Homebrew PCBs

If we make the assumption that non- and anti- magnetic mean the same thing then most stainless steel falls into that category. Austenite stainless steel ... about 70% of all the stainless produced ... is non-magnetic. If the tweezers are stainess then putting it thru the device will do not harm but will also do not good. 

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Steve <steve65@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks all for the advice.
> 
> I'm using Wiha 44523 and 44529 tweezers, which the Wiha web site lists 
> as ESD safe and anti-magnetic. Not sure what anti-magnetic means. The 
> dental pick is just "normal" steel as far as I can tell.
> 
> I have one of those magnetize/demagnetize gadgets (made by Wiha I think) 
> that you pass a screwdriver through one side to magnetize and the other 
> side to demagnetize. I'll try passing the tweezers and dental pick 
> through the demagnetize side and see what happens (this evening after work).
> 
> Never gave much thought to SMD components such as resistors and 
> capacitors having enough ferrous material in them to be attracted to a 
> magnet. As well as IC's, they stick to the tools as well.
> 
> Steve K8JQ
> 
> On 10/24/2011 6:03 AM, Leon Heller wrote:
> > On 24/10/2011 02:19, Steve wrote:
> >> I've been placing some 0805 SMT components on PCB's this weekend. Use
> >> tweezers to place the component and a dental pick to fine tune its
> >> position on the board.
> >>
> >> Often times the component will stick to a leg of the tweezer or to the
> >> dental pick. Very annoying to get the component in the right spot and be
> >> unable to "let go" of it.
> >>
> >> What makes it stick? Anything to do to lessen the sticking effect of
> >> components to tools? I cleaned the tweezers and dental pick with
> >> alcohol, but to no avail.
> >
> > Perhaps the tools have become magnetised. I once used an electromagnet
> > powered by AC to demagnetise a tool by placing it in contact and slowly
> > withdrawing it from the field.
> >
> > Leon
>