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Risheng Magnets International Co., Ltd.
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Blog
Rare-earth magnets are the most powerful permanent magnets available and have been around since the 1970′s. They are created using alloys of several elements, including rare earth elements combined with a metal like nickel, iron or cobalt to create a more stable magnet.
As these magnets are so incredibly powerful, they tend to be somewhat dangerous. They can snap together very hard and unless they are safely stored, they may snap on your fingers, ripping skin and causing some injuries. The magnets can also damage each other by slamming together, so it should be avoided whenever possible.
Safe Storage of Rare Earth Magnets
Storing rare-earth magnets is something that anyone can do with a handful of simple materials that you likely have on hand.
Styrofoam is very useful in protecting rare-earth magnets. You can simply cut a large cube of Styrofoam in half and cut out the shapes of the magnets. Use a hot knife to do this easily, since Styrofoam can be difficult to cut otherwise. It may be best to lay the magnets out on the block and trace around them, then do the cutting with the magnets set aside. You want them to fit snugly, so start small and make the holes larger if need be. The less wriggle room there is, the less likely they are to fly out when another magnet or piece of metal passes above.
From one half of your block, cut out two blocks that are 2" high and 1" long and wide. These can be glued to the opposite block to create an interlocking storage unit that will securely hold the magnets without slipping.
Another option is wood. Adding a wooden handle to each rare-earth magnet will help you avoid pinching your fingers when two magnets snap together and also offers a better way to pull magnets free of whatever they stick to. To set a magnet in a handle, you will need a very strong glue or a wooden clamp to attach to the magnets.
Duct tape can also serve this function and is helpful in protecting the magnets from each other. Simply wrap the magnet in tape. It will still work as normal magnetically, but will be somewhat cushioned. A good layer of duct tape will keep the magnets protected and if you leave a twist sticking up, you can easily pull the magnet away from other items.
Storing rare-earth magnets is something that should be high priority to avoid physical harm to you or damage to the magnets. Keep in mind that whatever you use should block magnetic power and with sufficient space that the magnets cannot connect with each other or any other material.
Adding a handle of one kind or another is also helpful, since it allows you to separate magnets easier than if you have to pry them apart with your fingers.
