaprobe-44702.html
      Glad you liked the video. I enjoyed figuring out this neat little device!

  • @esmfamil3929
    @esmfamil3929 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Thanks a lot for your nice explanation .

  • @TommyCullen-VacuumConnisour
    @TommyCullen-VacuumConnisour Před 2 měsíci +1

    Good video that mate, you have a good voice and demeanor for youtube videos like this.

  • @BigBadRanch
    @BigBadRanch Před 4 měsíci +1

    this was a midnight thought as I was trying to sleep just a few days ago. thanks boss

  • @earthstewardude
    @earthstewardude Před 4 měsíci

    How exciting! I'm going to buy a bunch of these and hand them out to my friends!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      Try one first - apparently some manufacturers versions of them don't work that well. And it doesn't seem to correlate to cost - the two I got were the $3 or $4 ones- the cheapest and worked fine.

  • @duncathan_salt
    @duncathan_salt Před 4 měsíci

    First got one of these at Princess Auto in the clearance aisle when I was about ten years old. I was mystified. Lovely to see the mechanism broken down like this

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      I just looked - they still have it! Funnily the Canadian Tire website also has one - with the magentize and demagnetize labels flipped. Next time I'm in the store will have to see if the real devices also have the labels wrong.
      Glad you enjoyed the video!

  • @BliffleSplick
    @BliffleSplick Před 4 měsíci +2

    There are "papers" that show magnets - they're often green, some of the "smart" magnets are fascinating!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      Someone else mentioned that and I googled it. Will definitely have to get some. Thanks for pointing it out.

  • @PajamaPantsStudios
    @PajamaPantsStudios Před 4 měsíci +1

    This is fascinating! Thank you for making this video for us

  • @kabongpope
    @kabongpope Před 4 měsíci +2

    Very cool video! Sometimes simplest is best when the physics behind it is sound.

  • @LarryKapp1
    @LarryKapp1 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Nice video - I have one of those I picked up somewhere , not sure I have ever even used it yet but will !

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      Thats it for sure - and maybe how they are marketed - cheap enough to grab knowing sometime maybe way in the future it will make some impossible task easy.

  • @jarekdomanski7985
    @jarekdomanski7985 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Awesome! Thank You very much for this video.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      Glad you found it "Awesome"!

    • @jarekdomanski7985
      @jarekdomanski7985 Před 4 měsíci +1

      ​@@ElectromagneticVideos Your knack for breaking down complex concept into simple, clear visuals is impressive and incredibly helpful. That's what makes this video truly 'awesome' :) Have nice day!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      @@jarekdomanski7985 Wow - thank you so much! That's exactly what I try and do on this channel - make things understandable without the need for years of background science and math. Have a nice day too!

  • @michaelslee4336
    @michaelslee4336 Před 4 měsíci +3

    Had a mate come around and he grabbed a tool out of my drawer and saw my mag/demag tool. I told what it did but he simply wouldn’t believe me. I showed him and his mind was deadset blown. Hilarious.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      Thats funny. But it sure shows how amazing this type of little device is!

    • @michaelslee4336
      @michaelslee4336 Před 4 měsíci +1

      @@ElectromagneticVideos
      Sorry, I forgot to say thanks for the good vid. 👍

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      @@michaelslee4336 No worries - thanks very much!

  • @philtofield4572
    @philtofield4572 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Brilliant thanks 😂 ive had one of these for years, never really understood it!

  • @p.bateman7033
    @p.bateman7033 Před 4 měsíci +1

    It’s a fact, you can learn something new everyday! Great video 👏🏻👍

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      Glad you liked it! Its always fun to learn something new - I was amazed how clever the simple design of these devices is.

  • @PhunkieZero
    @PhunkieZero Před 4 měsíci +1

    Magnetism still seems like magic to me and I'm in my 30's.
    I always thought these were gimmicks, they didn't really work, just a money grab. I guess I was wrong, they actually work!
    I _still_ don't know HOW the magnetism "sticks" to the screwdriver, but knowing WHY it does is pretty cool.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      When I was a student I took every undergrad and grad course on the subject that the university I went to offered - and it still seems magical to me too!
      I am gradually adding videos that cover magnetics - here is one that goes into magnetization a bit more in depth if you are interested: czcams.com/video/S21rlwrY74I/video.html . At a level below that, it is the motion of electrons causing electrons to get squished together because of Einsteins theory of relativity that causes the magnetic force to appear from the electric charges - future video!
      It is amazing how well those little devices work! Having said that, a few commenters have reported some that dont work - including some missing the magnets! So some may actually be gimmicks!

  • @deltab9768
    @deltab9768 Před 4 měsíci +4

    Before watching further:
    My guess is that it has a series of alternating N and S poles that feet weaker and weaker the closer you get to the face of the device.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci +1

      Gee - I should have said "stop the video and write down your best guess how it works". It is amazingly simple when you know how it works, but certainly not obvious just by looking at it!

  • @roliveira2225
    @roliveira2225 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Very good!

  • @Johadart
    @Johadart Před 4 měsíci +2

    Hi buddy, just came across this video, and wow, I never knew what the steps were for, mind blowing video Thankyou.
    Keep up the great work mate, sub’d and liked, now going to watch the rest of your content. 🤙🏼🇦🇺
    Joe from Australia 🤙🏼🇦🇺

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      Glad you liked it and thanks so much for subscribing! Australia - I spent two months exploring the eastern edge of your country a while back - what a wonderful place! Regards from Canada!

  • @mattjones4576
    @mattjones4576 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Hell yeah this was interesting thanks!

  • @tommyfred6180
    @tommyfred6180 Před 4 měsíci +1

    really nice explanation of the unite.
    as a little kid this thing was magic to me. still is in a way. but i have long understood the principles behind it.

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 4 měsíci

      "was magic to me. still is in a way" - so true! It really is an amazing little device!

  • @dangerofh4ckst4b14
    @dangerofh4ckst4b14 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Excellent, thanks ❤

  • @stevedrake2031
    @stevedrake2031 Před 4 měsíci +1

    I just bought one of these after seeing your video !

  • @GimmeTOKYO
    @GimmeTOKYO Před 3 měsíci +1

    Apple Stores has these in their repair rooms for techs to use them on the screw drivers to make it easier for the tiny screws used in devices to be picked up. I never just inserted my driver bits directly in, but just run it along the insides in a quick circular motion
    Nice to see the simple science behind it!

    • @ElectromagneticVideos
      @ElectromagneticVideos  Před 3 měsíci +1

      Interesting! Someone mentioned watchmakers using them - I never thought about modern miniaturized electronics but it sure makes sense that Apple fixers would find them useful.

  • @InbasagarNadar
    @InbasagarNadar Před 4 měsíci +3

    5:45 missed opportunity to say "through the magic of buying two of them"

  • @todamusikaqui
    @todamusikaqui Před 4 měsíci

    Great video 👍