What the heck are those little metal bars I keep seeing on roads?

January 27, 2015 4:20 PM

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of this mystery object to attach, as I only see one once in a while. And the next time I do see one, I want to know what it is already. Details inside.

But it's easy enough to describe these things. They appear lying solo on roads, as though discarded or fallen off a vehicle; and as I mentioned, I only see them once in a while. They are metal - not aluminum, possibly (galvanized?) steel; the metal is very stiff for its thickness and never rusted/corroded - and what you could call a flattened bar in shape. About 6" long x about 1/8" x the thickness of the sheet metal it came from (0.03" or so?).

I've been seeing these my entire life, always wondering what they are. With the hivemind's help, hopefully I can finally end my ignorance.

posted by Mechitar to Travel & Transportation (6 answers total)

Street sweeper bristles.
posted by sanka at 4:24 PM on January 27, 2015

I used to collect those when I lived in NY because I'd read a story once where the main character had constructed a lock picking kit out of them. For many years this remained my dream DYI project. No idea why, never did get it done, wonder if it's even remotely possible to do, but I still remember being excited every time I found one.
posted by eggkeeper at 4:30 PM on January 27, 2015

Yes - they make great impromptu lockpicking tools. I've used them for that myself. (Legally, of course...)
posted by Hatashran at 4:35 PM on January 27, 2015

Sanka is correct.
posted by mudpuppie at 4:52 PM on January 27, 2015

They're also really good for making thumb pianos.
posted by moonmilk at 6:15 PM on January 27, 2015

Another use is for cleaning pyrex pipes.
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 7:35 PM on January 27, 2015