What is it?

I've been collecting unusual objects for quite a while, and several years ago I started posting them on this site as puzzles for visitors to figure out what they are. Most of the items are mine but a few belong to others, if you aren't interested in tools there are plenty of other type objects that have also been posted.

For first time visitors I recommend this archive for a wide variety of some of my best pieces.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

678. 5/8" diameter







679. 10-3/4" long, I'm looking for the slightly more descriptive term for this type of hammer, and why you would use it.







680. 1-3/4" long







681. 17" long, thanks to Charlie for submitting this tool:









682. 9-1/4" long


The other end is the same except for the bolt:


Turning the bolt expands both ends from 1-3/4" diameter up to 2-1/8":







683. 6" wide, thanks to Don for this one, and also for the pencil sharpener a couple weeks ago:















Answers














Last week's set is seen below, click here to view the full post:





10 Comments:

  • 678. Paper coin used as rationing coupon.
    679. Brass "No Spark" hammer used in work area where you would not want a steel hammer to make a spark and cause an explosion.
    682. Pipe reamer?
    683. Pasta shaper?

    By Blogger Canem, at 6/01/2006 8:33 AM  

  • 679 - Being brass, this hammer is also used in areas with large, powerful magnets (e.g., near an NMR instrument) that would attract hammers with iron heads.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/01/2006 6:39 PM  

  • 682 Boiler tube scraper,"Engineer's Favorite"

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/02/2006 3:32 PM  

  • >678. Paper coin used as rationing coupon.

    Correct

    >682. Pipe reamer?

    You've got the right general idea, though there is a more specific use for this tool.

    >683. Pasta shaper?

    Nope

    >679. Brass "No Spark" hammer...

    >679 - Being brass, this hammer is also used in areas with large, powerful magnets...

    Both valid answers, but not what I had in mind, there is another slightly more common use for it.

    By Blogger Rob H., at 6/02/2006 3:34 PM  

  • >682 Boiler tube scraper,"Engineer's Favorite"


    This answer is correct.

    By Blogger Rob H., at 6/02/2006 4:57 PM  

  • 683. For getting every last possible ammount of toothpaste out of a tube?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/02/2006 6:20 PM  

  • >683. For getting every last possible ammount of toothpaste out of a tube?

    That's not its intended purpose, but it can be used for that.

    By Blogger Rob H., at 6/02/2006 6:23 PM  

  • 679. By sight, it is difficult to tell, but the material of the head would likely be bronze, not brass. We used one of these as a general "persuader" in one of my labs that used flammable chemicals. It was especially useful for tapping in the seal on waste drums.

    - Edward

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/02/2006 8:52 PM  

  • 683 - How about for getting the last bit of paint out of an artist's paint tube?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/02/2006 9:41 PM  

  • >679. By sight, it is difficult to tell, but the material of the head would likely be bronze, not brass...

    Now that look closer at it, it does appear more like bronze or copper than brass.

    >683 - How about for getting the last bit of paint out of an artist's paint tube?

    As mentioned previously, it does work for that, but it was made for something totally different.

    By Blogger Rob H., at 6/03/2006 4:54 PM  

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