Is this a rim? a lead cover? Thor's discus?

July 21, 2008 6:09 AM

I found this gigantic item in my backyard when I moved in here. It's really the only thing in the back yard that is like this - it's not like there's a pile of junk like this lying around. It is about 3 feet wide, a foot high, and the metal is about an inch thick.

I tried to move it with another guy and it took a lot of effort just to budge it, any idea what it is for? what type of metal it's made of?

For you reference, the inscription as I can tell is:
Rim Tec
02 450 022 IF2
RT 356M5 54

FYI2 - I'm located on a half acre in the Fraser Valley, BC (near Vancouver), if that helps at all.

posted by royalchinook to Home & Garden (11 answers total)

Guessing, but maybe it's a base for one of those outdoor-firepit deals?
posted by box at 6:18 AM on July 21, 2008

It looks like a sewer access cover. We had one outside our old apartments- no idea why it was a dome, but it took 8 kids and 4 jump ropes to remove it so we could climb down into the tunnel. (Don't ask.)
posted by headspace at 6:24 AM on July 21, 2008 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I wonder if this gets you any closer.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 6:24 AM on July 21, 2008

Some people use a large truck tire rim as a fire pit. If I had that in my yard, that's how I'd use it.
posted by theora55 at 6:24 AM on July 21, 2008

Response by poster: I thought similarly to lots of you already and have moved this from the back of my lawn to be the main firepit now. It looks awesome and I'm excited for the next time we have a fire to see how it works. Still interested to know what this thing is really for.

@Fuzzy Skinner: Those Castings look really close but mine doesn't have any of those hooks on the upward slope, this is really close though.
posted by royalchinook at 6:30 AM on July 21, 2008

Best answer: I assume there's a mine nearby.

That looks like wear surface of a cone crusher which is a big machine that turns rock into gravel.

If so then it's a maganese steel casting and may have some commercial scrap value.
posted by three blind mice at 6:34 AM on July 21, 2008

Best answer: Seconding that's its part of mine crushing apparatus.
The manufacturer is
RIM-TEC CASTINGS 1340-119N. COMMERCIAL STREET, BELLINGHAM, WA U.S.A. 98227 USA
Does not see to have a web site.
posted by beagle at 6:55 AM on July 21, 2008

Looks like a poor man's firepit to me too. Is there any charcoal dust or carbon scoring on it?
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:05 AM on July 21, 2008

Response by poster: @ damn dirty ape: there is no charcoal evidence on it at all. In the picture, I had already moved it to the middle of my fire pit but I had originally found it at the back of our property on the grass. I don't think it has been used as a fire put previously.

@beagle and @three blind mice: I think that you guys have gotten it, if anyone has more details on this cone crusher for mining applications (like the weight of it!) - that'd be great.

Now to figure out who gets the best answer...
posted by royalchinook at 9:48 AM on July 21, 2008

i don't have any idea what it is, but for some strange reason, i want one.
posted by msconduct at 11:56 AM on July 21, 2008 [2 favorites]

I think that you guys have gotten it, if anyone has more details on this cone crusher for mining applications (like the weight of it!) - that'd be great.

You might want to find out what sort of mines there are in your area. If I was gonna use that thing as a fire pit, I would want to know what sort of aggregate was being passed through it. Heavy metals - including Uranium ore - are abundant in Canada.
posted by three blind mice at 3:14 AM on July 22, 2008