Removing magnets

[brnursebmt]

Monty. I have a older Camen set-up that has never been ran that I want to take out the magnets and install different ones. It looks like these magnets have been glued in with epoxy, Im not sure but the glue looks thick. My question is how to get them out without damaging the set-up.

Thanks,
Bobby

[Z and m racing]

I was wondering how to remove magnets if they have been epoxyed and then cured in the oven. the question is how do i get them out.

Zach Holley

[Monty @ B.O.W.]

Its always a matter of heat. Usually, you can get the can hot enough with your soldering iron for the epoxy to release. Use a small screwdriver or similar to apply light but steady pressure on the magnet until it moves. Obviously, be careful you don't burn yourself, or use gloves.

The procedure works for both ceramic and cobalt magnets. For ceramics, after you get them cleaned up, you need to get them rezapped if you're going to use them again. Cobalts probably won't lose strength from the heating, but you do have to be careful since they easily click together and they are easily chipped or broken.

[Slapshot]

Monty:
Correct me if wrong, but I would like to add some additional info.
I seem to recall Joel once saying that they used heat cured JB Weld Liquid high temp Steel epoxy or something similar in the early years. I remember a recommendation to place the can in a baby food jar (with lid) and pour in enough Denatured Alcohol (stuff you get in the hardware stores) to cover the can setup and let it soak for about 24 hours or more. That will soften the epoxy some. Then take the can/magnet out of the alcohol wash briefly with water. After that you do the proceedure exactly as you recommended and take a pre heated soldering iron to it and it should pop off quickly without too much heat. Be sure to put soft object (rag, Popsicle stick, what ever) between cobalt magnet as they will flip, slap and crack.

Raymond

[Monty @ B.O.W.]

Ray,

Yes, soaking the assembly in alcohol - or acetone, even better - will soften the epoxy. On the other hand, it will take some hours, as you point out. It works for me with nothing but heat, and only takes a few seconds longer than if I added the solvent soak procedure.

Oh, and yes, JB weld (which is steel filled) is still my favorite magnet epoxy!