Originally Posted by
Lost_Biker
If you need a cheap source of rare earth magnets then go get a few broken hard drives from a computer shop. They usually throw them in the dumpster. Yes, the EPA doesn't like this but many shops are too lazy. The magnets inside are usually 1/32" thick and 1 1/2 " long by 1/2" wide. Place one of these on your refrigerator and you have to slide it off the edge to remove it. Takes only a few minutes to open a drive and retrieve the magnets. I just use a No. 1 phillips head to remove the small torx screws. See the pictures below. The things with the red dots are the magnets. I've yet to see the magnet glued to it's plate - it's so strong it stays in place nicely.
Do not place these magnets near (within 3 feet) anything you don't want wiped. I've seen people put them in their pockets and find that all their credit/bank cards were wiped clean. They have a pretty big magnetic field.
Take a small file and make a notch and then you can break them up into smaller pieces.
Please don't treat them as toys - you can ruin somebody's whole day and then some with these magnets. I keep some on the fridge to securely wipe old credit cards and as a super duper note holder.