The North Magnetic Pole is the point on the surface of the Earth where the north pole of a bar magnet points.  Here are some interesting points about it:

1.      The North Magnetic Pole is not located at the Geographic North Pole (I.e. the point at the top of the globe where the longitude lines cross).

2.      The North Magnetic Pole is constantly moving due to changes in the Earth’s spinning core.  See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Magnetic_North_Pole_Positions.svg for a map of its various positions over the last 400+ years.

3.      The north pole of a bar magnet is attracted to the North Magnetic Pole.  Since magnets are attracted to opposite polarities, the North Magnetic Pole is actually an area of southern (not northern) polarity.

4.      Over geologic ages, the Earth’s magnetic field has reversed its polarity a number of times (I.e. with northern polarity becoming southern, etc.)

Small magnets are used everywhere in our daily lives – from refrigerator magnets to jewelry clasps to parts in children’s toys.  On the whole, the magnets we encounter are very benign.

However, there is one area where magnets are very dangerous.  That is when small magnets are ingested.  If two magnets of opposite polarity (or a magnet and a piece of metal it attracts) are in a person’s digestive system, they can attract each other.  The danger comes if they attract each other between two different parts of the intestines.  The magnets can cause perforations of the intestines, leading to infections, blood poisoning and even death.  Unlike swallowing coins, ingested magnets frequently require surgery to recover the magnets.

This is not a made-up danger.  Both the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) have issued warnings about the dangers of children playing with and swallowing small magnets.

Many cows have rod shaped magnets fed to them during their branding, which remain in their reticulum, or second stomach chamber, for life. The purpose of the magnet is to collect accidentally ingested “tramp metals” (nails, barbed wire, etc) and prevent these objects from passing further down the cow’s digestive tract which could cause serious bodily harm to the animal.

Keep your magnet dry.

Never cool your magnet with water!

The average magnet absorbs moisture if left on the ground.  This can cause short circuits and cripple the magnet’s lifting power. Protect your magnet in storage by storing it where it is dry.  As well, it is best to store it on a low platform or on blocks.

Make sure that the terminal box is closed.  This keeps moisture away from the terminals as well as protecting them from breakage.  If the cover is lost, get a new one.

Handling hot materials requires special attention to your magnet.

A hot magnet will not carry as much as a cool magnet.  You can turn the power off on the return trip to help cool your magnet somewhat.

However, lifting hot materials doesn’t allow your magnet to cool as quickly or completely.  Watch the magnet’s temperature carefully and switch to a spare magnet to avoid overheating.

Don’t use the magnet as a battering ram.

The impact of crashing your magnet into other objects can damage it in a number of ways.  You may break a pole shoe, a terminal box, damage the windings or rupture the insulation inside the magnet.

Use your lifting magnet only for lifting!

Set your magnet down easily.

A magnet costs money.  Repairs to magnets can cost thousands of dollars and use up precious time, repair parts and manpower.

EASE your magnet down on the pile and extend its life.

Don’t use the magnet as a “skull cracker”.

Many magnets do not wear out.  Instead, they are broken by careless handling.

Don’t drop a magnet to break up heavy pieces of scrap.  Use your lifting magnet only for lifting.

Keep the power off on the return trip.

With the power turned on, a magnet heats up.  A hot magnet will not carry as much as a cool magnet.

First, discharge the load quickly.  Then, turn the power off during the return trip, which will allow the magnet to cool off.

If the magnet is cooler at the start of each lift, it will be able to lift more for each load.

Work on deep piles.

If you are lifting from a deep pile, the magnetism has a chance to take a full, deep “bite” out of the pile.

If only small piles are left, use the magnet to gather them together into one big pile.  One “big load” trip is 3 times as fast as three “small load” trips.