How to remove a magnet?

[AThorn13]

How would one go about removing a magnet from a hole in something? My problem is that I got a small ball magnet stuck in a screwdriver hole, fitted for an alan wrench, and cannot remove it. Any help would be much appreciated.

[Sensei]

Maybe by using yet another magnet to attract/repel it?

Alternatively using thin piece of steel/iron, so magnet will attach to it, and you will be able to pull both.

[imatfaal]

If above suggestions fail (and they would be my first attempts as well) - could you epoxy glue the magnet to a rod of somesort. Araldite or some other strong glue - especially if used corrected can be very tough

Am I undestanding correctly that this is in the recessed hexagonal hole in an allen key bolt - ie where the pen is pointing:

 

If this is the case I would mount the bolt at the end a decent length of wood so that the bolt axis is perpendilcular to the length of the wood. And with the ball-magnet to the front whack the length of wood down hard on to a surface so that it stops suddenly - obvious you need to chose a surface such that you avoid the bolt itself. With a good length of whippy wood you can get a great speed and the rapid deceleration will hopefully be too much for the magnetic attraction to overcome

[michel123456]

If the above do not work, you may try this, if there is some gap between the ball magnet and the hexagonal hole (as it should be).
Take the ball pen (as shown in imatfaal picture), remove the parts of it and use only the shaft (the external part).
Take the shaft into a plier and use a lighter to heat one end of the shaft, then abruptly put the half-molted shaft into the hole, with full strength. Wait for a while without moving anything.
The molted plastic will hopefully go around your magnet and you'll be able to remove it when removing the shaft.
Beware not to use a plastic that is highly flammable, you may burn the house!

It is strongly recommended to make a try in a safe place (in a sink for example, next to water, or outside) and with the help of an adult before playing with fire.

And use gloves.

And the first aid kit at hand (choose the hand that will not be burned)

Edited February 7, 2014 by michel123456

[CaptainPanic]

An Alan wrench is hexagonal, which means that at 6 points, you have a small gap between your magnet and the side of the hole. Can't you just squeeze a needle in there, and use that as a lever?

An optional addition to that idea is that you use a small plier to make a tiny bend in the very end (last millimeter) of the needle. Then jam is in, so that the end bends - but bends only below your magnet. The now fully bent needle could act like a scoop.

 

If the hole is too deep, you may have to go for the epoxy glue or molten plastic options that were described before.

 

Finally, although I like a good challenge, you are talking about less than a euro worth of components. Replacement - although it means admitting defeat - is an option.

[swansont]

 

Finally, although I like a good challenge, you are talking about less than a euro worth of components. Replacement - although it means admitting defeat - is an option.

 

I'm guessing the bolt is screwed into something, rather than just lying around somewhere. Which would mean replacement isn't an option.

[michel123456]

Another option is to use suction. try with a narrow straw (or maybe the same pen shaft)

Edit

The straw must come into contact with the magnet.

Edited February 7, 2014 by michel123456

[Spyman]

Is the magnet stuck by its own magnetism or has it been pressed into a too small hole?

 

If stuck by the walls you may need to break it with a small cold chisel and then remove the smaller parts.

 

Otherwise I vote for using a stronger magnet, maybe with a piece of iron inbetween to reach down into the hole if the magnet is to big.

Edited February 7, 2014 by Spyman