Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Are neodymium and rare earth magnets the same thing? Neodymium magnets are the most commonly used type of rare earth magnets. Rare earth magnets are made from rare earth elements found on the periodic table. Neodymium magnets are the strongest rare earth magnets and the strongest magnets in the world.

 

What is the strongest type of magnet? Neodymium magnets are the strongest magnets in the world.

 

Do neodymium magnets lose their strength over time? Very little. Neodymium magnets are the most permanent magnets in the world. As long as you don’t overheat them, they will lose less than 1% of their strength every 10 years. You will not even notice unless you measure it.

 

What does the N35, N40, N42, N45, N48, N50, N52 grade mean? Neodymium magnets are graded by the maximum strength they can be magnetized to. The higher the number the stronger the magnet is, however the higher the number the more brittle the magnet becomes as well. See Magnet Grades for more details.

 

Can I cut, drill, or machine neodymium magnets? Machining magnets can be a tricky process and we do not recommend it unless there is no other option. Neodymium magnets are very hard and brittle and any kind of machining can break or damage the magnet. Heat produced by machining can quickly demagnetize the magnet. See After Market Machining for more details.

 

Can I solder or weld neodymium magnets? No you can't. The high heat will demagnetize the magnets and the magnets could catch fire.

 

Do I need to worry about temperature with neodymium magnets? Yes. Neodymium magnets are sensitive to heat. Depending on the grade of the magnet, the heat will demagnetize the magnet. We can produce custom magnets that withstand high temperatures. Most of our magnets are grade N40 so if they are heated above 80ËšC or 176ËšF they will demagnetize and lose their strength. See Magnet Grades for more details.

 

How long does the plating last when used in salt water? Salt water is not good for NdFeB magnets as the Ni plating will corrode rapidly (24-48 hrs). If a longer time is required Epoxy plating is recommended. Most of our magnets are nickel plated but we do stock some sizes in gold and epoxy plating. See Magnet Plating for more details.

 

Are there any health or safety risks with neodymium magnets? There are no known health risks caused by being exposed to neodymium magnets. There can be issues if the person has a pacemaker, so you should consult your doctor for information on this. Some people actually believe magnets can have health benefits and help the healing process. There are currently no scientific studies that prove this. Strong magnets can cause physical harm if not handled properly, please view our Neodymium Magnet Safety page for complete details.

 

Will magnets damage my electronics? They can. The strong magnetic field of neodymium magnets can damage certain magnetic media such as credit cards, magnetic I.D. cards, cassette tapes and video tapes. They can also cause damage to TV’s, computer monitors and other CRT displays. For small electronics like cell phones, iPods, calculators and other devices that don’t contain magnetic storage there shouldn’t be any problems. To be on the safe side, try to avoid close contact with neodymium magnets.

 

Can I damage my refrigerator, stove, oven, or microwave if I put magnets on them? No, magnets will not damage these appliances.

 

Will magnets harm my computer or erase my hard drive? No, you wouldn’t want to place a magnet directly on your hard drive or computer case, having them nearby though will not harm your computer. Magnets can damage magnetic tape storage media and floppy disks, so you will want to keep magnets away from these devices. Hard drives already contain a powerful neodymium magnet, so having another magnet by your computer won’t affect your data. The only way you could cause damage is if you place a strong neodymium magnet directly on your hard drive.

 

Are both poles the same strength? Yes both poles are equal in strength.

 

Can you produce monopole magnets? No, we are unable to produce monopole magnets at this time in NdFeB.

 

Can you supply custom magnets? Yes, we have the capability to produce magnets to your specification in NdFeB, SmCo, AlNiCo, Ferrite, and rubberized magnet materials. We serve the US and most international markets. You can call us or find details on our Custom Magnets Page.

 

What is the Gauss of your magnets? The gauss varies depending on the size of magnet. All our magnets have the gauss listed in the description box of each product.

 

Can I increase the strength of my magnet? No, once a magnet has been fully magnetized it can’t be made stronger.

 

How do you measure the pull strength of your magnets? The pull strength of our magnets is measured by how much force it takes to pull the magnet off a steel plate when in between 2 steel plates.

 

Will a magnet with a 10 lb pull strength lift a 10 lb object? Our pull strength is tested under ideal conditions, so in real life applications you probably will not achieve the same strength. The Pull Force we measure shows how much weight it takes to pull the magnet off a piece of steel when in between 2 pieces of steel. If the application uses just a magnet to metal application then the pull force is about half of what we show. You can probably get a few more pounds but you probably won’t get the same results we achieve under perfect conditions.

 

Will stacking my magnets together make them stronger? Yes, when two or more magnets are stacked together they become stronger, however they will not be proportionally stronger all the time due to the nature of the material.

 

What kind of materials are magnets attracted to? Any kind of ferromagnetic material will attract to NdFeB magnets. Items made of Iron, Nickel or Cobalt are the most common metals that magnets are attracted to. There are also several kinds of steel that attract magnets because of its iron content. See our Ferrous Materials page for more details.

 

Why are neodymium magnets coated? Neodymium magnets are coated to prevent oxidation and rust. Neodymium magnets are made of neodymium, iron and boron. The iron will oxidize quickly and will rust over time, the coating protects the magnet from this.

 

Do you have a minimum purchase order? Depending on approved credit there is a $50.00 minimum for purchase orders, however if an order is prepaid via credit card or check there is no minimum order.

 

What is your return policy? Amazing Magnets has a no-hassle return policy. No purchase is complete until you are satisfied. We are confident that upon receipt of your merchandise you will find that it matches your order exactly. For more information about our return policy, please look at our Returns page.

 

What is your shipping policy? FedEx and UPS orders placed by 2 pm PST (5 pm EST) will be shipped out the same day! Monday - Thursday.  Orders received after 2 pm PST may still go out the same day, however, it is not guaranteed. You can find more information about shipping on our Shipping page.