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Mystery tool help??

toomanytoyzz

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I got this at an auction with a bunch of other tools. At first glance when I won the lot I could only see the handle and thought it was a water key, but then I saw the end. Anyone know it's intended purpose?
 

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unslow1

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It's pretty similar to some body working tools. Most I've seen are more pointed on the end.
 
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Moosefire

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Kind of looks like a tool I made for installing/removing exhaust springs for my snowmobiles years ago

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IndyGarage

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rusty 65 had it.

That's a tool used in a machine shop for pulling big sharp metal chips off a lathe or milling machine.
 
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toomanytoyzz

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rusty 65 had it.

That's a tool used in a machine shop for pulling big sharp metal chips off a lathe or milling machine.

Thanks!! Since I do not have a lathe i'll probably repurpose this for something else. It looks like it would be useful as a grabbing type tool for working on cars. Maybe for bending sheet metal back into place in places a hammer and dolly cannot fit.

I guess this was made before someone realized a magnetic type tool would be much more suitable than this style.

I just googled the term for chips and shavings left behind from a lathe. It is called swarf. I'm going to use the term at least one time on Christmas at my brother's place.:thumbup:
 
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IndyGarage

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Thanks!! Since I do not have a lathe i'll probably repurpose this for something else. It looks like it would be useful as a grabbing type tool for working on cars. Maybe for bending sheet metal back into place in places a hammer and dolly cannot fit.

I guess this was made before someone realized a magnetic type tool would be much more suitable than this style.

I just googled the term for chips and shavings left behind from a lathe. It is called swarf. I'm going to use the term at least one time on Christmas at my brother's place.:thumbup:

When I worked in a large aerospace machine shop, many machines produced very large very unruly strings or spirals of hot metal. No magnet would pull them out, and a lot of it was non magnetic anyway. Everybody had some version of a metal rod with a hook on the end and a T-handle on the other.
 

toolin' around

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How long is it?
Does it appear to have been mass manufactured, or made by hand?
Judging from the size of the handle, it looks to be at least 18” and maybe as long as 24”?
A long bar with a hook on the end is probably the most common materials handling device you’ll come across...
I worked for years in the dairy industry... we used hooks similar to this to move crates of milk around in the cool room or in the back of the truck. Most were home made, with varying designs. Ones for handling plastic crates were slightly different to ones for the wire crates used for glass bottles.
The bakers used similar hooks for grabbing bread trays often two or three trays deep in racks.
Similar device used to handle steel baskets in the cheese factory... likely hundreds of different applications and styles. No doubt lathe swarf removal is just one more.
I could imagine coming across a fancy cast handle like that and sweating a SS rod into it to make the coolest hook in the plant!
 
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toomanytoyzz

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Similar to what is used to help pull on cowboy boots. That's what the loops at the top of boots are for.

Don't know what it's original purpose was but you have more than a few ways to use it.

It definitely seems that way. I'll throw it in the toolbox and get to use it once or twice to justify its existence in my arsenal.

How long is it?
Does it appear to have been mass manufactured, or made by hand?
Judging from the size of the handle, it looks to be at least 18” and maybe as long as 24”?
A long bar with a hook on the end is probably the most common materials handling device you’ll come across...
I worked for years in the dairy industry... we used hooks similar to this to move crates of milk around in the cool room or in the back of the truck. Most were home made, with varying designs. Ones for handling plastic crates were slightly different to ones for the wire crates used for glass bottles.
The bakers used similar hooks for grabbing bread trays often two or three trays deep in racks.
Similar device used to handle steel baskets in the cheese factory... likely hundreds of different applications and styles. No doubt lathe swarf removal is just one more.
I could imagine coming across a fancy cast handle like that and sweating a SS rod into it to make the coolest hook in the plant!

It is 9 3/4" top to bottom.
 
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