How to Drill a Magnet

Ferrite magnets
••• Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The wonders of science never cease to amaze. For those of us who are easily impressed, magnets still exert a tremendous force on us. Though students are aware of what happens when you chase one magnet with another, few are aware of what happens to a magnet when you drill a hole through it. Does it open a wormhole? Does it give birth to a black hole? No. But the end results will surprise the curious and astound the skeptical.

    Put your eye protection on.

    Clamp the magnet into a bench vise, leaving about an inch of the magnet exposed. Use a magnet that is about an inch in diameter or an inch square.

    Fit your drill with a 3/16-inch bit.

    Place the bit firmly against the magnet and activate the drill.

    Push the drill bit through the magnet.

    Things You'll Need

    • Eye protection
    • Bench vise
    • Magnet
    • 3/16-inch drill bit
    • Hand drill

    Warnings

    • Always wear eye protection when you use a drill.

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