7 Things to Do with Old Speaker Magnets: Disposal, Repurposing, and More

Store and handle them properly.

While you're deciding what to do with your speaker magnets, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Keep speaker magnets separated to avoid collision, which can happen quickly (and with a lot of force). A quick collision of two large speaker magnets could not only pinch the skin, but also cause the magnets to break into fragments that can wind up in your eyes.^{[1] X Research source}

Don't allow children to handle speaker magnets.

Assess nearby metal objects, especially with neodymium speaker magnets. If close enough, metal objects could come flying at the magnet without warning.^{[2] X Research source}

Magnets will interfere with your GPS and smartphone and can also demagnetize your credit card strip.

Never bring a magnet around someone with a pacemaker, as magnets could cause implanted medical devices to stop working.^{[3] X Research source}

Avoid drilling into magnets, as magnetic dust can be highly combustible.

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2

Sell them (or give them away).

Most speakers have one of three types of magnets: ferrite, alnico and neodymium.^{[4] X Research source} While ferrite is a ceramic-like material common in cheaper speakers (and not worth trying to sell), both alnico (aluminum, nickel, and cobalt) and neodymium are rare-earth magnets that are considerably more expensive.

Check the rate per pound at your local scrapyard for alnico or neodymium magnets, or list them on eBay to put some money in your pocket.

If selling your speaker magnets isn't your thing, try listing them on your neighborhood freecycle group.

It's difficult to identify which type of magnets you have by sight, so look up the speaker model to find out for sure.

3

Mount them on the wall to organize metal objects.

Mount your old speaker magnets on a solid strip of wood to create a kitchen utensil rack. You can hang this rack in your kitchen and use it to hang metal utensils like knives, spatulas, and ladles. You could also craft a wall-mounted tool holder in the garage or a spice rack above the stove! Just be sure to use nails or screws to mount your wall rack, as adhesives might not be strong enough to support heavier objects.

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4

Build a simple speaker from scratch.

For a quick and easy science experiment, you can reuse any speaker magnet to make your own speaker. We'll even show you how to do it!. It's easier than you'd think, and you can even use it with your aux cord to listen to music from your iPhone, Android, or computer.

5

Make an invisible tool holder.

When you have a strong but small magnet in your pocket (like a neodymium magnet from a small premium speaker or tweeter), any metal tool will stick to it on the outside of your pants. If you're worried about weighing down your pockets, you could affix one or more small neodymium speaker magnets to a leather toolbelt instead.^{[5] X Research source}

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6

Teach kids about iron.

Because iron is magnetic, you can use a neodymium speaker magnet to show kids that their breakfast cereal contains iron particles. Crush up one serving of iron-fortified cereal into a fine powder, pour it into a resealable bag, and fill the bag halfway with warm water. Seal the bag, swish around the cereal until dissolved and then open it and place the magnet inside. When you pull the magnet out, you'll see black particles on the magnet.^{[6] X Research source}

Don't allow your child to handle the magnet, and keep the magnet away from other magnets and metals during the experiment.

Another fun idea for magnetic science is to make a simple compass using a paperclip, cork, and a bowl of water.

7

Throw them away (properly).

For now, the best way to dispose of speaker magnets properly safely is to do so through a metal scrapyards or e-waste disposal service. These organizations are able to recycle (in some regions) or safely demagnetize and dispose of rare earth magnets in accordance with federal laws.^{[7] X Research source}

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