Can anyone put a name to this?

A tool dealer had 4 small metal wedges.
Each was around 3" long, 1 1/4" wide,
and tapered from around 1/3" down
to 1/32".

This thin end was very neatly done; it really
was of uniform thickness across the whole
width.

The thick end was chamfered, presumably
to allow hammering without burring, like the
top of a punch or cold chisel.

The large faces were ground, with grinder
marks that looked to indicate around 8"
diameter grinding wheel. However,
the faces still had some unground area.

So, I'm guessing these were rough forged, then
finish ground.

So; anyone know what they are/were?

BugBear (with apologies to any rcm'ers who also subscribe to OLDTOOLS)

Sounds like wedge shims to me. The tool dealer didn't know?
Bugs

bugbear wrote:
Can anyone put a name to this?

A tool dealer had 4 small metal wedges.
Each was around 3" long, 1 1/4" wide,
and tapered from around 1/3" down
to 1/32".

This thin end was very neatly done; it really
was of uniform thickness across the whole
width.

The thick end was chamfered, presumably
to allow hammering without burring, like the
top of a punch or cold chisel.

The large faces were ground, with grinder
marks that looked to indicate around 8"
diameter grinding wheel. However,
the faces still had some unground area.

So, I'm guessing these were rough forged, then
finish ground.

If they were ground, it was likely for a sliding fit against each other,
two wedges pointing in opposite directions to make an adjustable shim.
But they're not ground the full length, so that makes me wonder if a
wedge goes between some other surfaces to adjust the space between them.

If the grinding wasn't done with a precision surface grinder, but only
cosmetically ground with something like a disc sander, then they would
more likely be some type of punch or chisel--or still be shims for less
precise stuff like woodworking.

Are there any markings on them?

Ken Grunke

--
take da "ma" offa dot com fer eemayl

stone splitting wedges?

Ken Grunke wrote:
bugbear wrote:

Can anyone put a name to this?

A tool dealer had 4 small metal wedges.
Each was around 3" long, 1 1/4" wide,
and tapered from around 1/3" down
to 1/32".

This thin end was very neatly done; it really
was of uniform thickness across the whole
width.

The thick end was chamfered, presumably
to allow hammering without burring, like the
top of a punch or cold chisel.

The large faces were ground, with grinder
marks that looked to indicate around 8"
diameter grinding wheel. However,
the faces still had some unground area.

So, I'm guessing these were rough forged, then
finish ground.


If they were ground, it was likely for a sliding fit against each other,
two wedges pointing in opposite directions to make an adjustable shim.
But they're not ground the full length, so that makes me wonder if a
wedge goes between some other surfaces to adjust the space between them.

If the grinding wasn't done with a precision surface grinder, but only
cosmetically ground with something like a disc sander, then they would
more likely be some type of punch or chisel--or still be shims for less
precise stuff like woodworking.

Are there any markings on them?

Ken Grunke

There's a great hardware store in NW Seattle, Washington called Ballard
Hardware. They carry "machinery wedges" which sound a lot like what you
describe. I have 4 of them and use them a lot. They're just steel wedges.
If you put a couple of them in your shop before long you'll find a use
for them. - GWE

Ken Grunke wrote:

bugbear wrote:

Can anyone put a name to this?

A tool dealer had 4 small metal wedges.
Each was around 3" long, 1 1/4" wide,
and tapered from around 1/3" down
to 1/32".

This thin end was very neatly done; it really
was of uniform thickness across the whole
width.

The thick end was chamfered, presumably
to allow hammering without burring, like the
top of a punch or cold chisel.

The large faces were ground, with grinder
marks that looked to indicate around 8"
diameter grinding wheel. However,
the faces still had some unground area.

So, I'm guessing these were rough forged, then
finish ground.


If they were ground, it was likely for a sliding fit against each other,
two wedges pointing in opposite directions to make an adjustable shim.
But they're not ground the full length, so that makes me wonder if a
wedge goes between some other surfaces to adjust the space between them.

If the grinding wasn't done with a precision surface grinder, but only
cosmetically ground with something like a disc sander, then they would
more likely be some type of punch or chisel--or still be shims for less
precise stuff like woodworking.

Are there any markings on them?

Ken Grunke

Are they 15 degree wedges for physical shifting of something being clamped ?
Seems close and the rough measure of 1/3 would take care of error...
Typically they are used in pairs - on each side of the work.

Martin

--
Martin Eastburn, Barbara Eastburn
@ home at Lion's Lair with our computer
NRA LOH, NRA Life
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder

Ken Grunke wrote:
bugbear wrote:

So, I'm guessing these were rough forged, then
finish ground.


If they were ground, it was likely for a sliding fit against each other,
two wedges pointing in opposite directions to make an adjustable shim.
But they're not ground the full length, so that makes me wonder if a
wedge goes between some other surfaces to adjust the space between them.

If the grinding wasn't done with a precision surface grinder, but only
cosmetically ground with something like a disc sander, then they would
more likely be some type of punch or chisel--or still be shims for less
precise stuff like woodworking.

Are there any markings on them?

The grinding was of the "clean up" persuasion; certainly NOT a surface
grinder, but equally not an angle grinder either.

There were no maker's marks of any kind, so I'm guessing
they were craftsman made.

BugBear

yourname wrote:
stone splitting wedges?

If they are, they're unused, since the fine end
was 1/32" across, and perfectly straight,
square and uniform.

BugBear