Question about cutting into case.

[HaXiT0X]

Someone told me that if any of the tools I use for cutting into my case have a motor that runs on a magnet or something (i'm assuming any portable power tools) that it could magnetize that part of my case and potentially ruin my hardware. Is this true or is this guy full of *****?

[Staz]

Oh pull the other one!

I have used a dremmel, a jig saw, and a power drill to cut up many cases and never ever ever ......

I'm sorry. I can't go on.

That one is just way to high up on the BS meter to take seriously.

Welcome to the forum.

[danrok]

I don't think there's much truth in that.

But, I wouldn't recommend using power tools on your case with your components installed.

What type of case are you planning on cutting?

[Staz]

Originally Posted by danrok

But, I wouldn't recommend using power tools on your case with your components installed.

That is a given. I think that small metal shavings getting into tiny nooks and crannies and inadvertantly shorthing something is a larger danger than a rotating magnetic field from a power tool.

[HaXiT0X]

Ok, thanks for clearing that up guys. I think the kid who told me that was just trying to pitch a sale at me because he has a wholesalers license for electronics/computer components or something, so when he heard I was modding my case he probably thought he could bs me into buying a new case from him.

[robbie]

I would NEVER recommend that you cut into your case with ANY hardware insatlled. Little conductive metal flakes on a something that passes alot of electricity throw it really gives me the shakes!!!
Rob

[Aedan]

The thing is, in a power tool, you want that magnetic field to drive the motor. The more of that field that leaks out, the less efficient the motor is! It's difficult to prevent it all leaking out, but the chances of you managing to magnatize steel that heavily with a power tool are zero.

Summing it up, all power tools utilise magnetic fields. Mind you, so do hard disks, floppy disks and fans.

The magnets inside a hard disk are extremely powerful, much more so than any magnet in a power tool. I have a friend who uses them to hold panels onto a car when he's welding body panels into place.

[stigweed]

Whenever 'm cutting or driling into a case, I find the shards themselves seem to get magnetized. I'm guessing that being small and hot, the cool down in the magnetic field or something. Anyway, they always seema beetch to remove - can't tap or shake them out, cant vacuum them - even using another magnet (generally a bad idea in the long run) can't pick them up. I usually have to wipe them up and hope the ones in the cracks don't float out into hardware.

[danrok]

Try applying some kind of grease or thick oil in the area your are drilling or cutting, this way most of the metal dust will stick to the grease which can then be wiped off.

[Gizmo]

IIRC, any ferous metal when heated will tend to magnetize weakly. It's not the tool itself that magnetizes the metal (as Aedan points out, you want the magnetic field doing work, not wandering off, and anyway, you can't magnetize ANYTHING with a 60 hz A/C field), rather it is the heat of friction and the earth's magnetic field that is doing the trick.