What Is Special About Neodymium Magnets?

If you read about magnets or have posses just a little interest in magnets, you’ve probably heard the term “neodymium magnet” or “power magnet” several times. The reason for the hype about this type of magnet is not without reason. Neodymium magnets are quite special, and during this post, you will learn why.

What is special about neodymium magnets? Neodymium magnets are special because of several things. First of all, they are the strongest permanent magnet that is currently known. At the same time, they are physically small and very weighs very little compared to their strength. Neodymium magnets are also cheap considering their strength.

That was the shortest possible explanation on why neodymium magnets are so special. There is, of course, a lot more to it than what can be explained during a couple of sentences, which I will elaborate during this post. Please keep reading if you wish to learn more about what is special about neodymium magnets.

What is special about neodymium magnets?

Neodymium magnets, which often also often is referred to as power magnets, is an extremely powerful magnet. They may not look like much, because of their tiny size and low weight, but they are really powerful.

So powerful, that neodymium magnets are the most powerful permanent magnet that is currently known. Therefore, a powerful magnet like this should always be handled with great caution. Remember, magnets are not a toy, especially not a neodymium magnet, do not let children play with it.

Neodymium magnets also “last” a very long time. If the magnet is handled the correct way, which means that it has not been exposed to hard strokes or extreme heat, the magnet won’t decline in strength the first 100 years of its lifetime!

It’s also quite resistant. Well, not as resistant as lets sat a ferrite magnet, but still fairly resistant. For example, if a small fracture breaks off a neodymium magnet, it won’t reduce the power of the magnet.

You need to be cautious with the magnet around other magnet or steel. If the magnet collides with another magnet or surface of steel with high speed, it probably won’t make the clash. So be careful!

On top of all this, a neodymium magnet is also cheap compared to their strength. This has led this type of magnet to be used in a lot of different applications, both in manufacturing and in our everyday life.

In the recent decades, neodymium magnets have more or less replaced other types of magnets, like alnico- and ferrite magnets in modern manufacturing and technology where a strong, small and light magnet is required in an application.

Neodymium magnets have actually made it possible for manufacturers to make their products significantly smaller because they don’t need to use big and clumsy magnets.

Neodymium magnets are in a lot of devices you use every day, probably without you even realizing it, for example:

Electric motors
Locks
Firing switches on e-cigarettes
Computer hard disks
Cassette recorders
Speakers
Headphones
Speakers on phones and computers
Magnetic bearings
Magnetic couplings
Electric generators
Voice Coil

Safety with neodymium magnets

Neodymium magnets are completely safe for both humans and animals to be near, but only as long as you handle them with the right care and caution. But I cannot stress this enough, neodymium magnets are not a toy!

Minor kids, toddlers, and pets should never be left alone with a magnet, and the magnets should always be kept out of reach for them. They may swallow them, which can cause them to choke.

Even though neodymium magnets are safe for humans and animals with the right caution, electronic devices may not be as lucky. Strong magnets, like a neodymium magnet, can cause some serious damage to your electronic devices, providing they get close enough.

So, if you are handling neodymium magnets, you should stay in a safe distance from electronic devices such as tv’s, credit cards, computers, hearing aids, speakers and other similar devices you may have in your home.

If you want to make sure that you are completely safe when handling a neodymium magnet, you should follow these five general guidelines for safety with strong magnets:

Always wear safety goggles when you handle strong and big magnets.
Always wear protective gloves when you handle strong magnets.
Do not consider strong magnets such as a neodymium magnet as a toy. It is not. The magnets are very strong and can cause some serious damage to you and your surroundings.
You should always keep neodymium magnets at least 25 centimeters from your electronic devices. If not, you risk damaging your devices.
If you or a person near you have a pacemaker or an implanted heart defibrillator, you should keep your distance! The magnets can damage this type of devices, which can be very dangerous if they are needed.

You should also be aware that some types of magnets are coated with or contains nickel. Some people will experience an allergic reaction to the nickel if they have contact with it for too long. Many people experience this with jewelry that contains nickel.

You should also be aware that even though you do not suffer from nickel allergy at this very moment, you may develop it from having too much contact with nickel. And, if you know that you are already allergic to it, we advise you not to choose magnets that contain nickel of any kind.

4 special ways to use neodymium magnets

Now we have arrived in the fun part. You just read a lot of very informative info about why neodymium magnets are so special, so I figure that you would like to know how you can use them to make your life easier or funnier.

Therefore, I’ve assembled five tips for some cool things you can use neodymium magnets for. Enjoy!

Beer-holder

If you enjoy a cold beer once in a while, you are bound to love this one. If you attach magnets to the inside of your fridge in the right way, they can actually hold your beer! We shared a video of this, which was very well received.

It’s also a really cool party trick and a great way to break the ice with anyone.

Tablet-holder

As you might already have guessed, magnets can also be used to hold your tablet on a wall or your fridge. This is a great way to have a place for your tablet, without it being permanent.

But be aware, you should not attach the magnets directly to your tablet. It may damage your tablet.

Great for knives

This one is one of my favorite DIY projects with strong magnets. With no more than a piece of wood and a couple of strong magnets, you can actually make your own knife holder. Not only do you get too creative, but you also get a very cheap and nice holder for your knives.

You can either attach them on the inside of a piece of wood, making it look like the wood is holding the knives, or you can attach the magnets directly on a wall, so it looks like your knives are floating in the air.

Coat-hanger

Are you tired of the fact that every coat hanger looks like the next one? Then magnets are your best friend! You can make a very cool and adjustable coat hanger with nothing more than some strong magnets and a steel plate.

You simply attach a steel plate to your wall, buy some magnets, and there you have it, you very own magnet coat-hanger. Be sure to but the magnets strong enough to support the weight of the jackets.