# New Fridge won’t support magnets **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136 "2013-10-01T21:27:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/1 "2013-10-01T21:27:35Z")
We absolutely love our [new fridge](http://www.samsung.com/us/appliances/refrigerators/RF323TEDBSR/AA) except for one thing—magnets won’t stick to its face. Magnets will stick to the side, but that’s just not the same thing. We tried using boogers to stick things on it, but that just made a mess. We can get pushpins to work, but it takes a hammer and we’re probably killing the fridge’s overall efficiency. WTF Samsung? Really, don’t you have kids? Is there any hope? Some sort of wrap or adhesive plate that has an adhesive on the fridge side and a solid chunk of iron on the other? Magnets. How do they work? ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/2 "2013-10-01T21:42:59Z")
Ours is from Sears and has the same problem, but we solved it by not having kids. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/3 "2013-10-01T21:45:11Z")
Most stainless steel fridges are nonmagnetic. (We have the same fridge in a shallower style.) A few stainless models include a regular steel backing plate just for this purpose, but they tend to be the pointlessly pricey models. I guess you could perform surgery on the doors and lay a steel plate inside each one… ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/4 "2013-10-01T21:50:24Z")
[Colorforms fun!](http://www.amazon.com/Colorforms-Activity-Original-Anniversary-Edition/dp/B000BNEODU) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/5 "2013-10-01T22:11:20Z")
Non-magnetic stainless steel. We work with it a lot in my shop. It’s a different alloy than other steel that magnets regularly stick to. Magnets stick to iron, most steel is mostly iron. Some grades of stainless have a lot added to the alloy that the iron content drops by weight that the magnet doesn’t stick. What keeps it shiny and rust proof. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/6 "2013-10-01T22:13:02Z")
Here is a $7 fix at [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Magnet-Tape-Adhesive-Brown-DO-735001/dp/B000NNQ1CK). Add a couple of strips to the fridge and use your regular magnets - comes in sheets too. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/7 "2013-10-01T23:15:37Z")
Sorry, kids. God thinks your B+ isn’t good enough. You’ll have to try harder next time. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/8 "2013-10-01T23:38:47Z")
Scotch Tape provides a dual solution to parenthood and falling artwork. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/9 "2013-10-02T00:00:03Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Sorry, kids. God thinks your B+ isn’t good enough. You’ll have to try harder next time. An A gets him ice cream. He knows that. Tape just isn’t the same. No stores sell souvenir tape. They don’t make tape letters. Not right. I like the idea of a big magnetic sticky overlay though. The mag tape linked above also had sheets. What kind of evil madman designs a fridge without a magnetic face? ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/10 "2013-10-02T00:04:32Z")
Scotch. Tape. Two products. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/11 "2013-10-02T00:30:54Z")
The sides should work, but other then that sorry. I can tell you from experience that if some of the bigger neodymium magnates will stick right above the icemaker, they’ll go through the stainless steel shell and insulation and stick to the inner workings of the icemaker. It’ll probably also cause some problems…also, people won’t be able to get them off so they’ll slide them around and scratch the SS, I know that from experience as well. Don’t stick on of there there and say “hey, try to pull this off the fridge”. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/12 "2013-10-02T00:49:09Z")
Too late to trade it for the black or white model? Mount nicely framed magnetic whiteboards to the doors. That would look nice, can do everything magnetic, plus write/draw on it with dry erase markers. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/13 "2013-10-02T01:16:31Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > The sides should work, but other then that sorry. > > I can tell you from experience that if some of the bigger neodymium magnates will stick right above the icemaker, they’ll go through the stainless steel shell and insulation and stick to the inner workings of the icemaker. It’ll probably also cause some problems…also, people won’t be able to get them off so they’ll slide them around and scratch the SS, I know that from experience as well. Don’t stick on of there there and say “hey, try to pull this off the fridge”. What if I’ve had a lot of Scotch, and not so much tape? Tell us you have video or at least pictures. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/14 "2013-10-02T04:43:56Z")
Maybe use 1/4" cork “tiles” (office department) with double-sided tape - make sure to get the tape all the way to the edge, or it will crumble. Then use push-pins (office department). And, when you take down the artwork, put a few away very carefully - preferably matted. You’ll thank me 30 years from now. Then remember “VERY LITTLE STAINLESS STEEL IS STEEL; IT IS NOT MAGNETIC!” If you have enough iron to be magnetic, you also have enough to rust. Stainless is chrome and nickle, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Alba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea666f/32.png) [@Alba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alba)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/15 "2013-10-02T09:37:57Z")
[Magnetic paint](https://www.google.com.ng/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=12&cad=rja&ved=0CHkQFjAL&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpaintmagnetic.com%2F&ei=Q-lLUpvBKoK89QS974CgDg&usg=AFQjCNEx6FTtMFHShc3bzG_N2LsWIWno3Q&bvm=bv.53371865,d.eWU) will do the trick too. ---
**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/16 "2013-10-02T10:24:30Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Maybe use 1/4" cork “tiles” (office department) with double-sided tape - make sure to get the tape all the way to the edge, or it will crumble. > Then use push-pins (office department). > > And, when you take down the artwork, put a few away very carefully - preferably matted. You’ll thank me 30 years from now. > > Then remember “VERY LITTLE STAINLESS STEEL IS STEEL; IT IS NOT MAGNETIC!” > > If you have enough iron to be magnetic, you also have enough to rust. Stainless is chrome and nickle, IIRC. You got to know your grades of SS. A bare minimum of 12% chromium added will be enough to create stainless, but it will rust fairly easily. Up that to 18% and you have 304 grade. It will form a self-protective oxide coating and will not rust. The iron retains its body-centred-cubic crystal structure and is still ferromagnetic. The problem is that 304 is not that malleable. Good luck drawing a deep sink out of that stuff. Enter 316 grade. 18% Chromium, 8% nickel, malleable and ductile. Problem is that it has a different crystal structure (fcc) and magnets won’t stick to it. It tends to look a bit more attractive too and resists scratching a bit better. I am not sure what grades are used for modern kitchen appliances these days. Suffice to say that if it doesn’t attract a magnet then it is austenitic stainless steel (fcc crystal structure) similar to 316 and likely has a high nickel content. Now, there is not so much bending and folding involved in the manufacture of fridge doors that 316 is actually necessary. It is likely the metal was chosen for its cosmetic properties. So you chose a pretty fridge with a shiny front made from an alloy developed for its mechanical properties but chosen in this instance for its cosmetic properties. There aren’t any easy solutions other than sticking something on the front. You could try some Blu-Tack. What you should do is send some feedback to the manufacturer. There is no reason that they absolutely have to use this grade of SS. There are a lot of options that are ferromagnetic. Wise companies recognise the needs and wants of their customer base and respond to feedback. It won’t help for this fridge but might make a difference next time around. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/17 "2013-10-02T12:02:33Z")
Perhaps you can use suction cups, IIRC they have some attached to clips to hold paper. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/18 "2013-10-02T12:16:18Z")
Can’t you use something like [http://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Sheets-Adhesive-Magnet-Stick/dp/B004SOV4NQ](http://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Sheets-Adhesive-Magnet-Stick/dp/B004SOV4NQ) ? Advantage - you don’t need to use magnets anymore, any magnetic object can be used to stick things to the fridge. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/19 "2013-10-02T12:30:11Z")
If it’s any consolation I can’t use any of those magnetic bumper stickers as they made that panel out of aluminum, and putting them on the rear side is just not the same. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/20 "2013-10-02T13:49:54Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > We tried using boogers to stick things on it, but that just made a mess. Nevertheless, I’d like to commend you for your attempts to recycle, to go _green_. Our fridge is similarly afflicted. We use little photo holders that are a cellophane sleeve the pic slides into that’s sticky on the back. I imagine the wife found them at a HobbyLobby or the like. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136.md?page=2)