Question:   Should I be worried about my credit cards or metal tools I have around the shop when I use the magnets?

Answer:  You should always be careful and keep all metal tools a safe distance away from your working area when using the MDRS™.   10 feet for any computer related equipment, 5 to 6 feet for all other metal objects as a general rule.  Credit cards would almost have to be placed directly upon the MDRS™ to have an effect. 

Question:  Will the MDRS™ remove all dents or replace using the old method of using a rod and dent ball?

Answer:  No.... Using the MDRS™ will allow you to remove many dents not accessible without disassembling the instrument.  Not all dents can be lifted up using this system but using various tricks will allow you to do many things with less time. The system does have a high learning curve but with experience you can do very good work.  It's as easy to do bad work as it is to do great work using this or any method.

Question:   Will I be able to remove dents in smaller instruments such as trumpets or trombone hand slides?

Answer:  No you will not, as the magnet is only strong enough to lift up dents when using a 1.0" or larger metal sphere inside the instrument. The magnets strength is dependent upon the surface area of the metal ball it's drawn to while removing dents. Another factor is as the tubing gets smaller in diameter there is an increase in surface radius making the tubing much stronger. So a metal ball 1/2" in diameter does not provide enough surface area to be effective on a tube that is physically stronger. However we are working with spherical magnets to test their effectiveness on instruments like flugelhorns and trombone main tuning slides.

Question:   Can I use a round dent ball that is threaded or barrel shaped with the MDRS™?

Answer:  No, using a dent ball with a threaded hole or the barrel ball with flat ends does not work well.  The hole or flat side/end always positions itself towards the magnet, which will create ridges, and ripples that compound the problems you are trying to alleviate.

Question:   Is the Magnetic Dent Removal System™ the same as the UMI Dent Eraser™?

Answer:    The MDRS and the Dent Eraser are not the same, some of the differences are:

1.The MDRS™ differs, as it is a series of 3 to 4 separate tools rather than just one single tool as in the Dent Eraser™.  Having 3 to 4 different tools, the MDRS™ allows the technician to have various strength tools. This allows the technician to adjust for deviation of metal thickness and hardness and the ability to get into tight areas.

2. According to the inventor of the Dent Eraser™, the magnet/s used in this tool are wholly indigenous to their product having been developed specifically for it's use by means of a special process and therefore are a completely proprietary and different species of magnet from any and all of the Rare Earth magnets used in the research and development of the MDRS™.

The magnets used in the MDRS™ are very different. They are made from intermetallic compounds that include one or more rare earth elements. The elements are melted together and then milled into a powder that is sintered (pressed and heated), aged and then ground to dimension all within the presence of a magnetic field.  The majority of these magnets are actually made in China, as they are the source for many of the rare earth elements needed for the production of this magnet. Magnets used in conjunction with MDRS™ are also less expensive.

3. The MDRS™ uses a variety of different sizes and strengths of magnets compared to the one magnet used on the Dent Eraser™.  Most of the magnets used on the MDRS™ are either 1" or 2" in thickness so they resist fracturing and are much more durable than the 1/2" thick magnet used on the Dent Eraser™.  The MDRS™ also uses a PVC containment cup and a plastic cap to surround and to protect the magnet.

4. The MDRS™ uses a smaller diameter handle covered with an anti-fatigue foam, which most believe to be more comfortable with prolonged use and easier to maneuver than the larger 2" plastic covered handle used on the Dent Eraser™

5. The MDRS™ uses not only the solid steel ball from 1" to 3" in 1/8" increments, but also hollow steel balls which range in size from 1.5", 2.0", 2.5", 3.0" 4.0" and 5" in diameter. This allows the technician the ability to do better dent work because of the flexibility to adapt various size balls to fit many different tubes, bows, and branches .  The hollow steel balls have the additional benefit of being lighter and requires less effort when compared to the solid steel version. With the Dent Eraser™ you have 4 solid steel balls to do all your dent work that are approximately from. 1.5" to 2.5" in diameter.

6. The MDRS™ uses a variety of materials and methods to protect and keep the tool from scratching the surface of the instrument.  The UMI Dent Eraser™ recommends the use of Velcro discs,  or a silver polish cloth wrapped around the magnet to protect the instruments' surface.

7. The MDRS™ has been developed by many experienced band instrument repair technicians and musical instrument manufacturers from the US and abroad.

8.  The MDRS™ handle is tapped and drilled so an eye - bolt can be attached to the end.  Then using the Ferree's L13 tuning slide remover (slide hammer) hooked to the eye - bolt dents, can be removed in a similar fashion like an auto body dent puller.

9. The new metal "Mag Shields" allow you to change the material on the end of each tool, protect the magnet face while retaining all the original pull strength to remove dents.

10. Also our exclusive "magnetic amplification bar extension" (MABEXT) which allows you to increase the strength of each tool and makes heavy dent removal work easier when used with the N50 magnets.

Question: Since using a steel dent hammer is not a good idea with the magnets close by, would a plastic hammer work well enough to remove dents while holding the steel ball in place using the magnet then tapping the dent with a hammer?

Answer:  A dent hammer that works very well and not attracted to the MDRS™ are the ones made by Votaw tools.  These hammers are stainless steel and aluminum with a Delrin handle.  They work great for all types of dent work and are perfect in this instance. 

Question:   Can you explain more about magnetic or magnetism or the how and why this all works?

Answer:  To answer this question, please follow this link: http://www.wondermagnet.com/dev/magfaq.html#q1 You will find a wealth of interesting facts about magnets, properties, and uses.