What is It?

[threepiece]

Originally Posted by USMCPOP

Rail anchor.

Well there we go! Now to figure out what a rail anchor does.

[MetalWolf]

Originally Posted by threepiece

So, how do the fellows in the field pronounce these? Is it tomato or tomahto?

Drywall cup bit or get me another thingy-muh-bobber
or get me another chinga-dero

[threepiece]

This is indeed a strange piece.

When I found it a the scrap yard last week it was methodically warped with a ribbon of clear plastic film which I removed for a closer inspection.

Here is what I know about it: A magnet will stick to it although it doesn’t seem to have a very strong pull. It seems to be coated in a varnish of sorts. If it is a rolled up strip of metal the thickness is very small as I cannot for certain find either end. It is shockingly malleable. Just dropping it from three feet will easily deform the circle. I have little doubt that I could not flatten it if I threw it to the ground without it bouncing back up.

[milomilo]

Electrical magnet core.

[Lew Hartswick]

Most likely a torrid core for a transformer.
...lew...
Chris if my keyboard had been powered up I may have beaten you to that. :-)
..lew..

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by Lew Hartswick

Most likely a torrid core for a transformer.
...lew...
Chris if my keyboard had been powered up I may have beaten you to that. :-)
..lew..

Just a stab in the dark for me.

[Lew Hartswick]

Having spent most of my life in electronics, I think my guess is somewhat better than the "stab in the dark". :-)
...lew...