[Geezer]

Old steel would blunt quickly after much use - my uncle used to get his chisels redone (he was a cabinet maker since before wwii - now sadly gone).  He claimed that over time the whacking used to make all the steel the same all over - the body of the chisel would go brittle from being soft and flexible and the tip would become soft from being hard and brittle.  whether this was an old wives tale I do not know

Never heard that one before. I think it's a bit suspect, but maybe he was right. If he was in the habit of using a grinding wheel to sharpen them, the heat produced could affect the hardness, but it's more usual to sharpen them on a stone by hand.

Wot we need is a meta-lurgy-cal person to 'splain this to us.

I don't think axe heads are hardened that much. Last time I sharpened my hand axe, I seem to remember I used a file, then a stone to put the final edge on it.   

[CliffordK]

Ok,

I think we got sidetracked a bit.  So much for woodsy stuff.

Anyway, the axe in the photo above is a feller's (or faller's) axe.  The flat edge on the bottom is supposed to make the axe into a T-Square that can be used to determine the direction a tree will fall.  What if the axe handle is warped as above?

http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/htmlpubs/htm99232823/page04.htm


As far as the notches.  I thought I was told that it was providing a guide for the crosscut saw while cutting down the trees, but the best I can tell, it has to do with underbucking with a buck saw.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underbucking


Although the Wikipedia article does suggest using a single-bit axe, presumably so you won't fall into the axe head.

As mentioned, it will give a crude count of the number of underbucks that have been done.

Geezer suggested a burnt effect, but it would be friction burning.

[CliffordK]

Ok...

Here is something entirely different...
I have a guess on what it is...  we'll see if my guess is the same as what others come up with.

I'll answer any questions that you come up with (that I can answer).


WhatsThis.JPG (29.29 kB . 755x270 - viewed 54815 times)

[Geezer]

Is it made of graphite?

[CliffordK]

Is it made of graphite?

Good question.  And, it does appear to be graphite, or a high carbon compound.  And it did chip when I dropped it.  The screw appears to be a copper alloy (copper, brass, or bronze), and does not come out the other end.

P.S.
It appears as if Geezer is on the right track.... 
Does anybody ELSE have the answer?

[SeanB]

A idler pulley of some sort, most likely for light duty, probably in a wet environment.

[damocles]

looks to me like some sort of sharpening stone or grindstone that has lost its handle

[Bored chemist]

I note that both graphite and brass are used as electrical conductors, but I don't know hat this object is for. Could it be the carbon rod from a leclanche cell?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leclanch%C3%A9_cell

[CliffordK]

As far as the pulley, it is light (which is good), but as mentioned, it chipped easily when dropped, and the screw doesn't seem strong enough to take much abuse.  So, I'm doubtful.

I haven't tried scraping  it, but if it is carbon, it would likely crumble more than a whetstone.  It also has a gear tooth like shape that would be inconvenient for sharpening many items.

I note that both graphite and brass are used as electrical conductors, but I don't know hat this object is for. Could it be the carbon rod from a leclanche cell?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leclanch%C3%A9_cell

Geezer?  Your thoughts?

The battery post is down my line of reasoning, The carbon part reminds me of the carbon rod that one finds in the middle of typical alkaline batteries, just much bigger.

The screw reminds me of the screw-on top on many 6V lantern batteries.

Unfortunately I haven't taken apart many larger alkaline batteries.  At about 6" long, it would be tall for a lantern battery, and everything I see indicate that at least the modern 6V batteries are made of multiple independent smaller cells wired together.

[Geezer]

I was thinking it might be a brush for a large dynamo or motor. The fluted section is likely to prevent rotation, which is required with a brush.

[CliffordK]

Interesting idea.  The end is flat and not worn concave.  However, it doesn't mean it isn't new.  The profile, however, is round (with flutes).  Most brushes I've seen are square or rectangular because they are designed to match the shape of the commutator.

The piece was found in the mountains near a long abandoned remote homestead which is also in a mining region.

[damocles]

Unfortunately I haven't taken apart many larger alkaline batteries.  At about 6" long, it would be tall for a lantern battery, and everything I see indicate that at least the modern 6V batteries are made of multiple independent smaller cells wired together.

The voltage put out by a galvanic cell depends on the chemical reaction that takes place when electricity is generated. The maximum possible for any practical system is around 2.5 volt, and most of the practical cells produce about 1.5 volt. (Lead-Acid as in a car battery is 2.0 volt). So any 6 volt battery must consist of 3 or 4 cells wired in series.

But we are here looking at a rather old artifact, so 6 volt is probably rather irrelevant. I think that Bored Chemist's suggestion

Could it be the carbon rod from a leclanche cell?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leclanch%C3%A9_cell

is the least problematic of the various suggestions so far put forward.

The fluted profile is consistent with trying to maximise the surface area of an electrode, while maintaining the mechanical integrity of a rather fragile material.

[Geezer]

Unfortunately I haven't taken apart many larger alkaline batteries.  At about 6" long, it would be tall for a lantern battery, and everything I see indicate that at least the modern 6V batteries are made of multiple independent smaller cells wired together.

The voltage put out by a galvanic cell depends on the chemical reaction that takes place when electricity is generated. The maximum possible for any practical system is around 2.5 volt, and most of the practical cells produce about 1.5 volt. (Lead-Acid as in a car battery is 2.0 volt). So any 6 volt battery must consist of 3 or 4 cells wired in series.

But we are here looking at a rather old artifact, so 6 volt is probably rather irrelevant. I think that Bored Chemist's suggestion

Could it be the carbon rod from a leclanche cell?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leclanch%C3%A9_cell

is the least problematic of the various suggestions so far put forward.

The fluted profile is consistent with trying to maximise the surface area of an electrode, while maintaining the mechanical integrity of a rather fragile material.

Give the location, and the rather wimpy connection, I think that's a good assumption.

Clifford, can you measure its resistance?

[CliffordK]

Clifford, can you measure its resistance?

Awww heck,
I just use my meter as a go/no-go gauge. 

Anyway, the resistance in the wires of the meter seems to be about 0.3 ohms.
The resistance from end to end on the "handle" seems to be about 0.8 ohms, or a difference of about 0.5 ohms.

I may have to do some polishing as I seem to get some very high resistance across the screw.

[Geezer]

Anyway, the resistance in the wires of the meter seems to be about 0.3 ohms.

Isn't there a lttle thingy you can adjust to zero the reading? Either that, or you are needing to change the battery before it leaks and ruins your meter []

If it's about 0.5 Ω, it does sound a bit high for a motor brush, so that would suggest it's the carbon  electrode for a primary cell as BC and the dangly sword guy suggest.

[terrildactl]

It's a high tech refrigerant condenser. It could also be an evaporator. Some sort of fluid flows through an orifice, and a sudden drop in pressure by an expansion chamber, Blah, blah, refrigeration simple, to cool, or warm, some thing that generates heat.

[widereader]

I think this is an exhaust fan.

[CliffordK]

I was browsing at the local second hand store, and this showed up.


P.JPG (33.32 kB . 288x659 - viewed 16619 times)

Perhaps I'm off my rocker with my interpretation...  let's see what the group thinks.

[CliffordK]

No Comments?
RD had found a similar candle holder...

But, the question remains if there is any significance beyond planned obsolescence?

[CliffordK]

Nothing?

Boy it is quiet here.

Maybe I should have posted it under "Geek Speek" (hint) as they certainly would have had some good interpretations there.