I seem to regularly have some tool or another which somehow becomes 
magnetized - rendering it either annoying (ever tried to trim leads with 
a magnetized set of cutters?) or just plain useless (magnetized tweezers 
used to place parts anyone?).

I've tried a "passive" tool magnetizer/demagnetizer with no luck - it 
seems to leave plenty of residual magnetism, and maybe even makes it worse.

I know that I can build a TV style degauss unit out of a big (meaning 
long and also large around) coil of magnet wire attached to an AC plug, 
but the plans I've found of course require lots of magnet wire, and are 
definately not designed for tool demagnetizing.   I'd try winding a 
similar amount of wire onto a smaller form, but creating a unknown 
inductance and plugging it into an AC wall outlet scares me for obvious 
reasons.  I've also given some thought of making one and putting it in 
series with a 100W indandescent "current limiter and light producer", 
but that isn't really what I want.

So, to ask my questions:

1) Has anyone had luck with any of the "passive" demagnetizers, meaning 
that a specific type seems to remove all traces of magnetism from a 
given tool?

2) How about some of the commerical "active" demagetizers.  Seems like 
there are a few that are around $100 or so, but I don't want to buy 2-3 
to find one which works.

3) Finally, are there any kits/plans available to build your own ...  or 
does someone have one they built which works?  And perhaps related - 
let's assume I build one, does anyone have an idea of the inductance 
and/or DC resistance I would need to not pop the breaker and/or cause 
glowing wire?   Let's assume US 120V 60Hz.

Thanks.

-forrest


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