January 2, 2015

Rare Earth Magnets:  A DIY FYI:  Rare earth magnets are, in the simplest of terms, very, very strong magnets, the strongest available. They are made from alloys of rare earth elements.  The name can be a bit misleading, because these magnets aren’t particularly rare.  Actually they have been quite common and affordable since the 1990’s, though the earliest ones were developed in the 1970’s. They were “discovered” in 1966 by scientists in the US Air Force Laboratory.  Rare earth magnets are very powerful. They are also very brittle, so for uses in tools and machinery they are generally plated or coated.

Uses of Rare Earth Magnets:  These magnets have many uses, including computer hard drives, bicycles, fishing reels, and some construction toys, to name a few.  Their applications also include several types of hand tools, and they are used in the motors of many cordless power tools.   

For DIY-ers:  We highly recommend that if you are purchasing a magnetic level for use in home projects, you purchase a quality level that contains rare earth magnets, rather than those made from ferrite or ceramics. The price difference between a high-quality level and a cheap one is nominal, and you will be pleased with the accuracy and longevity of a fine level made with rare earth magnets.

by See Jane Drill, Copyright 2015, All Rights Reserved