Demagnetization is simply removing the magnetic fields from an object. Often there are situations when metallic things with magnetic elements are hazardous to electrical appliances. That’s why it is safe to demagnetize them before you use them.
Why is demagnetization necessary? Metallic tools with magnetic elements might induce a pulsing current with a higher voltage than the voltage in appliances, causing damage.
And that is why it is safe to demagnetize them before using them with electric circuits and other components. Now, you may be thinking, how to demagnetize metal?
Worry not! In this guide, you’ll learn about the top 3 methods of demagnetizing metal. Therefore, sit back and stay with me right to the end. (Read more about Is 304 Stainless Steel Magnetic?)
What do You Need to Demagnetize Metal?
First, you need to choose the metal tool you want to demagnetize.
Because it is annoying for anyone if the tools possess magnetic properties and halt the task for what they are made of.
Then the next component would be a demagnetizer.
It is a device that can eradicate magnetic fields from any metallic object. That said, demagnetizers use irregular magnetic fields with the tool you want to demagnetize.
The thing that happens next is a misalignment of the electrons present in the tool. And this misalignment helps a lot in the process of demagnetizing.
There are a lot of tools with which you can adequately eradicate the magnetic fields, and I’ll discuss the most prominent ones in the next part below.
The 3 Simple Ways to Demagnetize Metal (Without Hurting Yourself)
As a process, demagnetization can happen naturally, but it would take a considerable amount of time.
However, if you follow some specific methods, things will get easy. That’s why I have gathered some of the easiest tricks that you can use to demagnetize the metallic tools in no time.
Here’re the top 3 processes to demagnetize metal –
1. How to Remove Magnetism from Metal with a Battery – A Simple Guide?
Demagnetizing metal with the battery is a relatively straightforward process. It is something that you can do in almost no time in your home.
Required Tools
The process starts with selecting the materials you have to work with. Here, as a primary tool, you need to select a suitable metal object, either stainless steel or iron.
The battery is also required as with them; it is possible to demagnetize iron or steel in no time. The other material you need is a cable that doesn’t have insulating characteristics.
Procedure
The process begins with establishing a connection between the battery and the metal piece using the cable. Here, multiple fragments of cables would be required, and you need to twist one of their ends, which can easily be done with pliers.
After twisting, you need to wrap the wires together, ensuring that the twisted parts don’t get touched.
Then, the primary process of connecting to the battery happens. You should use tape as it has some insulating traits on the connecting point of the cable. It is done to avoid the metal magnet having access to both ends.
Since half of the work is done, you need to connect the wires to their respective metals.
While wrapping them around the metal object, you should avoid touchpoints, which will eventually help the electricity flow.
Then, you have to connect them by using tape for insulation as previously done. The battery needs to be turned on now to start demagnetizing.
By this time, you are done with all the connectivity. Now, you just need to ensure that the current has passed for a significant amount of time, which would initiate the process of demagnetizing the metal you selected.
Lastly, check whether the magnetic field is still present in the metal you demagnetized. Once you are done, dismantle the connection to end the process.
2. Learn How to Demagnetize Metal With Electricity?
You can also demagnetize metal using electricity. It is a short process that doesn’t require many mechanisms.
Required Tools
The primary materials are copper cable, a circuit, and the metal bar you want to demagnetize.
Procedure
First, you need to make a long coil of insulated copper wire connected to the circuit. Then, place the metal bar inside the wire facing east-west direction.
Now, the next step is to connect this insulated copper cable to a source of alternating current.
Then, you have to switch on the circuit and wait for a while. After some time, you need to reduce the current when the magnetism is lost from the metal.
This happens mainly because alternating current changes direction frequently, prompting molecular magnets to demagnetize.
Factors Affecting the Process
The dominant factors in this regard have mostly been associated with the type of tools used in demagnetization.
Now, the prime factors can be either temperature or magnetic stress. Other than this, the hysteresis loss is highly responsible for the demagnetization of mostly the ferrimagnetic materials.
3. How to Properly Demagnetize Metal with Heat for Safe Use?
The heating process is also effective in eradicating the metal’s magnetism.
Required Tools
In this case, you require four things – a burner, a bar holder, a stand, and a metal bar magnet. The burner is for heating, and the stand helps in enclosing the heat.
Procedure
A metal will lose its magnetism when heated at a temperature above its curie point. You need to ensure that the burner produces temperatures up to that level.
The Curie point differs for each type of metal. And when you heat them at that temperature, the energy generated frees the magnetic dipole from their original orientation.
Thus, the magnetized metal loses its magnetic elements.
What to Keep in Mind while Demagnetizing Metal?
Going through the processes of demagnetizing metals seemed very simplistic.
But there can be some critical issues that you might overlook. You need to keep a few crucial things in mind,
One of them is safety while carrying out the process.
The demagnetizing process of magnetized material involves the usage of AC and extensive wiring. So the time when you are done with demagnetizing, ensure that you dismantle the wires and other apparatuses with utmost care so that no accidents might happen.
This also goes the same for using the burner. Other than this, be aware of the heating or Curie points of all the metal that you demagnetize.
Can you Demagnetize a Magnet Temporarily?
If the magnet is an electromagnet, it is possible to demagnetize it temporarily. All you need to do is turn off the electric current, and the magnetic field won’t be there.
But for the permanent magnets, it’s a one-way thing.
Once you have demagnetized a permanent magnet, it is not possible to give back the magnetic property after a while.
That means once the magnetic field is gone from the metal, magnetization is not possible again.
Does Demagnetizing Work for Welding?
Demagnetizing is very much suitable for welding. And there are several techniques that a welder can adopt for carrying out the process before welding.
As a welder, you can adopt two methods in this regard. One is directly burning metal using a torch, and another is degaussing.
But remember one thing, the metal you’re going to weld won’t always be fully demagnetized. No matter what, it will consist of some magnetic material.
Therefore, you must always be aware and ensure that the gauss level is below 1.5.
Or else the metal you are welding will be highly prone to accidental cracking in between.
Conclusion
Demagnetizing is necessary as an undesired magnetic property in metals may result in loss of time and money. Now that you know how to demagnetize metal choose your preferred method to make the job even easier.
Mostly, in the case of industrial works, metals with magnetism aren’t usable as they offer traits that are often hazardous. Demagnetizing them ensures that there aren’t any unnecessary accidents or dangers.
It makes the metal safe to handle and easy to use for various purposes. Moreover, making metals more usable is the main aim of demagnetizing.
