# Does anyone know what this tool does? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 16, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926 "2006-09-16T04:46:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Interest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ebca7d/32.png) [@Interest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interest)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/1 "2006-09-16T04:46:03Z")
[![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/Naruto46/0914060943.jpg) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/Naruto46/0914060943.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/2 "2006-09-16T04:53:05Z")
I think that tool attaches to a table (ring side up) and has a spring-loaded pivoting… _hammer_ ? that can be pulled back with the ring… Obviously it’s a penis mightier. It might be some sort of a tension controlled mount for physics experiments regarding friction or somesuch. ---
**Author:** ![Interest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ebca7d/32.png) [@Interest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interest)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/3 "2006-09-16T05:04:44Z")
My auto mechanics teacher said that he first student that could report back to him with the correct name and what it does will get an automatic A for the marking period. I’m not cheating since he didn’t say we couldn’t ask others. I figure one of you guys has to know. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/4 "2006-09-16T05:05:33Z")
It is for putting ear tags in cows and other animals. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/5 "2006-09-16T05:14:16Z")
The seeming right angle in the outer part is a red herring. It is less than a right angle. Eh, I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/6 "2006-09-16T05:16:11Z")
[QUOTE=GusNSpot] It is for putting ear tags in cows and other animals. [/QUOTE] No, it isn’t. Ear taggers look more like [this](http://www.leaderproducts.com.au/Other_Tags.cfm) I haven’t any idea what it is, though. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/7 "2006-09-16T05:17:47Z")
[QUOTE=GusNSpot] It is for putting ear tags in cows and other animals. [/QUOTE] Is it an antique or something? Doesn’t look anything like the ear tag pliers [here.](http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&c2coff=1&q=ear+tag+pliers&btnG=Search) ---
**Author:** ![stochastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@stochastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stochastic)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/8 "2006-09-16T05:34:06Z")
The fact that it’s sitting on a whiteboard tray gives a hint to it’s use: it’s a board stretcher! We teachers are always in need of these gizmos, but never seem to have one handy. They’re supposed to be stored with the spotted paint and the bucket of curve balls, but they always get left in another teacher’s classroom. Thus, we have to send the super-annoying-ADHD-off-his-ritalin kid in search of it. Usually he has to visit half a dozen or more classrooms, criss-crosssing the campus, before he returns empty handed, tired out and ready to concentrate. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/9 "2006-09-16T05:41:26Z")
A clamp for gluing valve stems onto inner tubes? The only pressure the tool can apply looks to come from that bronze colored star nut. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/10 "2006-09-16T05:45:59Z")
It is a piston ring groove cleaner. The piston fits in the right angle portion shown at the top left. The movable arm swings out to admit the piston, and then back in. The little star shaped thing on the movable arm is different width scrapers. Loosen the set screw turn till the right width is facing toward the piston. close so that the scraper is inside the piston ring groove. Rotate the piston a few times to remove any carbon that is built up there. [Here](http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=11821&group_ID=1596) is almost the identical tool from Snap-On. You owe me half your grade. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/11 "2006-09-16T05:54:13Z")
Looks to be one of [these](http://www.handsontools.com/store-products-Mechanic-Hand-Tools-Pliers--Cutters-Pliers-and-Sets-Hose-Clamp-Pinch-Off-SCH95640-Schley-Adjustable-Hose-Clamp-Plier--90-Degree_3333.html) things (Adjustable Hose Clamp Plier- 90 Degree), but a much older version. Same basic structure, looks like the same function. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/12 "2006-09-16T05:54:19Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] It is a piston ring groove cleaner. The piston fits in the right angle portion shown at the top left. The movable arm swings out to admit the piston, and then back in. The little star shaped thing on the movable arm is different width scrapers. Loosen the set screw turn till the right width is facing toward the piston. close so that the scraper is inside the piston ring groove. Rotate the piston a few times to remove any carbon that is built up there. [Here](http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=11821&group_ID=1596) is almost the identical tool from Snap-On. You owe me half your grade. 😃 [/QUOTE] Nifty. How come the base of the piston-holding arm is a ring just before reaching the pivot point? To stick your thumb through? ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/13 "2006-09-16T05:56:09Z")
Oops. Oh well, it was worth a shot. All I know about cars is how to drive 'em and fill up the gas tank. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jake4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/14 "2006-09-16T06:02:17Z")
I think Interest should buy Rick a shiny new Piston Ring Groove Cleaner. $30 bucks isn’t bad for an automatic A. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/15 "2006-09-16T06:13:42Z")
Rick wins. Good shot! ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/16 "2006-09-16T06:27:48Z")
I love you Rick! Thanks!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Interest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ebca7d/32.png) [@Interest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interest)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/17 "2006-09-16T06:30:54Z")
Oops. Xray- Vision doesn’t love you, I do. He’s my uncle. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/18 "2006-09-16T07:56:54Z")
I still say it’s a penis mightier. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/19 "2006-09-16T14:34:41Z")
You oughjt to send your photo to this website, they’ll be glad to see it. [http://puzzlephotos.blogspot.com/](http://puzzlephotos.blogspot.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926/20 "2006-09-16T15:09:04Z")
[QUOTE=Interest] My auto mechanics teacher said that he first student that could report back to him with the correct name and what it does will get an automatic A for the marking period. I’m not cheating since he didn’t say we couldn’t ask others. I figure one of you guys has to know. 😃 [/QUOTE] Did he promise to award the A to the person who actually did the research? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-tool-does/372926.md?page=2)