From: charlesanderson@optushome.com.au   
      
   deowll wrote:   
   > I'm also a little dubious of magnetic by intent rather than by accident.   
   > Holding dust on the steel would not be a good thing but avoiding  being   
   > magnetic might be hard to do due to the manufacturing process or events   
   > that occurred later.  I seem to recall that a steel rod facing north or   
   > at least what ever the correct direction is that gets hit on the end   
   > will become magnetic.  You could also do it by dragging a magnet across it.   
      
   Yeah none of mine are magnetic, and I agree there would be a good chance   
   of scratching your nice blade.   
      
   Dragging a magnet across a piece of steel will magnetise it temporarily.   
      
   I only know how to demagnetise metal.  I demagnetised a telescopic probe   
   when I touched a piece of cherry red steel... it was an accident.   
      
   The other way is to put the steel item into the earth and hit the other   
   end with a hammer.   
      
      
   Another "North" thing.  I've seen a blade smith heat treating a blade   
   then pointing said blade North.  He's the only person I've seen do this.   
     I've spoken to a number of my peers and the consensus is "why?".   
      
      
      
      
   Regards Charles   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)