How to Separate STRONG Magnets

What happens when two powerful magnets attract to one another? Magnetic separation can be a difficult, frustrating and even dangerous process if proper technique and safety are not considered.

The concept of Shear force is at the heart of separating powerful magnets: slide, don’t pull.

Sliding magnets apart, using shear force, can be up to five times easier than simply trying to pull two magnets away from each other. Keep best magnet safety practices in mind and wear safety glasses and gloves to protect eyes and hands while working with magnets that have attracted together. Strong magnets may shatter or chip if they quickly jump together, potentially causing injury or damage to nearby people and objects.

When trying to separate even stronger magnets, a table or counter edge is a helpful way to gain leverage. For the strongest magnets, consider using magnetic separation tools such as a magnet-separating jig. These jigs are made from non-ferrous materials like wood or aluminum and are customizable to the correct size and function to safely split magnets apart.

Once they are separated, magnets should be stored apart to prevent unwanted attraction.

[chellakand]

Thank you. Me and my son was struggling to separate strong magnet for 3 days. Just less than 10 seconds WE DID IT. After watching your video😀 Love you tube😀

[Pdiddysigma]

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCHH. when i was younger i bought 2 neodymium magnets and stuck them together. It’s been 6 years and i finally found a way to split them!!

[JutListn]

SAVED MY MAGNETIC HOOKS! Thank you so much! These hooks work ridiculously well and I thought they had same poles so I held them in the same hand and was TERRIBLY wrong. I almost cried lol

[Pineabble]

That was a very informative and interesting video! I don't have a problem with any magnets right now, but I was curious how you'd separate very strong ones. Good to know!

[andrewzhan]

I used to have 2 magnet blocks that are very strong and cannot be separated apart, after applying the edge technique, I easily split them off. Now they are laid in separate boxes to prevent them from sticking again.

[happinessTODAY]

Thank you so Much ! I tried several things that didn’t work at all ! But you were a great help !

[EZEMEAT]

Just saved me after 10 minutes of frustration. Thanks so much 🙏

[shamelhowell]

I always thought they became stuck/stone permanently afterwards unless another magnetic force was introduced. Good to know its this easy.

[wbiro]

I was creating a checkers type of game with small button magnets, where the object is to capture the opponent's magnets by passing over them, but I found and even more fun component of the game -- that of initially getting the button magnets apart to begin with, which was even more fun than the game (and which will become a part of the game -- who can separate twelve button magnets first) (and then another challenge, actually setting them out on the board). Or, if they are set out to repel, pushing the opponent's pieces off of the board. So here I am, trying to see if there are any tricks to it, because I found it difficult!

[lizdowell]

i just unstuck 2 65lb mags from each other! sweet! the shearing motion worked a treat! USE GLOVES!

[tasharae]

Thank you! Very informative and helpful 🤗

[RoxannLarson]

How cool! I love it. I wish the company that I had bought these hooks from had included instructions. No wonder they were so cheap.

[HelDC]

Thank you! After seeing this I was able to use a paper cutter to separate magnets!

[chelastrayer]

Thank you! Great presentation; very helpful.

[Lucas.]

I have a magnet stuck to something that I can’t quite reach my fingers through

[bocabec]

Thank you for this helpful video. I took your advice an put on some leather gloves and eye protection. It's a good thing because I nearly broke every plate in the cabinet. I would have had some serious essplaining to do later when the "broom" gets home.