Magnetic Tools

[On the Spot]

From a non mechanic !
It would not seemt o be a good idea to use magnetic tools around an aircraft for fear of inducing magnetism in either parts of the aircraft or in other tools. But does anyone know of limitations or prohibitions contained in rules or standard procedures on this subject ?

[Tony Mabelis]

I was taught that magnetic screwdrivers should not be used in a glass cockpit as they tended to b...... up CRT displays.

[Mr.Brown]

Never to be used on the compass, thats a certain.

[boshank]

i don't know if it would be a problem on most parts of the A/C as most of it is aluminium alloy or composite. i agree about using them on the flight deck and in avionic bays as there is very sensitive equipment in there that could be affected by the magnetism.

[mitzy69]

the cutlery to eat crew meals gets magnetised, as it vibrates in the trolleys if it is pointing in a north south direction during flight. so it would be hard to exclude magnetic tools from the CRTs in the flight deck.

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

Isn't the KFS stainless steel? How hard does it rattle?

[Blacksheep]

Multi-bit screwdrivers are in common use around the hangars and many of them use magnetic retention. The advantage is that a steel screw placed on the bit stays there while you line it up. In working on compass adjusting (which I haven't done for many a long year) we used a special copper screwdriver, as even a non-magnetised steel driver affects the compass. You just have to use a bit of common sense.

We once had a problem when the Boeing Rep. handed out loads of freebie 'Boeing' Logo security pass holders. They gripped the shirt pocket using a magnet. Lord knows how many Nav Data Base floppy disks were corrupted before we cottoned on to the cause... :ugh:

[On the Spot]

I was thinking of magnetism doing strange things to steel components and causing for instance steel debris, from normal wear and tear, to accummulate where it should not and potentially cause more significant problems.

I can appreciate that waving a magnetic tool around in an avionics environment might induce currents to flow where they were not intended and cause damage.

I have heard also of a fuel sender where the track of the potentiometer was polluted with steel particles, attracted by induced magnetism in the structure, and that then gave a false low fuel level indication.

Of course the convenience issue of using a magnetic bit holder is a major one. But I wondered if such tools were in fact permitted or prohibited by the authorities, perhaps by means of workshop standards or similar and of which I am not aware ?

[jazz-sparky]

Well, lets just say that any aircrafts parts will required to be replaced one day. Potentiometers with a brush will black spot, switches will get tired of toggling and lights lighting...

Without these great magnetic tools, all the freaking small 4-40 screws and nuts that hold these relays and gizmos would be waiting down in the bottom of the avionic bay for the next C check (or not?). :mad:

The design engineers already made our life miserable by allowing production of aircrafts without proper access panels, don't give them ideas like that! :ugh:

Like a pilot told me one day:"what about solar storms?"....
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