FAQ - Questions and answers about neodymium magnets
Neodymium magnet – what is it and how does it work? What do we use these strong magnets for?
Dive into the fascinating world of neodymium magnets – discover their extraordinary strength and versatile applications! Here you will find detailed answers to the most frequently asked questions, helping you understand how they work and what they can be used for. Find out why neodymium magnets are considered the most powerful permanent magnets and how using them can make your life easier.


1. Orders, logistics, and payments
Everything about the purchasing process, B2B invoices, and international shipping.
Transaction details:
All electronic transactions are encrypted with SSL protocol (256-bit). In the case of a traditional transfer, we ship the goods after the payment is credited (usually the next business day). Cash on delivery allows for immediate shipment. Full transfer details can be found in the transport and payments section.
Logistics in detail:
The DHIT warehouse operates continuously on business days. If you order goods on Friday by 2:00 PM, the courier will pick them up the same day, and delivery will take place on Monday. InPost parcel lockers in some areas are also serviced on Saturdays (Weekend Parcel service), but this depends on the carrier's current offer. You will receive the shipment status by email immediately after the label is generated.
Why does weight matter?
Neodymium magnets are heavy (density similar to steel). A small package can weigh several kilograms. The system in the cart automatically sums up the weight of all products and selects the cheapest option.
Information for accounting:
The invoice is generated automatically after the goods are shipped and sent in PDF format to the email address provided in the order (in accordance with the 'paperless' idea). If you need a paper invoice attached to the package, please inform us in the order notes. We also handle Intra-Community Supply of Goods (ICS) transactions with a 0% VAT rate for EU companies with an active EU VAT number.
2. Basics: what are magnets?
Definitions, chemical composition, and basic differences between materials.
Chemical formula and structure:
The basic component is the tetragonal phase Nd2Fe14B. This structure has exceptionally high magnetocrystalline anisotropy, which means it is very difficult to change the direction of its magnetization. This feature gives neodymium magnets such enormous coercivity (resistance to demagnetization) and allows them to store powerful magnetic energy in a small volume.
Full list of rare earth elements (REE):
- Scandium (Sc, 21)
- Yttrium (Y, 39)
- Lanthanum (La, 57)
- Cerium (Ce, 58)
- Praseodymium (Pr, 59)
- Neodymium (Nd, 60) – key component of magnets
- Promethium (Pm, 61)
- Samarium (Sm, 62) – used in SmCo magnets
- Europium (Eu, 63)
- Gadolinium (Gd, 64)
- Terb (Tb, 65) – additive increasing temperature resistance
- Dysprosium (Dy, 66) – ditto
- Holmium (Ho, 67)
- Erb (Er, 68)
- Thulium (Tm, 69)
- Ytterbium (Yb, 70)
- Lutetium (Lu, 71)
Property comparison:
- Strength (BHmax): Neodymium (up to 52 MGOe) vs Ferrite (up to 4 MGOe).
- Appearance: Neodymium is silver (nickel-plated), Ferrite is dark gray/black (ceramic).
- Corrosion: Neodymium rusts very easily (must have a coating), Ferrite is completely resistant to rust (iron oxide).
- Price: Neodymium magnets are much more expensive due to the content of rare earth elements.
- Conductivity: Neodymium conducts electricity (metal), Ferrite is an insulator.
Stability over time:
Modern neodymium magnets are extremely stable. Under normal conditions (room temperature, no strong opposing magnetic fields), they lose less than 1% of their power over 10 years. This means that a magnet bought today will work just as effectively in 100 years, provided it is not physically destroyed or overheated.
3. Magnet fishing (searching in water)
Equipment selection, GOLD series (3 eyes), technical advice, and law.
Detailed specification of the GOLD series:
- F200 GOLD (UMP 75x25 [M10x3]): The ideal compromise. Field intensity ~7500 Gauss. Two side mounts and one top mount. Great for a start, lightweight but effective.
- F300 GOLD HOLOGRAM (UMP 94x28 [3xM10]): Universal 'combine'. Larger diameter (94mm) and thickness (28mm) generate a field of ~9000 Gauss. This is the model most often chosen by advanced amateurs.
- F550 Silver Black (UMP 94x40 [3xM10]): A monster for special tasks. It has a special Silver Black coating resistant to salt and harsh chemical conditions. It is almost twice as thick as the F200, which translates into deep magnetic field penetration.
By mounting the eyelet on the side, you shift the center of gravity. By pulling the rope, you force the magnet to lie flat against the river bottom. Thanks to this, you use 100% of the active surface of the magnet, not just its edge (as in cheap magnets with only one top eyelet).
Our sales ranking and recommendations:
1. Choice No. 1 (Universal): Set F200 GOLD (290kg). This is the best price-to-performance ratio. You will pull out a bike, safe, or road signs with it, and you won't tire your arm after 10 throws.
2. Choice No. 2 (Strong): F300 GOLD (330kg+). If you have the budget and strength, this model will give you an advantage thanks to a wider magnetic field (you will search the bottom faster).
3. Choice No. 3 (Extreme): F550 Silver Black. Only for people aware of the risk – this magnet 'sticks' so strongly that detaching it from a flat sheet metal underwater may be impossible without a winch.
Rope and knot physics:
Each knot weakens the rope by about 30-50% of its nominal strength (notch effect). Therefore, the rope must have a huge power reserve.
- Material: Polypropylene (PP). It does not absorb water (does not get heavy), is resistant to acids and bases, floats on water (easier to fish out if you let go of the end).
- Weave: Core braid. The outer sheath protects against abrasion on stones, the core carries the weight.
- Diameter vs ergonomics: For F200, 6mm is enough (strength ~500kg). For F550, we recommend 8-10mm. Why? A thin rope under heavy load acts like a knife – it cuts into hands. A thicker rope means greater pulling comfort.
Legal interpretation:
- Monuments (Act on the protection of monuments): Searching for hidden or abandoned monuments using electronic and technical devices (including magnets) requires a permit from the Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments (WKZ). If you pull out an old sword, coin, or tank part – it becomes the property of the State Treasury. Appropriation is a crime.
- Weapons and Unexploded Ordnance (Act on weapons and ammunition): Fishing out a gun or grenade imposes an obligation on you to immediately notify the Police (112). You must not move it, take it home, or clean it. This is a mortal danger (unexploded ordnance is chemically unstable) and a criminal risk (up to 8 years in prison for possession).
- Scrap metal: Extracting modern rubbish (caps, pipes, cans) is treated as cleaning the environment and is allowed, unless the regulations of a given water body (e.g., PZW) state otherwise.
Maintenance procedure:
1. Washing: After fishing, rinse the magnet with clean tap water (wash off mud, algae, and humic acids).
2. Drying: This is key. Wipe it dry. Water trapped in the handle housing will cause the core to swell and the nickel coating to crack.
3. Preservation: Lubricate the steel handle housing with oil, WD-40, or wax. The steel housing (even galvanized) loses its protective layer over time from hitting the bottom. F550 Silver Black models have better factory resistance, but also require care.
Rescue techniques:
- Change vector (Angle): Walk 50-100 meters sideways along the bank. By pulling at an angle, you change the tearing force (the largest) into shear force (sliding), which is 80% smaller. The magnet will slide to the edge of the obstacle and let go.
- 'Shot' method: Stretch the rope like a guitar string and release it abruptly. The shock wave on the rope can break the magnet's grip.
- Leverage: Use a thick branch as a lever, wrapping the rope around it.
- Last resort: Hand winch (so-called 'tryzubi') or car winch. Remember – the rope has its breaking strength!
Finds statistics:
- 80% - Scrap: Caps, nails, wires, fragments of fences, cans, parts of agricultural machinery.
- 15% - Utility items: Bicycles, scooters, workshop tools (wrenches, hammers), fishing rods, phones, and even safes (usually empty after theft).
- 5% - Militaria and History: Bayonets, helmets, casings, weapon parts, uniform buttons. It is for these 5% that most people start their adventure with Magnet Fishing.
4. Technical parameters and physics
Detailed knowledge for engineers and constructors.
Deciphering the symbol:
- Letter 'N': Means 'Neodymium' and standard maximum operating temperature (80°C).
- Number (e.g., 38, 42, 52): Means the so-called BHmax (Maximum Energy Product) expressed in MegaGauss-Oersteds (MGOe).
The higher the number, the stronger the magnet with the same volume. An N52 magnet is about 35-40% stronger than an N35 magnet of identical dimensions. N52 is currently the strongest material available in mass production.
Available high-temperature classes:
- N (Standard): up to 80°C
- M (Medium): up to 100°C
- H (High): up to 120°C
- SH (Super High): up to 150°C
- UH (Ultra High): up to 180°C
- EH (Extra High): up to 200°C
- AH (Axial High): up to 230°C
Remanence (Br):
This is the so-called magnetic remanence. It determines how strong the magnetic flux remains in the material after its saturation. For neodymium magnets, it is usually between 1.1 and 1.48 Tesla. This is a parameter speaking about the 'strength' of the magnet.
Coercivity (HcJ):
This is the magnetic field intensity needed to completely demagnetize the material. The higher the coercivity, the harder it is to 'spoil' the magnet through the action of an external field or temperature. Neodymium magnets have very high coercivity, which is why we call them permanent magnets.
Measurements:
- Inside the material (Br): 11,000 - 14,800 Gauss (1.1 - 1.48 T).
- On the pole surface: Depends on the shape! A flat plate magnet may have 2500 Gauss, and a long N52 cylinder even 6500 Gauss in the center of the pole. It is usually between 0.3 and 0.6 Tesla.
Diametrical: Poles are on the sides of the cylinder (as if you cut the cylinder lengthwise). Rarely used, e.g., in rotation sensors.
5. Mounting, gluing, and processing
How to safely connect magnets with other materials.
Recommendations:
The best results are obtained with two-component epoxy adhesives (e.g., Distal, Poxipol, UHU Endfest 300). They form a hard joint that fills irregularities well. For very small magnets, cyanoacrylate glues ('SuperGlue') can be used, but they are brittle and may let go upon impact. The magnet surface before gluing should be degreased (alcohol, acetone) and gently matted with sandpaper (watch out for dust!).
Hot glue guns heat the glue to temperatures of 150-200°C. Applying such hot glue to a standard neodymium magnet (max 80°C) will cause its immediate, partial, or complete demagnetization. The magnet will lose power irretrievably. Use only cold glues.
Why?
- Hardness: Neodymium is a sintered ceramic, harder than tool steel. A regular HSS drill bit just slips.
- Brittleness: The material cracks at the slightest stress.
- Temperature: Friction during drilling will instantly heat the material above 80°C, destroying magnetism around the hole.
- Danger: Neodymium dust is flammable (chips can self-ignite!) and toxic.
Sliding technique:
1. Place the joined magnets on the edge of a stable, wooden table (wood is not magnetic).
2. Lean one magnet against the tabletop and slide the other one off the edge.
3. Pressing firmly, slide one magnet down off the other. The shear force needed to move is much smaller than the pull force.
4. Immediately move the magnets away from each other to a safe distance (min. 50 cm) so they don't 'snap' back (risk of crushing fingers and breaking magnets).

6. Practical applications
Inspiration for home, workshop, and industry.
Legal warning:
Using magnets for this purpose is illegal and treated as theft of utilities (energy, water, gas). Modern meters are equipped with special magnetic field strips/indicators. Bringing a neodymium magnet close causes an irreversible color change of the indicator or saves an error in the electronic meter's memory. During an inspection, this is irrefutable proof of manipulation, which results in huge financial penalties and criminal proceedings.
How does it work?
During engine operation, microscopic metal filings are created (wear of bearings, rings, shafts). A paper oil filter catches impurities up to approx. 20-30 microns. Smaller filings circulate in the oil, acting like abrasive paste. Attaching a strong neodymium magnet to the filter housing (or drain plug) catches ferromagnetic particles from the flowing oil, 'sticking' them to the wall. When changing the oil and filter, you throw away these impurities along with the old filter.
Physics of the problem:
Such a board consists of a steel sheet covered with a thick sheet of glass (usually 4-6 mm). The glass creates a huge 'air gap'. The magnet's attraction force decreases drastically with distance (inverse-square law). Ordinary black ferrite magnets are too weak to penetrate through the glass. You need large, thick neodymium magnets (e.g., cylinders 20x10mm or blocks) that generate a sufficiently deep magnetic field.
7. Safety and health
Hazards for people, children, and electronics.
8. Troubleshooting
Why doesn't the magnet work as it should?
When you hang a magnet on a wall (vertically), shear force acts on it (gravity pulls down). The force needed to move the magnet along the metal is usually only 15-20% of its maximum lifting capacity. Additionally, neodymium magnets are coated with nickel, which is very smooth and slippery. To prevent the magnet from sliding down, you need to increase friction – use a magnet in a rubber housing or stick thin rubber/insulating tape to it.
9. Water and fuel magnetizers (Turbomag)
How to get rid of limescale in pipes and save fuel?
10. Magnetic separators (industry)
Cleaning bulk and liquid products in production.
11. Toys and education
NeoCube balls, physics experiments, and science.
12. Custom production and services
Unusual magnets and solutions for companies.
13. Automotive and workshop (PDR, Taxi)
Magnets in the car, body repairs, and organization.
14. Construction and renovation
Locating profiles, inspection flaps, and cleaning.
15. Advertising and printing
Mounting banners, magnetic foils, and gadgets.
16. Modeling and hobby (figurines, RC)
Magnets in wargames, flying models, and mock-ups.
17. Tailoring and fashion
Magnetic clasps, bags, and clothing.
18. Office and organization
Boards, cable organization, and magnetic paints.
19. Meteorite hunting and geology
Identification of stones and mineral separation.
20. Electronics and sensors
Reed switches, Hall effect, and DIY projects.
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