Magnetize a screw driver

[pat warner]

Looking to find a way to magnetize screw drivers.
Not a few Gauss that will hold a needle but enough to firmly hold a screw.
How?

[Jake Elkins]

Sticking a couple of rare-earth magnets at the end of the screw driver for a few days, followed by some occasional 'stroking' down the axis will do the trick. At least in my experience better than the magnetizers you can buy for this purpose

[John Lankers]

Easy.
Find a reasonably strong magnet and stroke the screwdriver several times along the surface of the magnet turning it slightly with each turn. Takes maybe 10 seconds or so.

[Cary Falk]

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/caryincamas/0eff0316-7968-488b-a146-7fd55d5cd893_400_zps00icrv7l.jpg

[Dan Friedrichs]

How firm? Wind a coil of wire around the screwdriver and hook to a battery :)

[Steve Jenkins]

Don't remember where I got it but I have a small doughnut shaped magnet that I slide over whichever screwdriver I want.

[Ellery Becnel]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Joh80s_DeM I have used this method. It works well.

[Mel Fulks]

Long time ago I bought something like what Cary posted. The computor translated instructions were such a hoot that I saved them and I'm pretty sure I still have the tool, too.

[Joe Spear]

Yes, just rub it on a magnet. I accidentally magnetized one once when i was working on a large speaker and it came into contact with the magnet.

[Jamie Buxton]

You probably have a magnetic bit holder for your power drill. If it is like mine, it has a nice strong magnet that holds screws very securely. You may have a hand screwdriver set up for replaceable bits. If not, you can buy one for a couple bucks. Put the magnetic bit holder in the hand screwdriver, and you're all set. As a side benefit, you get to use any kind or size of tip you want.

[Bill Space]

Dan said: "How firm? Wind a coil of wire around the screwdriver and hook to a battery :)"

If you do this make sure you either have a very large coil (resistance wise), or a small capacity battery!

I just had a childhood flashback... Large capacity power sources and low resistance coils make for big sparks and flashes...

[Jerry Miner]

I use one of these:

Mag Ring (http://shop.jackrabbittool.com/product.sc?productId=4&categoryId=1)

333255
It holds three strong rare-earth magnets. Works great