Magnetized screw drivers or not?

R

Red Squirrel

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A lot of people say you should not use a magnetized screwdriver when working on PCs, but are they right? I can't see there being enough magnetism to cause any issues, and circuit board components are not really sensitive to magnets as far as I know. The hard drive is really the only magnet sensitive component, and I doubt a magnetized screw driver is powerful enough.

I've been making all my screw drivers magnetized because it's fun, and useful, but should I be avoiding it?
 
the only thing a magnetized screwdriver would hurt is a floppy disk. Hard drives have extremely powerful magnets built into them, a little magnetism from a screw driver on the outside of the drive isn't going to do anything but stick to the case.
 
I've used magnetized screw drivers for over a decade and I've serviced thousands of computers. It has never caused a problem. Not with desktops, or even when it came to the precision of laptop service. The magnets just aren't strong enough to cause a problem.
 
ryan_975 said:
the only thing a magnetized screwdriver would hurt is a floppy disk. Hard drives have extremely powerful magnets built into them, a little magnetism from a screw driver on the outside of the drive isn't going to do anything but stick to the case.
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I have yet to encounter a hard drive case that has metal in it that a magnet will stick to. they are usually made of mostly aluminum with the cover being made of stainless steel.

The screws are really the only thing that will be attracted to a magnet.. and even then they may be made of stainless steel.. I should check that the next time I take a hard drive apart.
 
Even if you touch the cover of a hard drive with a magnetized screwdriver tip, you should be OK. The actual platters are deep enough inside the drive that the magnetic field of your screw driver probably can't reach it. With laptop drives I'd be more concerned. The rest of the housing is of course made of a ferrous metal as well which the magnet will stick to, but it's thick enough even on laptop drives that you'd be hard pressed to damage the data with something like a screw driver.
 
Yep, been using a magnet tip screwdriver for years with no ill effects. I say go for it
 
Oh, and even at the height of poorly educated technicians spouting this crap about magnetic screw drivers being bad, Compaq had their own screw driver which contained several bits in the handle and had a magnetic tip. It was a part number you could order like any spare part. I believe it was $19.99 or so. I always found it a bit ironic that it was their authorized repair tool in an era where misinformation was so rampant.
 
Your computer will be completely fine. Hell, many laptops with clam shell designs rely on magnets much stronger than your screw driver in order to operate a reed switch for Sleep/Hibernation mode.
 
If my screw drivers ain't magnetized when I buy them... I magnetize them myself.
 
shoota said:
ok so how do you magnetize a screwdriver?
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1) Stroke a permanent magnet along the screw driver multiple times, or
2) wrap a tight coil of insulated wire around the shaft and briefly attach both ends of that wire to a lantern battery for one second.
 
I have my xbox hard drive about 6 inchs from my sub. Doesn't bother it at all, but the sub did jack up an old tube tv that I set by it for 10 min. It's permanently discolored now. ( I can't find any sort of degauss on it either).
 
munkle said:
I have my xbox hard drive about 6 inchs from my sub. Doesn't bother it at all, but the sub did jack up an old tube tv that I set by it for 10 min. It's permanently discolored now. ( I can't find any sort of degauss on it either).
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Most TV's don't have their own. Sony's would degauss themselves periodically when they were turned on, but no other TV did that as I recall. You need a degaussing ring to resolve the discoloration but honestly it's not worth the trouble.
 
Dan_D said:
Most TV's don't have their own. Sony's would degauss themselves periodically when they were turned on, but no other TV did that as I recall. You need a degaussing ring to resolve the discoloration but honestly it's not worth the trouble.
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Assuming the pixel mask isn't physically warped. I did that once.
 
AFAIK all tube type TVs had the ability to deguass themselves but it only happened when the TV was first turned on.

The big deugassing rings were used with the older tube TVs (70s - 80s) when they really needed "special" care.

That being said, magnetic screwdrivers are the cat's "arse" and I've used then for many years with no detrimental effects......to the computer. :D
 
Old Hippie said:
AFAIK all tube type TVs had the ability to deguass themselves but it only happened when the TV was first turned on.

The big deugassing rings were used with the older tube TVs (70s - 80s) when they really needed "special" care.

That being said, magnetic screwdrivers are the cat's "arse" and I've used then for many years with no detrimental effects......to the computer. :D
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I used to service TV's and only the major brands degaussed themselves at all or had a function for it. Many of the cheaper TV's didn't do that as I recall. It's been a long time since I had to do that kind of work, so I might not be remembering that 100% right.
 
Dan_D said:
I used to service TV's and only the major brands degaussed themselves at all or had a function for it. Many of the cheaper TV's didn't do that as I recall. It's been a long time since I had to do that kind of work, so I might not be remembering that 100% right.
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You could be correct.

I only bought quality TVs and the degaussing used to happen when the TV was first turned on.

The earlier color TVs (60's) needed to be degaussed with the big ring if they were moved or stray magnetism was introduced (putting speakers too close) but that was replaced with the "mini-degaussers" that were powered for a few seconds when the TV was turned on.

Oh My....I'm sorry...this is way off topic. :)
 
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