Remove Stubborn Batteries And Other Cool Magnet Tricks
As if the sheer magnetism aspect of magnets wasn’t magical enough, weblog Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories points out 17 very cool tricks that put your magnets to great use.
For starters, a strong magnet can be the perfect tool to remove batteries from the grips of a stuborn spring.
We’ve all got things that take batteries. Some of them are well designed, and some of them are not. The worst offenders are electronic toys that take (say) half a dozen AA batteries, all of which must be inserted with the correct orientation— spring side first— and pried out, well, somehow. Rather than risk puncturing your batteries by prying them out with something pointy, just use a magnet to lift them out.
Likewise, the post suggests using a magnet to find and mark studs in your wall, make a simple compass, and—as you can see in the screenshot to the right—make a fridge pen. We love a good magnet trick, so if you’ve got a tip of your own for making good with magnets, let’s hear it in the comments. Otherwise, hit up the post to get a closer look at all 17 cool magnet tricks.
17 cool magnet tricks [Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories via Make]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
Anyone heard of cow magnets?
"One magnet works for the life of the cow!"
sir_pantsalot
I grabbed a rod (HA!) of those powerful mini rare-earth magnets from Amazon a while ago and haven't run out of useful uses for them. They're much better at holding stacks of paper to the fridge than crummy novelty magnets. Also, I've used them to connect two halves of window curtains that never seem to want to make a perfect seam for privacy, and they're great for mounting posters to the wall: [lifehacker.com]
I grabbed a rod (HA!) of those powerful mini rare-earth magnets from Amazon a while ago and haven't run out of useful uses for them. They're much better at holding stacks of paper to the fridge than crummy novelty magnets. Also, I've used them to connect two halves of window curtains that never seem to want to make a perfect seam for privacy, and they're great for mounting posters to the wall: [lifehacker.com]
That eddy current dampening was one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. Just the kind of activity I could keep myself occupied with when waiting for something on the computer.
twii
That eddy current dampening was one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. Just the kind of activity I could keep myself occupied with when waiting for something on the computer.
twii
Back in my teens, I took the puzzle box idea a step further by contriving a magnetic slider/latch that was totally invisible from the outside of the box. It was kinda cool while it worked.
Counterglow
Back in my teens, I took the puzzle box idea a step further by contriving a magnetic slider/latch that was totally invisible from the outside of the box. It was kinda cool while it worked.
Counterglow
That's a nifty trick that I'll have to try on my digital camera sometime. The batteries are just dying to stick in that thing as long as possible.
@sir_pantsalot:
cow magnets work great - some are a little bulky, but quite powerful and only $2-3 each
acornemb
I'm sure there is a magnet / attraction joke somewhere in here, but I just can't think of it.
I usually just put a strip of mylar or ribbon under difficult to remove batteries. Just pull the strip later and they pop right out.
Magnets are great for so many things. I made a electromagnet lock for a door for April fools. It was hilarious when no one could figure out why the door wouldn't open. I also mounted a magnet to the bottom of my coffee mug, and another one under my desk, so they couple together and my cat can't knock it over. So many possibilities...
Just be careful gadgets you use those magnets near. Some things are pretty sensitive to magnets, especially the USB tape drive previously mentioned: [blog.makezine.com]
Seems like you'd need a very strong magnet to yank batteries out... though I've broken my fingernail on a battery or two in the past - I hate that junk.
Chip clips is a smart idea... have to remember that one.
@kikolani: make sure that your memory card is clear of the magnet first...
magnets + any memory device = newly reformatted memory device
DMSaruman
@Bubkes: I would like to see some instruction of this electromagnet door lock.
@sir_pantsalot: Yes. They treat "Hardware Disease". I tried using one in the whole house filter for my house, but apparently the iron in my water is iron enough to stain things, but isn't ferromagnetic.
@sir_pantsalot: Yes. They treat "Hardware Disease". I tried using one in the whole house filter for my house, but apparently the iron in my water is iron enough to stain things, but isn't ferromagnetic.
@sir_pantsalot: Yes. They treat "Hardware Disease". I tried using one in the whole house filter for my house, but apparently the iron in my water is iron enough to stain things, but isn't ferromagnetic.
@Duane: It's really simple if you know how to make an electromagnet. Make the magnet powered through an extension cord with resistors (to reduce power consumption), attach to door frame, attach steel plate to door, plug in. The magnet, depending how strong you make it and how much current you give it, will easily hold a door shut.
I will make a tutorial if I have time later.
@Duane: It's really simple if you know how to make an electromagnet. Make the magnet powered through an extension cord with resistors (to reduce power consumption), attach to door frame, attach steel plate to door, plug in. The magnet, depending how strong you make it and how much current you give it, will easily hold a door shut.
I will make a tutorial if I have time later.
@Duane: It's really simple if you know how to make an electromagnet. Make the magnet powered through an extension cord with resistors (to reduce power consumption), attach to door frame, attach steel plate to door, plug in. The magnet, depending how strong you make it and how much current you give it, will easily hold a door shut.
I will make a tutorial if I have time later.
A couple of strong neodymium magnets and some tape is the best way to run cables under carpet.
I picked up some small neo magnets from Harbor Freight, and I hot glued them under my Roomba to catch metal things like small screws so i don't throw them out.
@[i.gizmodo.com]
Warning, not safe if you just ate.
The battery thing can be easier solved with a good bang against the table, or a paper clip. Or Tooth pick or etc.
silver-bolt
Why don't they put the ribbon in devices anymore for doing this? Does it really save THAT much money? And I'm not so sure I wanna be using magnets around some of my electronics.
nobodyzhome
Why don't they put the ribbon in devices anymore for doing this? Does it really save THAT much money? And I'm not so sure I wanna be using magnets around some of my electronics.
nobodyzhome
@When'sUranusDay?_GitEmSteveDave:
Very clever.
jupiterthunder
@When'sUranusDay?_GitEmSteveDave:
Very clever.
jupiterthunder
@DMSaruman: I thought memory cards were solid state and therefor would be unaffected by magnets. Floppies, sure, but not thumb drives and memory cards, right?
Fitwit
@Fitwit: Correct, they are silicon based and non magnetic. I have never had a problem at least.
Not even the washing machine could blank my USB drive (oops).
@jupiterthunder: x2
@When'sUranusDay?_GitEmSteveDave: Oooo, yet another good reason to go to Harbor Freight.
The battery thing can be easily solved - tape a ribbon to the battery, turn the battery until the ribbon is under the battery and coming out the other side, grab both ends and pull.
Or a sharp bang against a hand / table usually jars them out.
You can also pry the lip of the jacket / case up (+ end) if it's really stuck.
I use a magnet from the fridge to remove the cut out lid from canned foods after it falls into the top of the can.
davethebutcher
Yeah, I got a bunch of tiny magnets from deal extreme for dirt cheap.
It is all fun and games until you have to learn about flux.
:(
@Gann: careful, magnets + ethernet cable = slow xfer speeds
mfusion
@Duane: what did the refrigerator say to the neodymium?
you're very attractive.
mfusion
[www.sciplus.com] is my favorite, but that's because i live by an actual store...
mfusion
Posters rip after awhile because of the pinholes you put them in to pin them up, or worse if you tape them to the wall. To get over it,
Instead of pushing thumbtacks through the poster, put them directly into the wall in the same places, hold up the poster, and place small magnets so that they hold the poster to the tacks. Voila, no tearing of the paper.
Cornflower
Posters rip after awhile because of the pinholes you put them in to pin them up, or worse if you tape them to the wall. To get over it,
Instead of pushing thumbtacks through the poster, put them directly into the wall in the same places, hold up the poster, and place small magnets so that they hold the poster to the tacks. Voila, no tearing of the paper.
Cornflower
@When'sUranusDay?_GitEmSteveDave: The iron in your water is found in the form of positively charged iron ions rather than neutral iron metal, so the behavior is entirely different.
@MengBomin: Still makes everything orange.
@infmom: And get a hot glue gun. Those things are awesome! I've even stopped feeling it when I shoot the glue on my finger! But they have a 10 pack of round Neo magnets for like 1.99 I am still amazed how much metal shavings/dust my Roomba picks up.
cool!
in the last place i lived, there was actually a magnet store. it was a little hole in the wall place that sold NdFeB magnets in all shapes and sizes. i have a large collection :)
garbanzo-bean
@sir_pantsalot: only applies to free-range cows; does not apply to cows normal cows.
LesterGaze
i have not needed this lifehack in the last 35 years of my adult life; what the frick kinds of devices are you using that require this.
this trick, however, may be the cat's pyjamas for removing button batteries like from digital calipers, logging current monitors, non-disposable watches, and hearing aids. eh?
LesterGaze
i have not needed this lifehack in the last 35 years of my adult life; what the frick kinds of devices are you using that require this.
this trick, however, may be the cat's pyjamas for removing button batteries like from digital calipers, logging current monitors, non-disposable watches, and hearing aids. eh?
LesterGaze
honestly, if you can't softly slap the device against your palm to get batterys out, you probably shouldn't be operating anything electronic. Also if you puncture a battery trying to take one out you need to lay off the steroids..
When disassembling my laptop the recess for the screws was so deep I couldn't remove the screw once it was out. It just sat in the well looking up at me like little Timmy.
I used a magnet to magnetize my screwdriver and voila, it lifted the screw out of the well. Just like Lassie.
Jake712
When disassembling my laptop the recess for the screws was so deep I couldn't remove the screw once it was out. It just sat in the well looking up at me like little Timmy.
I used a magnet to magnetize my screwdriver and voila, it lifted the screw out of the well. Just like Lassie.
Jake712
Do whatever but keep them far away form your wallet or else it will destroy your plastic's magnetic memory .
Do whatever but keep them far away form your wallet or else it will destroy your plastic's magnetic memory .
@infmom: Just looked in my old circulars. It's item # 98371 for the magnets.
@silver-bolt: Popsicle/craft sticks also work really well.
I electrical tape the magnets to the end of my charger cords and other things that I want to keep out of the way. When I dont need them, I just stick the cord to my whiteboard so the excess cable falls behind the desk. Now I have retractable cables that I wont loose.
thedeepfriedboot
Children... one thing to keep in mind with kids in the house is that if they swallow 1 magnet it is usually ok and it will pass in the stool. If they swallow 2 magnets, the magnets can bind the bowel loops together and create an adhesion / perforation. And kids like eating everything not nailed down. So I would be careful with that, and button cell batteries, which can erode through the esophagus.
fellinahole
I just ordered me some magnets!
fellinahole
@mfusion: Tape a magnet to the cable, pull it with the other above the carpet. The magnets are removed after the cable is ran. No lasting damage.
@davethebutcher: Or just buy an edge on can opener from the start.
ri59
Come on. Just get a butterknife.
MaudeStructus
RE Chip Clip:
Everyone probably already knows this, but....
Please be careful using two magnets as a clip to close a bag of chips, crackers, etc. Worse case scenario is that a little kid swallows one of the magnets, then several hours later swallows the other. The magnets are in different locations of the small intestine and if they come within a couple inches of each other (more likely for littler kiddos) they 'click' together. This is not enough to tear the intestines, but it can cause a blockage. (again worst case) There is no way to remove the blockage, except via surgery. (I'm actually not a doctor, I just remember learning about this on the news a couple years ago when they recalled those Magnatix toys.) -steve
PS I think the coolest one from the article was the compass :)
Okay one more comment (: FYI my hard drive died, so I took the magnets out of it.. IT was very difficult to do, but totally worth it.. They are INCREDIBLY powerful--more so than my other Earth magnets! The Tech guy at work tells me that the older the hard drive, the stronger the magnets...
kunkel321
that's a good point....every so often we hear of "magnetic therapy" for health/circulatory type problems. If you got a magnetic bracelet around your wrist, most people, when they drop their wrists to their side, they are only a couple inches from a pocket, which could likely have a wallet + cards in :P So how the hell does that work? Or is the "magnetic jewelery" just not that strong? Or do these people actually "think" before dropping their arms down towards the pocket region? lol. BTW, can't forget the avoid red lights with rare earth magnets! :rolls eyes: :) Not slamming the idea, I've seen some cars that it works with, and others it just doesn't (like mine...lol).
KieferKaploofah
Fellinahole is absolutely right - please Lifehacker put a warning for those who have young children on the actual story.
Kids have died from swallowing two magnets. One incident I know of in recent years of a small boy's death came from swallowing magnets INSIDE toys so don't think that a magnet is any safer because it is in something bigger.
KittyKittyKitty