What is this thing?

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Currently in CHALLENGE mode: If you've got something obscure knocking about, post a picture, and let's see how we do. Please prefix such posts with "CHALLENGE:" so we know we've got a fighting chance.

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This picture was taken on the Rio Grande River Valley, on the left side of the image is the river, the right side is the flood control ditch. I am guessing the purpose is when the river rises too high some underground pipes divert the extra water to this so it can drain into the flood control.

This image there is a second, black pipe visible that goes under the ditch road and empties into the ditch.

I would love to know what the grey pipe is called so I can look up a diagram of how they work exactly.

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Current out-of-bounds item list for reference:

  • Fidget and other sensory toys because I feel like moving in a certain way purely for the sake of itself isn't in the spirit of these challenges.
  • Alternative "wellness" products that largely function as placebos by being in the general vicinity of a person such as crystals and "energy focusing copper coils" and the like. Weird looking traditional instruments like a special type of gong or something are acceptable.
  • Specialty massage products are fine provided they're mostly used to massage an area other than the genitals (at least, assuming I can tell, but I'm fairly knowledgeable in that area). I do not use sex toys at all for these challenges (that's just not what my aim here is). It's also still ok if the specific massage philosophy claims to have other, pseudo-scientific benefits such as for chiropracty or acupuncture, as long as the tool itself is an actual massage tool.
  • objects that are mostly or entirely ornamental / decorative in nature like jewelry and sculptures. I'll still use something that is an ornamental version of something that has a specific non-ornamental purpose (ex: a lot of traditional fibercraft tools or recreational drug equipment for weed or caffeine). Hair ornaments and pins are fine as long as they have some specific niche use such as ornamental hair rollers or having an interesting closure for pinning your shawl in a specific way or something.
  • tools that are too broadly applicable such as specialty abrasive drill bits or specialty brushes where what makes them use specific is stuff like size shape and bristle stiffness which are still pretty broadly applicable (a little brush with a long handle has a looot of different uses, think about everything you can do with a used toothbrush).
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  • Fidget and other sensory toys because I feel like moving in a certain way purely for the sake of itself isn't in the spirit of these challenges.
  • Alternative "wellness" products that largely function as placebos by being in the general vicinity of a person such as crystals and "energy focusing copper coils" and the like. Weird looking traditional instruments like a special type of gong or something are acceptable.
  • Specialty massage products are fine provided they're mostly used to massage an area other than the genitals (at least, assuming I can tell, but I'm fairly knowledgeable in that area). I do not use sex toys at all for these challenges (that's just not what my aim here is). It's also still ok if the specific massage philosophy claims to have other, pseudo-scientific benefits such as for chiropracty or acupuncture, as long as the tool itself is an actual massage tool.
  • objects that are mostly or entirely ornamental / decorative in nature like jewelry and sculptures. I'll still use something that is an ornamental version of something that has a specific non-ornamental purpose (ex: a lot of traditional fibercraft tools or recreational drug equipment for weed or caffeine). Hair ornaments and pins are fine as long as they have some specific niche use such as ornamental hair rollers or having an interesting closure for pinning your shawl in a specific way or something.
  • tools that are too broadly applicable such as specialty abrasive drill bits or specialty brushes where what makes them use specific is stuff like size shape and bristle stiffness which are still pretty broadly applicable (a little brush with a long handle has a looot of different uses, think about everything you can do with a used toothbrush).
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... (www.duckduckgo.com)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by Apytele@sh.itjust.works to c/whatisthisthing@lemmy.world
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These are electric nail "clippers".

Though it's really more of a nail shaver if you think about it....

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I ended up having some time today to dig this thing out of my camping gear. It's musty rusty and crusty but it's poked a lot of holes in fuel cans. Haven't camped in years some of this is really taking me back.

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Some light hints that may point you in the right direction:

Hint 1The assembly is a part of a larger machine.

Hint 2Several assemblies are meant to move side by side in unison.

Hint 3The square-ish shaped piece is plastic that will wear down and be replaced.

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It's a metal band tensioner and cutter. Usually used to secure something to a post that you have no intention of removing for the foreseeable future.

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People from two or three particular countries in the world should recognize this one.

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Egg for scale because I ate all my bananas.

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I got one recently. Happy with it.

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