From: delcecchi@gmail.com   
      
   "Chilla"  wrote in message   
   news:4b483715$0$5421$afc38c87@news.optusnet.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   
   >   
   You can put it inside an alternating magnetic field that is strong   
   enough and slowly withdraw it.  see "degaussing".  CRT televisions had   
   them built in for the shadow mask.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)