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How to Make an Extremely Powerful Magnet at Home

Electromagnets are capable of producing a much stronger magnetic field than regular magnets. Unlike regular magnets, which have a permanent magnetic charge, the strength of an electromagnet depends on the amount of electricity running through the wire and the metal core that the wire is wrapped around. Adding more electricity to an electromagnet won't create a stronger charge by itself. You must also add more coils. Otherwise, the added electricity causes the wire to overheat.

Things You'll Need

22-gauge copper wire, 50 feet
Iron alloy core, 6-inch diameter, 1 foot long
D cell batteries
Wire strippers

Instructions

- 1
  Measure 1 foot of wire, starting at one end, but don't cut it. This end will connect to one terminal of your battery. Starting at the 1-foot mark, begin coiling the remaining copper wire around the iron alloy core.
- 2
  Wrap the copper wire around the core, starting from one end and working toward the other. Lay each successive coil next to the last. Do not allow gaps between the wire coils, because gaps will reduce the strength of the electricity and magnetism.
- 3
  Leave a 1-foot tail of wire after your last coil. Cut off excess wire, and set it aside.
- 4
  Strip 1 inch of insulation from each end of the wire.
- 5
  Attach one end of the wire with electrical tape to the positive terminal of your battery. Attach the other end to the negative terminal. Begin with a D cell battery. Try lining multiple batteries end to end so that the positive terminal on one battery is touching the negative terminal on the next. Using more batteries will increase the magnetism.

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