How to Magnetize any Screwdriver Instantly!
The other day I was helping my buddy change a tail light bulb in his SUV. The lens cover had little screws that had to be taken out from the inside of the tailgate area. We'll my friend is not mechanically inclined and his name might as well be Fumbles McGee because if he can lose or drop something, it will happen. He finally dropped a screw inside of the fender well, and couldn't get to it. He fumbled around with it for about 45 minutes before he finally called me for help. He had manipulated it into a position where he could touch the screw with his fingers, but not retrieve it.
Screwdriver Kit
So I went over there to help him, and peering into the hole, I could see the head of the screw. I immediately reached for one of his 5 screwdrivers hoping one of them was magnetized so we could fish it out, but as luck would have it, none of them were. So I decided to show him a trick I had learned long ago.
I asked him to find a piece of insulated wire, perhaps a foot long. After about 10 minutes of fumbling around, the only thing he could come up with was something that looked like a super long twist tie, like the kind used to tie up a loaf of bread. So without any other choice, I thought I'd try it anyway. Seconds later, I had a magnetized screwdriver, retrieved the lost screw and finished up the job. Here's how I magnetize screwdrivers:
It's best to use some insulated wire like the kind used for stereo speakers. You strip about an inch of insulation off of each end at about a 15 inch piece, and start wrapping it around the shaft of the screwdriver. Then, you disconnect the car battery and MOMENTARILY, I mean for a split second, touch it to the pos and neg terminals of the car battery. It will spark, for that split second, but you'll already be done, and you'll have a magnetized screwdriver. Warning: I've shown this technique to many people who have been doing this now for years. However, placing a wire across a live battery is essentially shorting the battery. I've never had a problem, or created a problem magnetizing screwdrivers in this way. However in theory, it could be dangerous, and damage your battery or cause personal injury. So do it at your own risk!