Due to serious concerns regarding injury and liability issues related to the use of the Magnetic Dent Removal System (MDRS), all safety guidelines must be followed while assembling, handling, and using the system.
The Golden Rule of Magnetic Dent Removal
(NOTE: Besides the MDRS safety warnings, this is the most important “Tool in use” warning!)
Never perform magnetic dent removal on a tuba, sousaphone, baritone, euphonium, etc. while the instrument is in a vertical position (sitting on its bell with the boot facing up.) Attempting to remove dents from the back side of the boot or the first branch with the instrument in this position can lead to the ball free-falling the wrong way into tapered tubing and possibly becoming wedged into place if the ball comes loose from the magnet inside the instrument. In general, horizontal is a good thing while using MDRS tools.
Magnetic Field
To test how large the magnetic field of your Apprentice tool is, and thus how far you need to keep it away from computers, hearing aides, pacemakers, credit cards, etc., do the following: Place one of the medium sized dent removal balls on a smooth flat surface. From a distance of a few feet away, very slowly move your tool closer to the ball. You will want to do this very slowly until the ball starts to quiver. This quiver indicates the very edge of the magnetic field. When you reach that point, do not get any closer, as this is the out skirt of the safety zone.
Safety Guidelines
- Due to the power of the magnets used in MDRS, keep all MDRS tools away from anyone using a pacemaker or other medical electronics
- Do not keep ferrous, steel, or magnetic objects within 5 feet of your work area while using the system. Establish a ferrous free zone when using MDRS
- Refrain from using MDRS outside of a controlled shop environment
- Be aware of metal objects on your person such as pens, knives, cell phones, key rings, watches, medical devices, etc. These items can become projectiles due to magnetic attraction