Have things that have picked up a bit of unwanted magnetism? Good news: demagnetizing small things like hand tools without damaging them is relatively easy by applying a rapidly altnernating magnetic field.

To assemble, you need six standard 6mmx3mm magnets (the stronger the better). Important: place them around the ring in an ALTERNATING PATTERN (i.e. N,S,N,S,N,S around the circle). One easy way to do this is to place three in a triangle in the same pattern, then flip your magnets to place the other three. Glue is optional, but recommended.

The printed cap is also optional, but can help prevent magnetic metal shavings or other magnetic junk getting stuck on your demagnetizer. This is common if the tool you are demagnetizing has metal junk on it. When the tool gets demagnetized, the demagnetizer is the new strongest magnetic field.

Now chuck the demagnetizer on an electric drill, and spin it as fast as it will go. Make slow even passes over the tool you want to demagnetize. In most cases, it'll take only a quick pass or two before you see results.