Is it used to polish something?

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BOINC WIKI

Is it used to polish something?

Not polishing, but best suggestion to date as this tool -does something- and is not part of something else.

Keep going guys.

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mambo

Is it normally used in the position shown? Does the position vary, or matter at all?

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Is it normally used in the position shown? Does the position vary, or matter at all?

Yes! On the picture the uppy bit is up and the downy bit is down.
The position could be varied but I see not benefit in doing so. The position matters in a sense: operator comfort/usability. The tool's performance would not be affected by changing its orientation but usability would suffer.

Extra hints for asking good questions: This is a hand tool requiring a quite violent form of interaction with its user, but it is capable of very delicate work...

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mambo

Is it used to form something?

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Is it used to form something?

Ah, now we are getting there.

Yes!

This is a metal working tool.

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mambo

Do you use it to bend metal into a particular form or angle?

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Do you use it to bend metal into a particular form or angle?

No bending.

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mambo

Is it used to form a precious metal?

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Is it used to form a precious metal?

It will form any metal, but the tool has a rich history of usage in jewelry so yes precious metals are definitely included.
The size of the tool will vary according to the size of the piece being formed so the jeweler's tool will be smaller than the one pictured here (that came out wrong).

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mambo

A snarling iron.

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A snarling iron.

Yes! Good job !

Basicaly it is a tool one uses to hit the inside walls of a hollow metal object (pot, cup, flute). Many kinds of 'tips' exist, the bent end goes in a vice.

The one pictured here with the 1" ball is used to repair dings in metal containers by raising them back outwards. Other tips like points, bevels and such are used to create motifs, ridges etc.

The tool's design is important because is uses vibration to work the surface so a carefuly engineered iron will be much more efficient than a makeshift one.

In the olden days a snarler made teapots...

"An iron rod, sometimes Z-shaped and usually about a foot in length and I" thick, used for raising bosses and bumps in relief on narrow-necked objects such as bowls in which a hammer or repoussé punch cannot be inserted. One end of the iron is held in a bench vice, and the other end, which has a rounded knob, is placed inside the object against the place where the boss is to be produced. The part of the iron near the vice is given a sharp blow and this causes the other end to rebound against the side of the object; the blows are repeated until a boss of the required size has been beaten out."

One would strike the iron with a heavy metal bar instead of a hammer/mallet so hitting would not require much attention (to hit with the hammer head on the small bar) in order to concentrate on the work piece.

Larger pieces would require one persone at the iron and the other holding the piece.

On even larger pieces you would just use a regular chisel/mallet combo because they would fit inside.



Your turn msfiske.

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mambo

Thanks...that was a tough one for sure!

Okay, here is the newest addition: What is it or what is it used for specifically?

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Oh wow...

So the top jaw grabs some kind of rod, hook or eyelet.
The bottom jaw rests against a surface and acts as a lever (bent tip).

I'm gessing this is some kind of lifter, or opener for some sealed container ?

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mambo

Oh wow...

So the top jaw grabs some kind of rod, hook or eyelet.
The bottom jaw rests against a surface and acts as a lever (bent tip).

I'm gessing this is some kind of lifter, or opener for some sealed container ?

Sorry, La!

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For pulling the end of a spring into place?

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BOINC WIKI

Can we assume the wooden handle is missing off the upper arm?

Is this used to insert an eyelet or tubular rivet of some sort?

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For pulling the end of a spring into place?

Nope!

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Can we assume the wooden handle is missing off the upper arm?

Is this used to insert an eyelet or tubular rivet of some sort?

Yes the handle is missing since this is an antique.
Not for eyelets or tubular rivets, but I guess you could use it that way. But definitely not its primary function!

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