Important information regarding the handling of neodymium magnets

Liability

Webcraft GmbH (as operator of supermagnete.it) does not accept responsibility for damage that has been caused by the improper handling of magnets. With the purchase of these magnets, you confirm that you have read and understood the following warnings. If you are giving these SuperMagnets as a gift, please be sure to include this information sheet in the package. Ensure that children are told about the potential dangers of the magnets.

Danger of breaking or chipping

NdFeB SuperMagnets can break. The most common cause of breakage is when two magnets are allowed to collide. In particular when a disc magnet and a strong sphere magnet collide, the disc magnet is not likely to survive. It is also conceivable that chips of the magnet will fly due to such a collision. You should wear gloves and protective glasses when handling larger magnets. You should always handle magnets with caution and never let them collide together.

Danger for children

There is a danger that children will insert the magnets into a power outlet. Make sure to supervise your children whenever they play with the magnets. Keep larger magnets out of children's reach, as you would sharp knives or other dangerous materials, as fingers can be crushed between the powerful magnets. Because of the danger of being swallowed, NdFeB-magnets are not suitable as toys for children under the age of nine. If several small magnets are swallowed, they can get stuck in the intestines and cause life-threatening injuries.

Crushing

Larger magnets, when they are brought close enough together, can have a surprising amount of power. Fingers are quickly caught between them which can cause blood blisters or cuts. Wear gloves when handling larger magnets and use caution. Practice handling smaller magnets first. You are advised against testing the strength of your magnets on your (or somebody else's) earlobes, nose, etc. You've been warned!

Magnetism - danger for appliances

NdFeB magnets are much stronger than "ordinary" magnets. Keep a safe distance between the magnets and all appliances and objects that can be damaged by magnetism. This includes, amongst other things, television and computer monitors, credit cards, diskettes and other data devices, video tapes, mechanical clocks, hearing aids and loud speakers. Pacemakers can be disturbed by large magnets - in case of doubt, exercise caution.

Wearing or chipping of the surface coating

SuperMagnets are usually plated with a thin layer of nickel, gold or silver. This plating can wear away in the course of normal use. In particular, the repeated collision of sphere magnets with each other results in extreme pressure at the point of contact, which inevitably leads to a loss of surface coating or even chipping. Large sphere magnets should be stored separated from each other with cardboard or a piece of soft paper, and should not be allowed to lie on metal surfaces for too long.

Processing, drilling, sawing, fire

NdFeB magnets can be secured with glue or, better, countersunk and glued. You should never attempt to cut or drill into a magnet. First, the magnets will break. Second, this cutting or boring will produce a dust that is easily flammable. The magnets should only be machined with special diamond tools and while water-cooled. Keep the magnets away from open flames and any heat sources. (The magnetisation of neodymium magnets reduces quickly at temperatures of more than 80 degrees Celsius.)

Nickel allergies

Most SuperMagnets are nickel-plated. Nickel is a metal which can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Nickel allergies can be acquired through long-term contact with objects that release nickel. In most cases, these allergic reactions are triggered by nickel-containing jewellery (e.g., earrings or piercings, clips, rings or necklaces). As a precaution, avoid long-term contact with nickel-plated magnets (e.g., jewellery) and totally abstain from contact with nickel-plated materials if you already have a nickel allergy. How much or little it takes to trigger a nickel allergy is debatable (note the discussions regarding the Euro coins which contain 25% nickel).

Effects on people

Whether permanent magnets have an influence on the human organism is debatable. Therapists who use the magnets for medicinal purposes will naturally answer in the affirmative. Scientific studies have shown that the power of permanent magnets is too weak to be able to cause a measurable effect on humans. However this is not a final conclusion and it's totally possible that this subject will be evaluated differently in the future due to new methods of measurement. The discussion of whether its influence on humans is beneficial or damaging is another story. If you'd like to play it safe, then avoid long-term contact and keep large magnets at least 1 meter away from your body.