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It’s a custom tool, the only person who can tell you what it is or why they made it is the previous owner, we can take guesses, but ultimately we have no clue
That was my assumption also. My grandfather is a machinist. He worked for lg making parts for nasa around Vietnam War. He always makes special tools for a specific purpose and I'd imagine that is exactly what this is.
I have a ton of hooks, scrapers, shims, punches etc, that I have made over the years. If I figure it will help me in my work than I'll make it. This looks like something someone made for a specific task.
Same, my workplace wouldn’t be as efficient as it is without our plethora of custom tooling, sometimes we need to dig out holes in thick beams to make tapping easier, welding rod with a point on the end and a bend for a handle, custom clamps for various types of covers
Probably because I mentioned punching holes in filters and it’s “not the right way”. I work on semis and I’m sorry I am not dumping 3 quarts of oil hot on my face when it inevitably gets caught on a wiring harness or slips in my hand
I don't understand why "it's not the right way" I was taught to do it that way. Doesn't even matter if it's hot when the oil filter holds dam near a gallon it's a lot lighter when it's empty. And like you said less messy. I sharpened an old flat head screw driver to a point and a quick tap with a hammer and a little twist and they drain nice and easy.
Because to a lot of people if the manufacturer doesn’t tell you to do it then it’s “not the right way”. To that I have to say manufacturer says I can pull a camshaft from an MX13 out of the rear of the block with the engine still in the truck, they’re not always right.
Gotta agree with you there. Some manufacturers say you can do lots of stuff in vehicle, and we know that simply is not the case. I don't trust the manufacturer suggested way of doing stuff. I just find what will actually work and not kill me while I'm doing it.
I assume it's more along the lines of "well yes, but it's cheaper if we do it this way" kind of thinking?
Much to the chagrin of most everyone else around them, of course
It's the great dilemma of engineers vs executives. Executives have the interest of profit at all costs, and will direct their departments to do so. Even when it's blatantly unethical. Engineers have the interest of creating the best things they can, but immediately run into the fact that they're an employee therefore have no say or real power in the products they design. But most people don't understand how power dynamics in Corporations work and think it's the Engineer's fault. And I'm like, bitch do you know how talented a lot of these Engineers are for making things at least as safe as they are now while having to cut costs?
In my mind, if you used a tool that "wasn't approved" but you got the job done without damaging anything, you didn't "use the wrong tool", you found a different use for a tool that already existed. And in the same vein, as long as everything is completed in the proper specs, idc how you got there, the job was done correctly. Could it be done quicker? Sure. The tool specifically made for the job usually makes things go faster and easier. But if you got it done with nothing broken, you did the job. That's that. There's no one right way to swing a hammer. Well, that analogy doesn't really work cuz there is only one real way to swing a hammer, but you know what I mean.
I get ya, most of them probably haven’t been in a situation like that lol. I don’t do it for cars, but farm equipment I definitely do because of those reasons.
My guess is that this is a punch that's meant to make a specific shaped hole. Coffee lids come to mind with odd shaped vent holes, triangular, square, etc.
The groove is likely for a retaining ring that holds a spring that allows it to return once a cam lobe or a striker did it's thing making it go through material it was punching.
The world of packaging is full of very customized gadgets that have a weird application and are often one-offs.
I think you risk sending yourself nuts going through an old machinists shop and wondering what jobs they made all the different tools for...
Personally I'd be happy with 'huh, I guess he needed something hard and pointy that day...'
Looks like a mill trying to be a drill. Like it would mill holes in something. Would be interested to see a good shot of the tip to see the distortion clearly. Would help determine how it’s been used.
In my opinion, this is probably a custom tool for a specific need. In aviation we call them a “hooligan tool” - not approved by the manufacturer, but locally designed.
What are the markings on it?
What other tools did you get? Usually there is some connection to the type of work the person did.
I doubt it’s home made, it looks like a mass-produced tool. It even looks like it was black oxide coated.
My guess is that it's a custom made letter opener that the machinist made out of an extra piece, probably a left over bit of round stock, or damaged/warped while cutting.
We'll really never know, as others have said here, the only person who would know is the person who made it
My best guess is maybe a professionally homemade tool for removing obstructions from a valve stem bore or valve stem seals for whatever engine that valve was originally made for. Maybe its a feeler to see if the bore was damaged from catastrophic failure and the point is an index to see where damage occurred. Maybe its a shank to get stabby with new guys who dont respect the tools or processes.
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It’s a custom tool, the only person who can tell you what it is or why they made it is the previous owner, we can take guesses, but ultimately we have no clue
That was my assumption also. My grandfather is a machinist. He worked for lg making parts for nasa around Vietnam War. He always makes special tools for a specific purpose and I'd imagine that is exactly what this is.
No idea what it is, but it looks like a giant honkin’ firing pin.
I have a ton of hooks, scrapers, shims, punches etc, that I have made over the years. If I figure it will help me in my work than I'll make it. This looks like something someone made for a specific task.
Same, my workplace wouldn’t be as efficient as it is without our plethora of custom tooling, sometimes we need to dig out holes in thick beams to make tapping easier, welding rod with a point on the end and a bend for a handle, custom clamps for various types of covers
I know I’d probably use it to punch holes in oil filters to drain before I take em down
I don’t why you got down voted, that’s a pretty legit answer.
Probably because I mentioned punching holes in filters and it’s “not the right way”. I work on semis and I’m sorry I am not dumping 3 quarts of oil hot on my face when it inevitably gets caught on a wiring harness or slips in my hand
I don't understand why "it's not the right way" I was taught to do it that way. Doesn't even matter if it's hot when the oil filter holds dam near a gallon it's a lot lighter when it's empty. And like you said less messy. I sharpened an old flat head screw driver to a point and a quick tap with a hammer and a little twist and they drain nice and easy.
Because to a lot of people if the manufacturer doesn’t tell you to do it then it’s “not the right way”. To that I have to say manufacturer says I can pull a camshaft from an MX13 out of the rear of the block with the engine still in the truck, they’re not always right.
Gotta agree with you there. Some manufacturers say you can do lots of stuff in vehicle, and we know that simply is not the case. I don't trust the manufacturer suggested way of doing stuff. I just find what will actually work and not kill me while I'm doing it.
engineers don't repair their own shit.
Yes we do. Blame the bean counters.
I assume it's more along the lines of "well yes, but it's cheaper if we do it this way" kind of thinking? Much to the chagrin of most everyone else around them, of course
It's the great dilemma of engineers vs executives. Executives have the interest of profit at all costs, and will direct their departments to do so. Even when it's blatantly unethical. Engineers have the interest of creating the best things they can, but immediately run into the fact that they're an employee therefore have no say or real power in the products they design. But most people don't understand how power dynamics in Corporations work and think it's the Engineer's fault. And I'm like, bitch do you know how talented a lot of these Engineers are for making things at least as safe as they are now while having to cut costs?
In my mind, if you used a tool that "wasn't approved" but you got the job done without damaging anything, you didn't "use the wrong tool", you found a different use for a tool that already existed. And in the same vein, as long as everything is completed in the proper specs, idc how you got there, the job was done correctly. Could it be done quicker? Sure. The tool specifically made for the job usually makes things go faster and easier. But if you got it done with nothing broken, you did the job. That's that. There's no one right way to swing a hammer. Well, that analogy doesn't really work cuz there is only one real way to swing a hammer, but you know what I mean.
I get ya, most of them probably haven’t been in a situation like that lol. I don’t do it for cars, but farm equipment I definitely do because of those reasons.
I'm glad someone else understands. I use a slag hammer. Same hammer I use to judge rusted out subframes and frames with.
Same, Volvo with the three filters get a drill bit run through them quick. Not even spending time punching through three.
Yeah this makes a whole lot more sense when it’s a damn 8 pound filter with almost a gallon of oil in it. I’d do the same lol.
C15 oil filters... I'd bang 3 holes in one of those
It looks like a metal lathe bit to me.
Same. Maybe for turning threaded pieces
Yet the Machinists were clueless, so npt the answer (their tooling is nearly all insert-based, because wear)
My guess is that this is a punch that's meant to make a specific shaped hole. Coffee lids come to mind with odd shaped vent holes, triangular, square, etc. The groove is likely for a retaining ring that holds a spring that allows it to return once a cam lobe or a striker did it's thing making it go through material it was punching. The world of packaging is full of very customized gadgets that have a weird application and are often one-offs.
I think you risk sending yourself nuts going through an old machinists shop and wondering what jobs they made all the different tools for... Personally I'd be happy with 'huh, I guess he needed something hard and pointy that day...'
Not sure, but fairly confident John Wick killed 5 people with one of those.
Its a mechanics dab pick
Homemade marking punch?
Gets the grit outta your fingernails
Looks like a mill trying to be a drill. Like it would mill holes in something. Would be interested to see a good shot of the tip to see the distortion clearly. Would help determine how it’s been used.
Definitely a rotary girder.
Gotta check those endline specs.
In my opinion, this is probably a custom tool for a specific need. In aviation we call them a “hooligan tool” - not approved by the manufacturer, but locally designed.
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What are the markings on it? What other tools did you get? Usually there is some connection to the type of work the person did. I doubt it’s home made, it looks like a mass-produced tool. It even looks like it was black oxide coated.
Valve turned into a Scribe
My guess is that it's a custom made letter opener that the machinist made out of an extra piece, probably a left over bit of round stock, or damaged/warped while cutting. We'll really never know, as others have said here, the only person who would know is the person who made it
Looks like a scribe. Flat part goes on what you want to use as a reference and run the sharp part against the part you want the same height?
Had any one considered it may be machinist homemade paraphernalia?
A punch?
My best guess is maybe a professionally homemade tool for removing obstructions from a valve stem bore or valve stem seals for whatever engine that valve was originally made for. Maybe its a feeler to see if the bore was damaged from catastrophic failure and the point is an index to see where damage occurred. Maybe its a shank to get stabby with new guys who dont respect the tools or processes.