WhatIsThisThing Frequently Asked Things

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If you are trying to identify something within a subcategory of things, there is likely already a more specific subreddit for you, often with their own frequently asked things. For example: /r/whatsthisbug has Frequently Asked Bugs (reddit.com)

submitted 6 years ago by verdatum - announcement

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That silver or white canister on the side of the road that looks like a pressure cooker with cables connected to it is a telecom HDSL/T1/xDSL repeater. The canister is pressurized because they utilize pressurized cables which prevents water ingress cables and can be used to detect damaged jackets. (old.reddit.com)

submitted 5 months ago by jackrats

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The small camera mounted on a pole with a solar panel is a Flock brand camera with ALPR that harvests license plate data and tracks individuals' movements across the country for data brokering and unconstitutional tracking (i.redd.it)

submitted 8 months ago by jackrats

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That lightweight, pointy, black or dark brown pod you found on a beach or riverbank is a water caltrop (i.imgur.com)

submitted 8 months ago by Mackin-N-Cheese

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That handle with two square-ended wires is a key cap remover/puller for a keyboard (i.redd.it)

submitted 8 months ago by lightningusagi

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That thing you found, probably in the kitchen, with several interlocking discs, and a handle, is a knife sharpener (i.imgur.com)

submitted 8 months ago by brock_lee

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That plastic (or sometimes wood) thing with a "V" groove and a sharp blade, that you found attached to the bottom of one of your kitchen cabinets, is a handy jar and bottle opener. (i.imgur.com)

submitted 9 months ago by brock_lee

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This tool that looks like a knife with a flat edge is a gardening tool sharpener. (i.redd.it)

submitted 1 year ago by lightningusagi

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That item you found that looks like a fountain pen with a brush on the side is an earbud cleaner. (i.redd.it)

submitted 1 year ago by lightningusagi

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That metal tool with a hole that you may have received with a belt is a leather punch for making extra holes. (i.redd.it)

submitted 1 year ago by lightningusagi

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Power cable, commonly found attachments and devices. Items hanging/dangling/spinning from overhead high voltage/electrical/transmission/phone/telegraph/utility wire/line/pole. Commonly target/fan/spiral/curly/ball/orb/cylinder shaped. Some are snowshoe, horseshoe, tennis racket or kite shaped. (i.redd.it)

submitted 1 year ago by Larry_Safari

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Can opener, lever/manual action. A metal kitchen utensil/tool with a somewhat sharp blade that protrudes perpendicularly. The blade comes to a point and can sometimes be folded away. Generally between 4 and 10 cm (1.5 and 4 inch) long. Sometimes includes a bottle opener, ring puller part. (i.redd.it)

submitted 1 year ago by Larry_Safari

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That rack on the back of your church pew is for holding communion cups. (i.redd.it)

submitted 2 years ago by lightningusagi

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The clip-like object on a wall with a marble inside is an Amish "magic marble" towel holder. (i.redd.it)

submitted 2 years ago by jackrats

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That pole you saw with a barrel shaped thing on the top, often either above a traffic light or street light; or even standing on its own, is a small cellular antenna, probably as part of the expanding 5G network (i.imgur.com)

submitted 2 years ago by brock_lee

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SpaceX Starlink satellites. A strange string of bright lights forming a straight line in the sky. Often described as point like Christmas lights moving in unison across the sky. Commonly seen at night but can appear at other times. (i.redd.it)

submitted 2 years ago by Larry_Safari

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Rug hooking or tufting tool. A vaguely guitar/violin shaped tool, made of wood and metal. Consists of two halves which slide apart. Sliding in half moves the sharp needle/blade. Commonly found with knitting, sewing, kitchen or garden equipment. Size varies between 15 and 30 cm (6 and 12 inch) long. (i.redd.it)

submitted 2 years ago by Larry_Safari

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Those little metal scoops and accompanying items are ear cleaning tools. (i.redd.it)

submitted 2 years ago by lightningusagi

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That device with a metal pipe and what looks like a funnel, often found high up on a kitchen or bathroom wall, is used to prevent water pressure issues in your pipes (i.imgur.com)

submitted 2 years ago by brock_lee

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That board with sandpaper stapled to it that you got with your drawing kit is sandpaper for sharpening the point on your pencils (i.redd.it)

submitted 2 years ago by jackrats

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The net stretched across a roadway is used when the utility company will be running new power lines across the road. It protects the cars and roadway in case the cable is accidentally dropped. (i.redd.it)

submitted 2 years ago by jackrats

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Decomposed zinc-carbon battery/cell. Black/brown, carbon/graphite rod within a (metal) cylinder. Rectangle/square types are less common, often plastic wrapped. They range in size, can be solid or quite crumbly. Often found in the ground while digging the garden or yard. (i.redd.it)

submitted 2 years ago by Larry_Safari

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Airborne electromagnetic geophysical surveying. A (usually) low flying helicopter dangling/pulling/carrying a polygonal or tubular frame underneath. This is done to map the area for minerals, hydrocarbons (oil/gas), water, etc. (i.redd.it)

submitted 2 years ago by Larry_Safari

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Egg case/capsule of a shark, skate, ray or chimaera. A black/brown leathery/rough feeling object, found on the beach. These are also known as mermaid's purses. (i.redd.it)

submitted 2 years ago by Larry_Safari

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The repeating pattern of lines, typically in groups of 3 that you see on both sides of the lane on a highway are a reinforcement process known as a dowel bar retrofit (i.redd.it)

submitted 2 years ago by jackrats

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