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Introduction:
Now, why would anyone want to remove a hoof magnet from a 3rd generation pony?  After all, they allow the new ponies to work with all of those wonderful new playsets.

Well...certain procedures may damage the plastic covering, such as baking the pony or using acetone to remove glue traces.  Acetone will dissolve the plastic covering.  Baking can melt the plastic if you stick the pony to a metal surface.

Some people may want to display their 3rd generation ponies on a piece of expensive and delicate electronic equipment, such as a monitor or tower.  In this case, it might be possible to remove the magnet and replace the plastic cover.

Disclaimer: This tutorial is provided at YOUR OWN RISK.  This tutorial is NOT for children.  The author of this tutorial takes no responsibility for damages or personal injury.  Be sure to take the proper precautions.  Remember: Safety First!

Supplies needed:
3rd generation pony - any G3 My Little Pony will do.

X-acto knife - for slicing around the magnet's covering

Small or medium flat head screwdriver - for prying the magnet cover off

Safety goggles - pretty self-explanatory, I should hope!

Instructions:
1. Pony Anatomy
The pink plastic with the My Little Pony logo is just a cover for the disk-shaped hoof magnet inside.  The area you'll be working in is very tiny, so use caution.  Put your safety glasses on before beginning.  You'll look geeky for a moment, but at least you won't lose an eye.
2. Cutting the glue
Use the X-acto knife and slip it between the pink cover and the pony's hoof.  You want to cut in about 1/2" deep, all around the edge.  Be VERY careful here...the glue is hard & the magnet will try to pull your x-acto blade around.

 

REMEMBER: always cut or pry AWAY from your fingers.

3. Loosening the cover
Use your small flat-head screwdriver & pry UNDER the cover.  Try to get the area the farthest away from the surface, since you might put some dings into it.  Work your way around the whole cover.
4. Prying the cover off
Here, I use a larger screwdriver to get some more leverage.  You might need to cut a little more with the x-acto knife to get the cover off.
5. Finished!
The picture shows the hollow area where the magnet was and the back side of the magnet.  This particular pony has a lot of glue on it.  It might be impossible to remove the actual magnet.
6. The magnet cover
Here is a picture of the removed magnet & cover.  It still has a lot of glue stuck to it.  You can pick it off with your fingers.  Don't use acetone, because it will dissolve the pink part!
7. Re-installation
When you're done baking/cleaning/dyeing/painting your pony, you might want to put the cover back on.  Just put a dab of tacky glue around the rim & push it back in place.  I'd avoid super glue, which can etch the pink plastic cover.


 Left: the magnet removed from the pink magnet cover
Middle: backside of a damaged pink magnet cover.  I baked this one on a metal cookie sheet.  Oops.
Right: backside of a magnet cover with the magnet still inside

Sometimes, there won't be any glue and the magnet will pop right out.
You could replace the cover only, and get a non-magnetic pony that looks the same as an original.

A Link?:


If you used this tutorial, I'd appreciate a link back to this page.
Who knows, you might inspire me to write another tutorial =)
http://www.aikarin.com/mlp/customs/magnetremoval.html

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