gunrunnerjohn posted:I think they were about 4-5 inches, I didn't see the start of the incident, only heard the loud snap as they joined and self-destructed! Let's say my brother was suitably impressed with the carnage. I also know a guy that had his finger broken when he had similar magnets, obviously from less than careful handling as well.
I have slid mine off a metal toolbox and had them get together (without the carnage) once, and I had to use a vice and a large pair of pump pliers to get them apart. One of them did get a big chip in the end, but I still use it, it's on my toolbox to magnetize tools. The ones I have are the 100# variety, not to be trifled with.
I use a VCR tape eraser to demagnetize tools if necessary, so I have both ends covered.
One neodymium magnet on-line supplier that I purchased magnets from a decade or more ago had some strong warnings on their website about the potential dangers of these magnets. One such story they offered was about a guy who, after playing around with a couple of sizable magnets, placed them in his loose-fitting gym short pockets (one magnet in each pocket) to keep them apart from each other.
And yes, if you haven't guessed it yet, after the guy got out of the hospital a month or so later, he was no longer able to father any children. 
