What does N52 mean on a neodymium magnet?

N52 is a grade. The number reflects how much magnetic energy the neodymium-iron-boron alloy can store: the higher it is, the stronger the magnet for the same size. N52 is among the highest grades in common production.

Can the magnets in a Proteus damage my cards?

No. Trading cards are made of cardboard and ink, which magnets have no effect on. Sleeves are unaffected too. The usual precaution concerns items with a magnetic stripe, such as bank cards or hotel key cards.

Does the Proteus close with magnets?

No. The N52 neodymium magnets only hold the interchangeable panels and medallions. The box closes with a mechanical snap-fit, with no magnet on the closure.

Do the magnets lose strength over time?

At room temperature, a neodymium magnet loses very little strength over the years. Its real enemy is intense heat, so avoid leaving the box in direct sun behind a windshield.

N52 Neodymium Magnets in a Modular Deck Box

On a Proteus, you lift off a panel, set another in its place, swap the knight medallion for a dragon, and the box has a new face in seconds. No tools, no screws, no rails. That small gesture relies on a discreet component: N52 neodymium magnets built into the structure.

Short answer: neodymium is the strongest permanent magnet you will find in everyday objects, and N52 is one of its highest grades. On the Proteus, these magnets hold the interchangeable panels and medallions. They have no effect on your cards, and they never keep the box closed.

Neodymium: small parts, serious hold

A rare-earth alloy

A "neodymium" magnet is actually an alloy of neodymium, iron and boron, often shortened to NdFeB. Developed in the 1980s, it took over wherever a lot of force has to fit into very little space: headphones, electric motors, hard drives, clasps. That is its big strength: size for size, it holds far harder than a classic ferrite fridge magnet.

What does N52 mean?

The letter N followed by a number is a grade. The number reflects how much magnetic energy the material can store: the higher it goes, the stronger the magnet at the same volume. Common grades run from N35 to N52, with a few higher grades reserved for specialist uses. N52 sits right at the top of what you meet in everyday products.

For a deck box, this is not spec-sheet vanity. A higher-performing magnet gives a firm hold from a compact part tucked into the structure, without eating into the space meant for your cards. That is how the Proteus keeps its capacity of 125 double-sleeved cards, just like our classic deck box.

Why the Proteus uses magnets

A new face, no tools needed

The Proteus promise fits in one line: one box, a thousand faces. Every side is an interchangeable panel, and the front takes sculpted 3D medallions. For that idea to be pleasant day to day, the fastening had to come apart in one move and settle back on its own. That is exactly what a magnet does: the panel finds its place by itself, and you simply lift it off to change it.

A library that keeps growing

The system opens up a collection rather than a fixed object. Engraved illustrations, antique maps and fantasy themes for the panels, a pirate ship, a knight or a dragon for the medallions: you combine them freely, and a custom visual is still possible. One base for several decks is the answer we explore in one box per deck or one box for everything, and the full concept is laid out in our article on the modular deck box.

What the magnets don't do: close the box

This is the most common mix-up when people search for a "magnetic deck box". At DeckSmith, no box closes with a magnet, the Proteus included. The closure is a mechanical snap-fit.

The reasoning is simple. A magnetic lid gives way as soon as the force on it exceeds the magnet's pull: a dropped bag, a knock against a table edge, a stack of binders pressing in the wrong spot. A snap-fit only opens when you decide it should. So the magnets keep the job they are great at, holding parts you want to remove easily, and the closure keeps the job you expect from it at a tournament. We explain that choice in detail in our article on the snap-fit closure.

Magnets and cards: anything to worry about?

Your cards are safe

A trading card is cardboard, ink and sometimes a foil layer. None of these materials react to magnetism, and neither do plastic sleeves. Your deck can sit in a Proteus for months with no consequence at all, foils included.

Common-sense precautions

As with any strong magnet, a few habits are worth keeping:

Magnetic stripes: keep bank cards, hotel key cards and anything that relies on a magnetic strip at a distance. Don't slide your wallet right against the box.
Implanted medical devices: if you or someone close to you has one, follow the manufacturer's recommended distance from magnets, as you would with a phone or earbuds.
Small metal objects: paper clips or coins at the bottom of a bag may cling to a panel. Nothing serious, but a quick look before packing the box avoids scratches.

Living with your Proteus

Heat, the shared enemy

At room temperature, a neodymium magnet loses very little strength over the years. Its real weak point is intense heat, which can weaken it for good. The PLA of the structure doesn't like high temperatures either. So the rule is the same for both: don't leave the box in direct sun behind a windshield or on a rear parcel shelf in summer. Our article on premium PLA and durability covers the habits that help the material last.

Storing panels and medallions

Panels and medallions that aren't on the box deserve the same care as collectible cards: flat, dry and protected from rubbing. A small dedicated box does the job, and it saves you hunting for the dragon medallion on the night you bring back the deck that goes with it. For the reliefs themselves, our article on 3D medallions explains how they are designed to catch the light.

Build your Proteus in the Forge

Pick your base, panels and medallions in the Forge, with a live preview of the result. The Proteus is 3D printed in premium PLA and made to order in our workshop in France, in 5 to 10 business days, with tracked worldwide shipping. Our deck boxes start at €27, from an independent studio with over 1,500 sales and a 4.9/5 rating across 319 verified Etsy reviews.

Keep exploring:

Discover the Proteus and its interchangeable panels.
Explore the custom deck box, our classic model.
Read reviews from players who received theirs.