How to Magnetize Screwdrivers – 3 Easy Methods

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One of the most frustrating things about working with screws is being unable to set them on the screw holes. This happens mostly when installing very tiny screws that are hard to grasp or when installing screw fasteners in very tight spaces.

It is also frustrating when screw fasteners drop in deep and hard-to-reach spaces when installing or removing them. These problems occur mostly when you do not use a screwdriver with a magnetic tip. Such screwdrivers keep your screws from falling. They also act as good pickup tools for small screws and fasteners.

A magnetic screwdriver is easy to find in hardware stores. You can also make one by magnetizing the tip of a regular screwdriver. All you need is a big or small strong magnet or a short telephone wire and a 9V battery. In this post, I will teach you how to magnetize screwdrivers in three easy ways.

Method 1: Magnetize screwdriver using a permanent magnet

Tools and materials

• Screwdriver
• Sheet of paper
• neodymium magnet or ferrite magnet or a magnetic parts tray

Step 1: Obtain a permanent magnet

You need a strong permanent magnet to induce magnetic properties on ferromagnetic material. You can remove one from a broken stereo or subwoofer if you have one lying around. There are also inexpensive permanent magnets such as neodymium magnets and ferrite magnets that you can find from online retailers such as Amazon.

Another option is to buy a magnetic parts tray that will serve two purposes. It will keep your fasteners and screws safe and you can use it to magnetize screwdrivers. A magnetic parts bowl is inexpensive as permanent magnets.

Step 2: Prepare the screwdriver and magnet

There isn’t much preparation for a screwdriver. Just wipe it with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or debris that may damage the magnet or finish on the screwdriver stem. Some screwdrivers have a chrome finish. Don’t scratch them.

On the other hand, the type of magnet you use determines how much preparation you need. If you are using a neodymium magnet or ferrite magnet, cover it with a sheet of paper to keep it from scratching the finish on your screwdriver.

Otherwise, if the magnet is on a part tray, you don’t need to wrap it with a paper sheet. Magnets in part trays come covered with nylon to protect surfaces.

Step 3: Magnetize the screwdriver

Hold the magnet in your left hand and the screwdriver in the other or vice versa. Strike gently and drag the screwdriver stem on the magnet in one direction. Repeat 10 to 15 times and make sure to maintain the same direction. Also, as you drag the screwdriver on the magnet, turn it a quarter a turn to increase magnetization.

For small screwdrivers, drag from one end of the shaft to the tip. Otherwise, start from the center of the stem to the tip.

Step 4: Test the newly magnetized screwdriver

After 10 to 15 strokes in one direction, your regular screwdriver is now magnetized. Test it by attempting to pick screws of different sizes with the tip. If screws stick on it, then you have successfully made a magnetic screwdriver.

Otherwise, repeat the process. Make sure the shaft of the screwdriver is ferrous by sticking the magnet on it. Some screwdrivers have non-ferrous shafts that cannot be magnetized.

The magnetized screwdriver should stay magnetized for a couple of months unless you choose to demagnetize it.

Method 2: Magnetizing a screwdriver with a tiny stick-on magnet

The second method for magnetizing a screwdriver is by sticking a small magnet onto the screwdriver stem. This keeps a regular screwdriver magnetized until the magnet is removed. However, the magnetic strength of the screwdriver depends on the size and magnetic strength of the tiny magnet. This method is useful when you don’t want to keep on magnetizing and demagnetizing the screwdriver using method 1 above.

Method 3: Magnetizing a screwdriver using electromagnetism

This method is based on the concept of electromagnetism. The concept explains how a moving electric charge produces a magnetic field around it. The magnetic field is what magnetizes a ferrous material. You can increase its intensity by winding the insulated conductor. So, when you place a screwdriver or any ferromagnetic object inside the coil, it becomes magnetized This is an easy method to magnetize screwdrivers if you do not have a permanent magnet handy.

Tools and materials

• Screwdriver
• 9V battery (available on Amazon)
• 10 inch long insulated telephone wire

Step 1: Strip the ends of the telephone wire

Use a stripping tool or utility knife to remove insulation from the wire ends. This exposes the conductor for electrical connection.

Step 2: Wind the wire on the shaft of the screwdriver

Leaving 2 inches of wire on each end, wind the stripped wire on the stem of the screwdriver. Eliminate gaps between the coils by squeezing together the first and last winding.

Step 3: Connect the coil to 9V battery

Connect one end of the coil to the positive terminal of a 9V battery and the other end to the negative terminal. Connect for about 10 seconds and disconnect. Do not interchange the terminals or you will demagnetize the screwdriver.

Step 4: Disconnect the battery and remove the screwdriver

Disconnect the coil from the battery after about 10 seconds. If you keep the connection longer, the coil will start to overheat.

Step 5: Test the screwdriver

Test the screwdriver to see if it has been magnetized successfully. Try picking some screws with the tip and see how long they stick on. If you are pleased with the magnetic strength of the screwdriver, you can wrap things up. If not, try using a longer wire to make more windings on the screwdriver shaft. This will increase the strength of the electromagnetic field.