What is this thing?

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[solved] Springy thingy found outside (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by whaleross@lemmy.world to c/whatisthisthing@lemmy.world

6 comments fedilink hide all child comments

It looks like some sort of wiring inside

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[–] GreyShuck@feddit.uk 106 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Brush from an electric motor. Looks to be a new-ish one.

[–] Nougat@fedia.io 31 points 1 month ago

Could be from a destroyed power tool, or discarded from an alternator or starter rebuild.

https://www.amazon.com/General-Electric-59G-Brush-Motor-AK-Motor-Brush/dp/B01F818V7Y

[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Looks like the piezo-electric igniter from a lighter. Either that, or what GreyShuck said - A carbon brush from a motor.

[–] clb92@feddit.dk 24 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

It's definitely a motor brush.

I've never seen a piezoelectric igniter that looks anything like what OP posted. Just to be clear, you're talking about these that are in most lighters, right?

Image of piezoelectric igniter

[–] AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

It’s definitely a motor brush.

Yep. Here's an example.

[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 month ago

Yes. There's one variant that looks more similar to Ops picture, but I haven't seen it around in ages. But the wire inside the spring is more indicative if a motor brush.