I found this when I was cleaning out my painting supply toolbox:
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
I remember buying it. I was at a Real Rail train show in Sarasota. I was very enthusiastic about it, and thought it would be a great problem-solver.
Unfortunately, I have forgotten what it is.
It must be for painting because I put it in with the painting supplies. However, I cannot figure out what it could possibly be for.
Does anyone have an idea?
-Kevin
how big is it?
Hello All,
Think it is a tool for spiking handlaid track, the middle openings for marking center line, the side opening for spikes at the outsides of the rails ?
A “flash” paint stirrer.
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Well it rather resembles a lightweight ‘attitude adjuster’ one might find in an ‘ole school’ principle’s office. However,
Id rather think it was for painting wheel sets (faces and flanges).
I highly doubt either is correct. In that case, its definately a double-sided 4-way beer bottle opener.
I’m just glad to see I’m not the only one who buys tools then can’t remember what they are for later!
Isn’t this for painting wheel sets? On 2nd thought, I think those were U-shaped…
Tom
Fantastic. Just like Mr Pete on YouTube. He does a “What is it” episode every once in awhile. He shows tools and you guess what they are and how to use them.
Really need some more information. Put a tape measure next to it or something for scale. The way it is now, it could be six inches or a foot long.
Pete.
Next to a tape measure:
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
With an HO scale truck:
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
As you can see, the gauge of the slots does not match an HO scale track gauge.
-Kevin
Kevin.
I’m stumped. Low resistance paint stir stick? That’s just about all I can think.
Pete.
It is not just train tools, I have a few tools I bought for the house, and a few special automotive tools that have become a mystery as well.
-Kevin
Looks to be about 1/8’’ thick.
Maybe a tongue depressor?
But my first guess would be a non-motorized paint stirrer.
Gotta be a paint stir stick.
Rich
Somebody mentioned a guide for nails for hand-laid track. The slots are too wide apart for trucks, clearly, but they might be perfectly spaced for nailing outside the rails. OTOH, that’s such a specific modelling application that I’d be surprised if you couldn’t remember acquiring a tool for it.
-Matt
The only idea I have is asking here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Tools/comments/c9osjj/need_help_identifying_tool/
I just dont see this as a paint stir. It could be used as one, but with holes in the middle of it, I dont see that stirring much as the outside slots would.
And it looks too ‘specific’ to be a stir. Even looks a little too ‘glorified’ or ‘customized’ to be a stir.
Im wondering if the hole at the end isnt just to hang this thing on a nail when not used, yet as an anchor. Maybe its used to draw or paint circles of some kind.
Be a nice way to hang your brushes over a cleaning solution, or even to dry after cleaning.
And as outlandinsh as it sounds, if it was dipped in a solution of soapy water, I bet the kids could have fun with it. Not sure how this would translate into a painting application though.
It just looks like over kill for a paint stir.
Could it be for tie-dye use? Pull the shirt through the holes only enough to ‘tie’ them using the outer slots?
Poached egg holder for those painters ruffing it (held over a metal gallon paint can thats the heat source)?
How about a 4 brush holder, so a painter could paint 4 even lines in one stroke? I dont know what you’d call that device but you have a picture of it. [(-D]
Wait, it just hit me… its the head gasket for a 4 cylinder paint compressor. Thats gotta be it.
That labeling alone would have made me buy it!
-Kevin
Hello again,
Come to think of it, this might be some kind of template / gauge to mark lockholes in a door, there where the doorhandle and the lock is to be inserted??
keep on guessing here…
It is a ballast distributor.
Rich
Really? How would it work?
It could be.
-Kevin