# 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:** 3
**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 3, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/41 "2013-10-03T23:47:39Z")
> [@j\_sum1](#): > > You kind of got that the wrong way around. Generally you would use a magnet to determine the crystal structure rather than begin with the crystal structure and try to determine whether it is magnetic. > > Magnetism is caused by unpaired electrons producing a dipole moment which is positively reinforced due to the repetition in the crystal structure. In that sense it is well understood. However, the specifics are complex and I admit to my eyes glazing over and nodding blankly whenever the subject comes up. > > I do know that for iron, both ferrite (body-centred-cubic) and martensite (body-centred-tetragonal) phases are magnetic. Austenite (face-centred-cubic) is not. Magnetism is possible in fcc crystals (Interestingly, nickel is an example) but it doesn’t occur for iron. > Transformation from ferrite to austenite occurs at elevated temperatures (above 738°C). Addition of nickel to the steel brings this temperature down to below room temperature – or at least down below a temperature where crystal structure change is kinetically possible. It is weird because both iron and nickel are magnetic but a mixture of the two is not. It’s been said countless times but it’s responses like these why I love this board. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/42 "2013-10-05T00:48:38Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > That’s often a problem when you upgrade your platform; older apps aren’t compatible. > > You’ll probably have to upgrade to Magnets 4.0. Might as well anyway; Magnets 3.7.1 was pretty crappy. Just don’t go to Magnets 8. Might be okay for toasters, but absolutely sucks on real appliances. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/43 "2013-10-10T21:07:42Z")
Refrigerator: 1 Children’s Art: 0 Just received these [1/2 inch x 1/4 inch N48](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KUURP2/ref=ox_ya_os_product) neodymium magnets. As strong as they are, they didn’t react at all to the fridge face. Now I can either return them and get my $10 back, or find a use for these fun little things. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/44 "2013-10-10T21:19:37Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Refrigerator: 1 Children’s Art: 0 > Just received these [1/2 inch x 1/4 inch N48](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KUURP2/ref=ox_ya_os_product) neodymium magnets. As strong as they are, they didn’t react at all to the fridge face. > Now I can either return them and get my $10 back, or find a use for these fun little things. Don’t leave them around for the kids to eat, they have a way of attaching themselves at different places along the digestive track and ripping it apart in children. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/45 "2013-10-10T21:27:48Z")
I heard that’s the reason the FDA banned those buckety balls from being Cracker Jack prizes, and so therefore that’s why the boxes don’t even include the crappy tattoos anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/46 "2013-10-10T21:49:55Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > some of the bigger neodymium magnates This typo made me chuckle and then made me wonder “who **are** some of the bigger neodymium magnates, anyway?” So I went a-googling. Ladies and gentlemen, I present neodymium magnate [Mr. Xiong Weiping](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiong_Weiping), CEO of Chalco, one of the major players in minmetal ore extraction. Thank you. We now return you to your regularly scheduled discussion of fridge magnets. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/47 "2013-10-11T01:34:02Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Ladies and gentlemen, I present neodymium magnate [Mr. Xiong Weiping](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiong_Weiping), CEO of Chalco, one of the major players in minmetal ore extraction. You are today’s winner of the internet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/48 "2013-10-11T14:17:15Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > We were also appalled when our new fridge proved to be unfriendly to magnets. But then my dad got these super strong magnets - on normal magnetic surfaces they stick so hard you can barely pull them off. On the fridge they work like normal magnets. Dunno what is up with that. As Joey P mentioned in post #11, they’re probably attracting the steel in the ice maker… and might be doing damage to the mechanism. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/49 "2013-10-11T14:38:40Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > 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? Maybe Bandaids will work, so long as you don’t shuffle stuff too often 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TerpBE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc8723/32.png) [@TerpBE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TerpBE)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/50 "2013-10-11T15:39:20Z")
I haven’t tried these, but it looks like they were invented for just this problem: [http://www.choopaboard.com/about.html](http://www.choopaboard.com/about.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/51 "2013-10-11T16:09:24Z")
Holy cow, those look awesome! But wait, what’s that? > [@](#): > > Important Note: NOT RECOMMENDED FOR GE Profile, GE Monogram, Thermadore AND some SAMSUNG Stainless Steel appliances. Suction cups will not adhere to these brands for longer than a couple hours. Do not purchase if applying to these brands. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/52 "2013-10-11T16:26:13Z")
Odd disclaimer. I was actually discussing the concept with someone the other day, and commented that I wanted a metal sheet with a suction cup on the back for it. ---
**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 12, 2013, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/53 "2013-10-12T12:01:33Z")
I still gotta recommend BluTack. Or as it is affectionally known in my family, Smurf poo. I gather it is not a product that is marketed in the US, but there must be something similar. If you can’t buy it locally, then it would be worthwhile getting some mailed to you. ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/54 "2013-10-12T12:31:19Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > We were also appalled when our new fridge proved to be unfriendly to magnets. But then my dad got these super strong magnets - on normal magnetic surfaces they stick so hard you can barely pull them off. On the fridge they work like normal magnets. Dunno what is up with that. This worked for my fridge. Buy really strong magnets and they stick otherwise the regular ones don’t. I have one with a clasp that holds my kids artwork. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/55 "2013-10-12T13:36:20Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Holy cow, those look awesome! > But wait, what’s that? > :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: I’g guess that is based on the texture of the refrigerator surface. Our refrigerator surface is textured, and I doubt suction cups would stick (I couldn’t quickly find one to check). A matte finish might have problems too, but I don’t know. If you have a suction cup, you could stick it on with a little weight hanging from it, and see how it does. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/56 "2013-10-12T21:16:31Z")
As someone with kids myself, I would have a hard time getting a fridge larger than and more expensive than my car. I just stick with the shitty magnetic appliances and let them beat them up. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/58 "2016-01-21T21:58:27Z")
Reported. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/59 "2016-01-21T22:03:06Z")
He’s six now, and arwork is laying in a pile. Damn you Samsung!!! ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/60 "2016-01-22T05:07:57Z")
> [@Mr.Goob](#): > > 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. No thats not why. The alloy promotes the austenitic crystal structure , when the iron atoms are in the austenitic structure, they are not ferromagnetic. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136/61 "2016-01-22T15:39:55Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > He’s six now, and arwork is laying in a pile. > > Damn you Samsung!!! Best zombie resurrection EVER! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-fridge-won-t-support-magnets/670136.md?page=4)