Magnetic hooks come in all shapes and sizes. Why is it that a magnetic hook product that claims to hold 10 lbs, 20 lbs, or even 60 lbs fails to do so when you hang that amount of weight on it.
When product claims are made for regular neodymium magnetic hook holding capacity, they are generally touting pull force weight, which means the amount of force it takes to pull the magnet directly off of a thick steel surface. These weight capacity claims are based on pull force testing on thicker steel. Which means the amount of force it takes to pull the magnet directly off of a thicker steel surface of 1/2" or more. This thickness of steel is seldom found in homes or garages. In addition, for a hook to function properly to hang an item, we will generally want it to hang perpendicular to the floor, at a right angle, not vertically from above. This is measured by shear force vs. pull force. Shear force is the amount of weight the hook can hold in a downward direction, towards the floor.
For a regular neodymium magnetic hook to have the power to hold 20, or 60 lbs. of shear force, it would be very difficult for a user to place, move, or remove the hook from the steel surface by hand without damage to themselves or the surface.
Why Gator Magnetics Technology does work.
Gator Magnetics uses our patented easy release system and Polymagnet technology that is designed and optimized for all of its components: the chassis, the programmed magnet, the hook, and the lever mechanism, to all function together, delivering its shear force holding power.
The Science behind a Gator Magnetics Hook.
Traditional neodymium magnets have north and south poles on opposite sides of the magnet creating a large looping magnetic field that loses energy and is inefficient. The Gator technology programs north and south pole dots, called “Maxels” (a mash-up of "magnetic" and "pixels") in specifically designed and proprietary patterns creating many shorter magnetic fields (called near field magnetic flux) that make the Gator magnet "hook system" much more efficient to adhere to common thin steel surfaces found in homes and garages and creates an exponentially stronger shear force than traditional magnets. But even though it holds more shear force weight, because of its patented easy release lever chassis, a Gator Magnetic Hook can be easily moved over and over again with no damage to the steel surface it's on.
Happy Hanging