Finally, Something a Hydraulic Press Can't Crush

Jinfang Liu, COO of Electron Energy Corporation, one of the leading American manufacturers of rare earth magnets, says the answer is much simpler. "The compressive strength of these neodymium magnets is actually 130,000 psi," says Liu. These magnets can withstand a lot of weight, "especially if it's applied slowly and evenly." Since the upper and lower punches of the hydraulic press used in this video are flat, that pressure never gets applied to one specific point, allowing the magnet to hold up like a champ. As for the idea that the magnet somehow repelled the press? "Magnetism is a physical property," says Liu. "It has nothing to do with mechanical properties like compressive strength." According to PressTube, the magnet actually did crack slightly once they managed to scrape it off their press. Regardless, you'll need a much bigger and stronger press (or much smaller magnets) to get that explosive payoff that hydraulic press videos so often provide.