"Fred McKenzie" bravely wrote to "All" (09 Oct 04 15:36:00)
--- on the heady topic of "Re: remagnetising old magnets"
FM> From:
[email protected] (Fred McKenzie)
FM> << There is saturation point after which you will be wasting your
FM> time. The smaller/stronger one are made that way not just charged that
way. >>
FM> Aslaner, Bill & NumanR-
FM> I believe you are correct that there is a saturation point, but the
FM> alloys are not naturally magnetized. They are "charged" in a machine
FM> that works about the way Bill described.
FM> The question is whether or not the magnets were magnetized to a point
FM> beyond their saturation point. If so, then the field would have
FM> eventually ended up at some maximum stable value. However, they may
FM> not have been magnetized to saturation, or there may have been some
FM> condition such as mechanical shock, that caused the field to be
FM> reduced. In either case, it may be possible to increase the magnet's
FM> strength using the magnetization process.
FM> One thing that might go wrong, is a field reversal caused by the
FM> magnetizing field (or current) being backwards. You have a 50-50
FM> chance of getting it right!
It is a little hard to identify magnetic polarity of a magnet. I'm not
sure but the Earth's own North Pole is actually a magnet south and
will attract a magnet negative. So using a "magnetic compass" actually
finds the south on a magnet. Is this right?
A*s*i*m*o*v
.... Reactance: your imaginary friend.