Like if a mining drill actually was called a "Widowmaker" (c)
August 1, 2018 12:57 PM Subscribe
What are some types of industrial tools or equipment (preferably the kind used for mining, construction, or earth-moving) whose names come across as particularly violent or scary? It's for a story, so no brand names please. Nicknames won't work either - it needs to be a descriptive name for an actual tool that exists in real life.
Tools that core, extract, ram, drill, grind, mash etc are all in the right direction. Thanks!
Tools that core, extract, ram, drill, grind, mash etc are all in the right direction. Thanks!
There's a right-angle drill made by Milwaukee called a Hole Hog that sometimes is called a "wrist breaker".
posted by humboldt32 at 1:14 PM on August 1, 2018
posted by humboldt32 at 1:14 PM on August 1, 2018
Best answer: Rammer (soil compactor).
(also, ripsaw, ripping saw, gang ripsaw)
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:15 PM on August 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
(also, ripsaw, ripping saw, gang ripsaw)
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:15 PM on August 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
There's a surgical tool called a Virchow skull breaker
I always wanted one to keep on my desk.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 1:20 PM on August 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
I always wanted one to keep on my desk.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 1:20 PM on August 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
Bulldozer.
The name derives from a "bull-dose," which is a dose of medicine or punishment large enough to handle a bull. Bulldozer initially referred to a really large pistol, and then the general process of using brute force go to over or through an obstacle. A bulldozer metaphorically treats a construction site the same way.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 1:20 PM on August 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
The name derives from a "bull-dose," which is a dose of medicine or punishment large enough to handle a bull. Bulldozer initially referred to a really large pistol, and then the general process of using brute force go to over or through an obstacle. A bulldozer metaphorically treats a construction site the same way.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 1:20 PM on August 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
Best answer: the pothole killer
breaker boom
battering ram
pile driver
hoe ram
rock crusher
earth rammer
mine blaster
posted by the webmistress at 1:21 PM on August 1, 2018
breaker boom
battering ram
pile driver
hoe ram
rock crusher
earth rammer
mine blaster
posted by the webmistress at 1:21 PM on August 1, 2018
Williams Crusher has some wild sounding stuff in its product list. Some of it might fall into the brand name territory you want to avoid, but not all of it. On a quick browse I noticed these:
Rocket Hammer Mills
Slugger Crushers
Rigid Arm Breakers
Reversible Nuggetizer Crusher
posted by paper chromatographologist at 1:22 PM on August 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
Rocket Hammer Mills
Slugger Crushers
Rigid Arm Breakers
Reversible Nuggetizer Crusher
posted by paper chromatographologist at 1:22 PM on August 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
The radial arm saw, or as it was know in our household, the "Arm Saw".
posted by Midnight Skulker at 1:31 PM on August 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Midnight Skulker at 1:31 PM on August 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
What about a mangle? It's used for laundry, not mining or anything.
posted by mskyle at 1:38 PM on August 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by mskyle at 1:38 PM on August 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
Best answer: walking dragline, stripping shovel, feller bunchers, knuckleboom loaders
source: caterpillar equipment
posted by 20 year lurk at 1:41 PM on August 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
source: caterpillar equipment
posted by 20 year lurk at 1:41 PM on August 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Even better, the big Milwaukee drills are actually branded the Hole-Hawg.
Also the most popular line of power trenchers is called the Ditch Witch. They’re basiclly big chainsaws on wheels you shove into the ground. This is the smallest one they make!
posted by nicwolff at 2:12 PM on August 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Also the most popular line of power trenchers is called the Ditch Witch. They’re basiclly big chainsaws on wheels you shove into the ground. This is the smallest one they make!
posted by nicwolff at 2:12 PM on August 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
A simple "power take off" can really mess you up if you catch your cuff in it while riding on the back while your grandfather rumbles down the road (I was always very careful, whew)
Sawzall is a product name, reciprocating saw would be the generic term.
posted by sammyo at 2:48 PM on August 1, 2018
Sawzall is a product name, reciprocating saw would be the generic term.
posted by sammyo at 2:48 PM on August 1, 2018
Came in to add bulldozer but saw it's already been suggested. I think it's important to also understand the racialized nature of the history of this word.
posted by eggs at 3:21 PM on August 1, 2018
posted by eggs at 3:21 PM on August 1, 2018
Best answer: Man I'm disappointed you guys missed Stump Grinder.
posted by Dmenet at 3:25 PM on August 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Dmenet at 3:25 PM on August 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Stanley sells FUBAR, the "forcible entry tool" which is designed for demolition: it's part hammer, part prybar, part 2x4-eater, and in general is made for breaking apart common housing materials. I don't know if its forcible entry qualities would be better than a Halligan Bar, but that has a boring name by comparison.
I'll take it on faith you know what FUBAR means.
posted by Sunburnt at 3:30 PM on August 1, 2018
I'll take it on faith you know what FUBAR means.
posted by Sunburnt at 3:30 PM on August 1, 2018
Best answer: A breaker bar is a long non-ratcheting socket wrench.
A spike maul is like a pointy sledgehammer.
A nut driver maybe for a chuckle?
posted by trialex at 3:55 PM on August 1, 2018
A spike maul is like a pointy sledgehammer.
A nut driver maybe for a chuckle?
posted by trialex at 3:55 PM on August 1, 2018
Best answer: Blasting equipment, like blasting caps, blasting initiators, disruptors, maybe.
Abrasive blasters, like sandblasting, sound pretty brutal too.
posted by subocoyne at 4:12 PM on August 1, 2018
Abrasive blasters, like sandblasting, sound pretty brutal too.
posted by subocoyne at 4:12 PM on August 1, 2018
If you have a nut that is so badly rusted onto a bolt that you can't remove it with a wrench, you need a nut splitter.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 5:04 PM on August 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 5:04 PM on August 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
In woodworking, a mortising chisel chops holes and is very commonly called a “pig sticker”.
posted by bonobothegreat at 5:08 PM on August 1, 2018
posted by bonobothegreat at 5:08 PM on August 1, 2018
Be careful with "bulldozer." It's more complicated than Joey Buttafoucault says. See "What in the Word?!The racist roots of ‘bulldozer’": https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2018/02/14/word-racist-roots-bulldozer/
posted by Mo Nickels at 5:09 PM on August 1, 2018
posted by Mo Nickels at 5:09 PM on August 1, 2018
Tree crushers. These were used to clear large swaths of land quickly--the US military used them to deforest Vietnam in an attempt to eliminate Viet Cong hiding spots, before they decided to go with the cheaper, easier option of Agent Orange.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:14 PM on August 1, 2018
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:14 PM on August 1, 2018
So, this is kinda dumb but we were told not to call a “stop switch” a “kill switch”.
A trimmer multi-tool with a power head on one end and interchangeable tools you can attach to the shaft is called a “split boom”.
The metal pieces that attach ceiling fan blades to the motor are called “blade irons”.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:18 PM on August 1, 2018
A trimmer multi-tool with a power head on one end and interchangeable tools you can attach to the shaft is called a “split boom”.
The metal pieces that attach ceiling fan blades to the motor are called “blade irons”.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:18 PM on August 1, 2018
The nozzles on fire hoses without a shut off valve were/are called suicide nozzles.
posted by KneeDeep at 6:11 PM on August 1, 2018
posted by KneeDeep at 6:11 PM on August 1, 2018
Best answer: Face Drilling Jumbo
Bucket Wheel Excavators have kind of a mundane name until you know what they are.
posted by Mitheral at 10:01 PM on August 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Bucket Wheel Excavators have kind of a mundane name until you know what they are.
posted by Mitheral at 10:01 PM on August 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
also, the rotary blast hole drill: "ensure your targeted penetration rates!"
posted by 20 year lurk at 10:04 PM on August 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by 20 year lurk at 10:04 PM on August 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Ripper or ripper teeth on an excavator, grader, dozer....
posted by deadwax at 4:47 AM on August 2, 2018
posted by deadwax at 4:47 AM on August 2, 2018
Best answer: Double-cut flat bastard file.
posted by buxtonbluecat at 6:26 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by buxtonbluecat at 6:26 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Morcellators used to be used in hysterectomies to grind up the uterus before removing it from the body.
posted by txtwinkletoes at 8:01 AM on August 2, 2018
posted by txtwinkletoes at 8:01 AM on August 2, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:01 PM on August 1, 2018 [3 favorites]