FAQS

There are several simple methods that can be used to identify the (Scientific) North and South poles of neodymium magnets.

1)The easiest way is to use another magnet that is already marked. The North pole of the marked magnet will be attracted to the South pole of the unmarked magnet.

2)If you take an even number of magnets and pinch a string in the middle of the stack and dangle the magnets so they can freely rotate on the string, the North pole of the magnets will eventually settle pointing North. This actually contradicts the “opposites attract” rule of magnetism, but the naming convention of the poles is a carry over from the old days when the poles were called the “North-seeking” and “South-seeking” poles.   These were shortened over time to the “North” and “South” poles that we know them as.

3)If you have a compass handy, the end of the needle that normally points North will be attracted to the North pole of the neodymium magnet.

4)Use Pole Identifier Devices.

(Please note: In some magnetic therapy applications, the definitions of the poles are reversed from the scientific definition described above. Please be sure to confirm the proper definition of the poles prior to using magnets for medical purposes)

No, both poles are equally strong.

Neodymium (more precisely Neodymium-Iron-Boron) magnets are the strongest permanent magnets in the world.

We use the description “Magnetized thru thickness” to identify the locations of the poles on our block magnets. The thickness is always the last dimension listed for block magnets. If you take one of our block magnets and place it on a flat surface with the thickness dimension as the vertical dimension, the poles will be on the top and bottom of the magnet as it sits.For example: On one of our blocks of 1″ x 1/2″ x 1/8″ thick (25.4 x 12.7 x 3.17mm). If you place one of the blocks so it is on a flat surface with 1/8″ (3.17mm) as the vertical dimension, the poles will be on the top and bottom as the magnet sits. This means the poles are located in the middle of the 1″ x 1/2″ sides (25.4 x 12.7mm).

Ferromagnetic materials are strongly attracted by a magnetic force.   The elements iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co) are the most commonly available elements. Steel is ferromagnetic because it is an alloy of iron and other metals.

Magnetic fields cannot be blocked, only redirected. The only materials that will redirect magnetic fields are materials that are ferromagnetic (attracted to magnets), such as iron, steel (which contains iron), cobalt, and nickel. The degree of redirection is proportional to the permeability of the material. The most efficient shielding material is the 80 Nickel family, followed by the 50 Nickel family.