this post was submitted on 08 Mar 2026
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What is this thing?

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[–] espentan@lemmy.world 10 points 15 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 1 points 7 hours ago

I'm thinking it's this sort of thing but not specifically. It looks like you insert it into a hole to undo a clip, such as to access the detector you link or to pop open a box to replace the toilet paper in a restaurant toilet or anything where you want something to keep out the kids but don't need full lock security.

Specifically I haven't seen and haven't searched up anything quite like this, but it does have that vibe to it.

[–] chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world 10 points 16 hours ago

A very sturdy IUD.

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 5 points 15 hours ago

Oh man did I read that title wrong, I had to do a double take

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 7 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

I think it's for fixing a tire.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 1 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

Are you thinking tire lever for a bicycle?

Looks too thick fore that, but does look like a levering tool of some sort.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 2 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

More like a tool for inserting a tire plug in an automobile tire, maybe, but it's not quite the right shape for that either. (Or at least, if it is that, it's a really cheap one because usually they're made of metal.)

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

tire plug? what are they doing with those pretzels. patch? stem? i am so confused. i need more pretzels

i am growing to hate ai. it's not bringing me enough pretzels

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 2 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

Yea, its not that, too thick/square, handle too small, etc. You'd never get a plug in with it (I've done thousands of them - tire's are really tough).

Looks like some kind of levering tool.

As an aside, check out the screw-type tire plugs available today. Way easier than the traditional plugs and work just as well.

[–] Shadow@lemmy.ca 3 points 16 hours ago

Might be a landscaping stake

[–] Transform2942@lemmy.ml 3 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

OP, is that metal or some sort of plastic? I can't tell for sure from the picture

[–] Steve@startrek.website 9 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

Its plastic. It feels hard but shaves off easily with a knife, and the shavings melt.

[–] gibmiser@lemmy.world 30 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

I hope this isn't your approach to every object you can't identify...

[–] GreenCrunch@piefed.blahaj.zone 29 points 16 hours ago

"When cut, it did emit some red fluid, and the object moved and made a lot of noise - perhaps some sort of hydraulic mechanism? The shavings don't melt, so it's probably not plastic."

[–] like47ninjas@lemmy.world 5 points 15 hours ago

Bahaha - reading this and taking a drink - bad combo, almost out the nose.

[–] Transform2942@lemmy.ml 4 points 16 hours ago

My best guess is some sort of "pin" for holding some other components in place or in alignment. It has those fins along the side that are chamfered in both directions and that notch at the end...

I almost thought it was like a "key" for turning something but I don't think the handle is big enough and I don't think plastic would be strong enough

Maybe some sort of packaging?

[–] Peppycito@sh.itjust.works 2 points 16 hours ago

Could be some weird packaging thing. I think I've seen something like this when I bought a pack of ratchet straps.