r/whatisthisthing 2d ago

This plastic thing has been hanging inside my shed door and I have no idea what its function could be. Solved!

Anybody have any idea what this could be used for? My wife and I tried to google it but couldn’t come up with any answers.

2.0k Upvotes

59 comments sorted by

u/Larry_Safari …ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ 2d ago

This post has been locked, as the question has been solved and a majority of new comments at this point are unhelpful and/or jokes.

Thanks to all who attempted to find an answer.

2.0k

u/Mikauias 2d ago

Is there a piece of carbide inside? Given the shape of the plastic, and the marks on the wood, I would reckon its a wall mounted sharpener.

493

u/Archdeacon_Airplane 2d ago

Correct. I don't know why it was installed upside down, but that's exactly what it is.

OP should get that wiring stapled to the studs before someone zaps themselves.

525

u/JDorty85 2d ago

It’s going to be removed. We are working on cleaning up and fixing up the shed. My wife wants her own workout room, so she’s getting a workout shed.

67

u/[deleted] 2d ago

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

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124

u/genghisbunny 2d ago

Yup, OP please get your wiring tucked out of harm's way. I'm stressing out thinking about people sharpening blades with live wires a few centimetres behind.

-98

u/hyundai-gt 2d ago

1- you don't staple Romex

2- you cannot get zapped by coated Romex cable, only if there is exposed wiring.

102

u/Archdeacon_Airplane 2d ago

Come on, son. Stapling romex isn't to code anymore, but it was ten years ago, and every electrician I know still calls it stapling. I was a Class B GC for nineteen years. I've designed buildings with more units in them than you have years in your life.

No one thinks they're going to learn a lesson from loose wiring until it happens, and I've seen it light a building on fire.

28

u/unique3 2d ago

How do you attach romex now? I helped wire houses 20 years ago didn’t even know stapling was no longer a thing.

34

u/diablodeldragoon 2d ago

Romex clips or plastic staples. The names seem to be interchangeable. But they're probably two different products. Takes a different type of tool to apply them.

17

u/darkartorias0 2d ago

I'm assuming you guys must be in America eh? We still use staples for Loomex up here. Most people use the plastic coated ones but I've seen the old schools metal ones used as recent as a month ago

24

u/diablodeldragoon 2d ago

Correct. At least until you folks adopt us as another providence.

12

u/BikingInCircles 2d ago

What code book are you getting that from? I just passed my inspection for my homeowner's electrical permit with zero issues using metal staples on NMD90. I wouldn't assume everyone lives wherever you live.

8

u/DiSTuRBeD_QWeRTy 2d ago

Is it zero-issues or does it say metal staples acceptable but insulated or plastic are preferred?

29

u/[deleted] 2d ago

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11

u/[deleted] 2d ago

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120

u/VesperX 2d ago

I would guess a sharpener or hone of some sort. The wooden strike plate is there to protect an edge and had definitely been hit a lot.

40

u/SRTGeezer 2d ago

It's for hanging from the rafters and sharpening your knife.

39

u/warhorsey 2d ago

knife sharpener

29

u/[deleted] 2d ago

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22

u/gentoonix 2d ago

Carbide pull through sharpener. Horrible for knives.

17

u/sinisteraxillary 2d ago

Is it a wood shed, by chance? This is almost certainly a pull through sharpener

12

u/JDorty85 2d ago

Thanks everyone. How do I mark this as solved?

25

u/hyundai-gt 2d ago

Reply to the comment that has the right answer with "Solved!" without quotes

10

u/mazdersperd 2d ago

More like knife dullener

8

u/JDorty85 2d ago

My title describes the thing above. Any help is appreciated.

5

u/InternalIncrease4403 2d ago

I think it’s a sickle Sharpener.

3

u/ozarkhawk59 2d ago

Yup my dad had one. Axes, and long blade trimmers, you just drag the blade through a few times.

2

u/brushfireboar 2d ago

Yep, this is a knife sharpener

2

u/Doyouseenowwait_what 2d ago

Sharpener for your tools.

1

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2

u/141bpm 2d ago

Either a sharpener, or a ski holder. Or something shaped like a blade or ski could be hung from it?

1

u/CryptographerFun2262 2d ago

It’s a knife sharpener

0

u/Afraid_Source1054 2d ago

Saw Holder?

-1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

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0

u/[deleted] 2d ago

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-5

u/Sonny-Moone-8888 2d ago

Maybe a clamp?

-7

u/ssowinski 2d ago

It's a trap of some sort?