Non-directional Alnico 5

[Zhangliqun]

Magnetic Hold sent me a couple of uncharged samples of non-directional A5 (can be charged from either direction) but I couldn't get them to charge at all. Has anyone tried these, and if so, what do you think -- different from standard A5?

[J S Moore]

I've only heard opinion on the LP forum but it seems to sound more like A2. I found another place that supposedly has isotropic A5. I'm interested in it myself but it's not something that is typically produced.

Strange that you couldn't charge it at all.

[belwar]

Magnetic Hold sent me a couple of uncharged samples of non-directional A5 (can be charged from either direction) but I couldn't get them to charge at all. Has anyone tried these, and if so, what do you think -- different from standard A5?

I got those samples too .. throw them away

[soundmasterg]

I got those samples too .. throw them away

What is the point of magnets that can't be charged?

Greg

[J S Moore]

That is really disappointing that it wasn't a fluke. How can they screw that up? It's the same formula just not cast in a magnetic field.

Did you e-mail Magnetic Hold about it?

[Zhangliqun]

That they're more like A2 was kind of what I was hoping for. Not exactly like A2 but somewhere in between, kind of a best of both worlds thing.

I've just got the neo mags in a vice for a "charger", but it seems to work on all other non-charged magnets I've gotten, including some roughcast A3's I just got from the same people.

I did contact MH but the answer was a little confusing, a bit like they were disappointed in the results too.

[Zhangliqun]

I've only heard opinion on the LP forum but it seems to sound more like A2. I found another place that supposedly has isotropic A5. I'm interested in it myself but it's not something that is typically produced.

Strange that you couldn't charge it at all.

I know it isn't typically produced, never even heard of it til they shipped me these samples. But I'm definitely interested so let me know what this other place is...

[Joe Gwinn]

Magnetic Hold sent me a couple of uncharged samples of non-directional A5 (can be charged from either direction) but I couldn't get them to charge at all. Has anyone tried these, and if so, what do you think -- different from standard A5?

Probably takes a stronger charging field than your charger can generate.

[J S Moore]

It shouldn't take any more than anisotropic A5 to charge them.

[Zhangliqun]

I've had no problem charging other non-charged bar mags with my little neo/vise set-up, don't see why these should be any different.

[Mike Sulzer]

Maybe it cannot remain magnetized unless it is in a magnetic circuit that provides a preferred direction.

[EFK]

How about charging it between two big neo blocks in an assembled circuit - i.e., a completed pickup? This generally seems to effect a higher charge.

[JGundry]

I got the same sample magnets from Shea. They are worthless. I don't know if this is correct but this is what I was told. Alnico 5 is heat treated after it is cast and in this process it is exposed to a magnetic field to orient it. The heat treating process is a separate procedure from the actual casting. It has a very specific temperature ramp up, duration and cool down. Without this heat treating process Alnico is not magnetic. I think these samples completely skipped the heat treating process that makes them magnetic. They need to do the heat treating process but without switching on the magnetic field during the process.

[Joe Gwinn]

I've had no problem charging other non-charged bar mags with my little neo/vise set-up, don't see why these should be any different.

One would think that a neo would do it. Time for some questions to the seller and/or maker. Bad batch?

[belwar]

One would think that a neo would do it. Time for some questions to the seller and/or maker. Bad batch?

Magnetic hold is a company is america selling magnets which are from China.

Isotropic A5 shouldnt be very difficult, as it is the same as A5 except that it isnt exposed to a magnetic field during the casting process. I think what is happening is they are changing the A5 formula (thus making it not A5) instead of changing it from ansiotropic (sp?) to iso-tropic.

b.