Shopsmith Forums

The shop is going through yet another reorg and this showed up so I figured it might be interesting to know if anyone knows what it is. I've had this for a long time so I had to check to see if they still sell them and they do. A lot more expensive then I remember but so what else is new.

It is something that I learned about 56 years ago. They were in common use back then but it doesn't seem like something that is used much anymore.

So what is this?
Either a common name or what it is used for will work.

Ed

Is that a dipstick for a house oil tank?

Grain thief?"\

I'll add another image that might help.
Ed

Until I saw the second picture I was sure it was what we used to call a 'yardstick'. Apparently this is about the other thing. Doesn't look very interesting so maybe it's a boring tool.

That second pix has created confusion fer me. Until it 'appeared', I was thinking that what appears to be threads may be coiled spring wire and therefore it is a plumbing snake but the long part makes it unable to negotiate bends(traps...)

If it is threaded I assume the handle can reach the close end of the threads(closer to the near end in the pic). So some kind of boring bar???

The second device looks similar to a dead center, but it looks like it would cut out a piece of the material. I had two thoughts, first was that it would be used to cut into each end of a piece ce of stock that had just been turned for a lamp. You would then need to chisel out the remaining material. The the first tool could be used to clean up the long hole through the newly turned lamp so you could put the electric cord through it.

Second thought was that the second tool would be used to cut rubber, felt, or moleskin grommets.

I don’t see threads on the first tool. I have no idea what these are.

It's a lamp drill, it will fit through the center in the second picture.

RobertTaylor wrote: ↑Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:26 am It's a lamp drill, it will fit through the center in the second picture.

Ha! Our posts were one second apart.

Lamp auger bit or sometimes called a shell auger. This one is a 3/8" but I have seen 5/16" versions.

The dead center has a removable point and guess what the hole left behind is 3/8".
Now this is only one way to do this operation and lamps are only one thing that can be drilled this way.

Stay tuned for some other goodies a bit later today.

Ed