How to Magnetize Metal

Posted on September 24th, 2009 by Carmelia

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We’re usually familiar with magnets in the form of clunky metal already magnetized. Not a lot of people know that you can actually make more magnets from existing magnets. The principle behind magnetization is to have the positive and negative particles to line up together, creating a stronger pull between opposite charges to attract them together. Here’s how you can magnetize metal.

Tools

Magnet
A metal nail
Nine-volt battery
Copper wire

Procedure

The quickest way to magnetize metal is to use a lot of elbow grease. Use the magnet to rub the metal in just one direction to line up the positive and negative particles together. This will take some time, but you’ll magnetize the metal after a while, but remember that it will lose its magnetization after a while.
Using electricity is another way to magnetize a piece of metal. This is called electromagnetism. As long as you have a source of electricity or energy, the particles will remain polarized, and hence, magnetized.
Wrap the copper wire from the head of the nail and well after the tip. Have several feet copper wire leftover before and after wrapping it on the nail.
Get your nine-volt batter and take the two loose ends of the copper wire. Wrap them on the opposite ends of the battery. Make sure that your battery is new or fully-charged or else your electromagnet won’t work. Make sure that the wires are fully connected to the battery’s terminals or again, it won’t work.
You’ll be able to test if you’ve attached the battery correctly by using the now-magnetized nail to pick up other smaller pieces of metal like nails. You can also use it pick up bigger objects, or even magnetize other metallic objects. As long as the battery life holds, the nail will remain magnetized.