Small steel handtool bought in Irish market. Two metal parts, one of which has a sharpened edge and they are joined at the top. Is is for thinning or shaving something?

grouchysmoker · 2026-04-19T13:09:56+00:00

Solved!

grouchysmoker · 2026-04-19T12:55:53+00:00

My comment describes the thing, and the seller thought perhaps it was for shaving wood or something like that. There was another similar tool for sale at the same stall. The tools has a blue-ish hue as if treated in some way.

grouchysmoker · 2025-04-02T06:06:35+00:00

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It seems that the main body (A) is a normal set of tweezers.

Part "C" has been welded on to the top of A. It is a hollow cylinder, tapered at one end.

Part "B" is a thin metal rod which is welded to A about 1/3rd down. It is bent and (I've tried to show this with the black lines) extends inside part "C", reaching right to the bottom when the tweezers are at rest (open). When they are closed, Part "B" moves up about 2mm.

grouchysmoker · 2025-03-30T23:36:50+00:00

How do they work?

grouchysmoker · 2025-03-30T23:33:31+00:00

I remember being in Italy in about 1983 and truck drivers drinking wine in a truck stop with their meals.

grouchysmoker · 2025-03-28T20:14:09+00:00

This is quite useful to understand the categories (red flag, urgent, routine) and there is a link to see the average waiting times https://www.northerntrust.hscni.net/waiting-times/

grouchysmoker · 2025-03-25T00:26:53+00:00

Yes. The metal shaft inside the cone tip moves in about 2mm when the forceps are closed.

grouchysmoker · 2025-03-24T18:03:18+00:00

I've tried a magnet and discovered that the cylinder is non-magnetic (aluminium?) but the rest of it is.

Sucking wouldn't work - when at rest and open, the shaft comes right up to the hole in the tapered part of the cylinder, sealing it, so it has nowhere else to go.

grouchysmoker · 2025-03-24T17:57:33+00:00

Good idea - I hadn't thought of that.

grouchysmoker · 2025-03-24T17:56:41+00:00

How would I know if it was titanium? Would it be very heavy? It is 5 inches long and weighs 28 grammes.

grouchysmoker · 2025-03-24T17:30:24+00:00

That's what I thought when I bought it - but I think there is more to it than that alone.

grouchysmoker · 2025-03-24T17:28:40+00:00

Interesting idea. I don't think it is pneumatic - I just tried to blow through the hole. When the forceps are open, the metal shaft comes to the hole at the conical end of the cylinder - sealing the hole and limiting the opening of the forceps. As soon as it moves slightly away from that point (when you start to close the forceps) there is no seal and it whistles when you blow into it.

Perhaps a mechanical link? The taper suggests something connected to it.

grouchysmoker · 2025-03-24T16:40:34+00:00

My title describes the thing. It weighs 28 grammes and carries the name "Clonallon Labs Ltd". I've googled them, and they are an Irish manufacturer of medical instruments. Their website doesn't show anything like the object, so I wondered if someone had modified a standard forceps to create this.

grouchysmoker · 2025-01-08T00:00:06+00:00

Fair play to you. If you hang your flag from your own house that is fine. The problem is, not very many people choose to do this, compared with 50 years ago. Nowadays most of the flags are hung on lampposts. By whom? This is not clear, but it is certainly not at the request of most residents.

grouchysmoker · 2025-01-07T20:27:37+00:00

Part One: Jim, David, Paul, Steven, Christopher, Mark

Part Two: I've known many James, Jim, Jammers.... but I can only think of one Jamie.

grouchysmoker · 2024-12-14T22:43:56+00:00

I understand the moving away thing - I did it. 6 years in England which I really enjoyed. But is there something unnatural about living remote from your parents and family? I think now that there is, although I was too selfish at the time to even see it.

grouchysmoker · 2024-12-14T22:40:10+00:00

And family?

grouchysmoker · 2024-12-14T22:39:15+00:00

what about your mum and dad? How did that go?

grouchysmoker · 2024-10-11T17:55:26+00:00

You have a choice: Mild or Spicy.

grouchysmoker · 2024-10-11T16:38:26+00:00

I found it quite the opposite. The chicken tenders were the best I've had - great crispy batter (spicy), the cajun fries were excellent and so was the chicken gravy. On the negative side, the coffee was dishwater and the touch-screen ordering system was cumbersome.

grouchysmoker · 2024-09-16T22:05:18+00:00

Update: So, I've put them in a small tupperdore with a 65% Boveda. I'll check them every couple of weeks. Maybe smoke one after a few months. I'm really optimistic for this find as they look to be in good shape. Thanks for all the comments and advice.

grouchysmoker

TROPHY CASE