Tool or junk?

Xena Nierobisz
by Xena Nierobisz
I recently got all bunch of old craft supplies and this kind of "tool" was included. I have no idea what it is. Can anyone help me with identifying this object? Thank you :)
  14 answers
  • Sarah Peck Sarah Peck on Nov 16, 2014
    Ok. It looks like a wire stem for making an artificial floral bouquet. That's just a guess. ;)
  • Adrianne C Adrianne C on Nov 16, 2014
    I inherited a tool from my dad that it took me 20 years to discover what it was!
  • T-4-2 T-4-2 on Nov 17, 2014
    Hello. I was intrigued by your question & this odd utensil. Because you say you found it among crafting supplies; my best guess is that it is an etching tool used for creating designs in clay/pottery before the clay piece is fired. Its handle is consistent with how ceramic tools are fashioned. Perhaps the coil slides up and down to vary and control the width of the design on the clay while the thin wires allow for a lighter free flowing effect of the etching tool. If so, it may be custom and one of a kind. Well, that’s my best guess.
  • Teri Mauerman Shehorn Teri Mauerman Shehorn on Nov 17, 2014
    I think its a needle threader for embrodery floss or yarn.
  • Myrna Engle Myrna Engle on Nov 17, 2014
    It's a pick up tool. Mechanics use them to retrieve dropped nuts and bolts.
  • Myrna Engle Myrna Engle on Nov 17, 2014
    Take my guess back. I think T-4-2 is right.
  • Xena Nierobisz Xena Nierobisz on Nov 17, 2014
    Thank you for your answers. I still not sure for 100%. I used your suggestions to find it online and nothing. I don't see it among whisks or sculpting tools. Hmmm.
  • Deb Deb on Nov 17, 2014
    Yup - I'd go with the clay answer. Before joining two pieces of wet clay, you must scratch or roughen the two surfaces to be joined. This is a tool for doing that.
  • Deb Deb on Nov 17, 2014
    I've heard similar tools called a "sgraffito" tool. (They can also be used to do sgraffito, which is when you use them to scratch a picture into special paper that has, for instance, a black layer over a multicolored layer. By scratching into the black layer, you remove it to reveal the multicolored background below, and therefore create a picture. The commercial forms of this are just called "scratch art".
    • Xena Nierobisz Xena Nierobisz on Nov 17, 2014
      Oh I have heard about that. This tool has little balls at the end so it is not very sharp. Is yours the same way?
  • Deb Deb on Nov 17, 2014
    No, the ones I've seen like that are just wire cut-off at the end. You might try asking an art teacher at a Middle or High School. I'm a retired art teacher, but some of the newer folks might be able to help you better than I'm able to.
  • Bonnie387 Bonnie387 on Nov 17, 2014
    Looks like a cord puller, Like when a cord comes out of garment, you thread it threw the garment hook the cord on and pull it threw. (if that makes sense)
  • Xena Nierobisz Xena Nierobisz on Nov 17, 2014
    I will check it out
  • Guyos3n1 Guyos3n1 on Nov 17, 2014
    I am in agreement with T-4-2. It looks like a tool for working with unfired clay objects.
  • Kim Kim on Mar 26, 2015
    I was doing a little browsing & I came up with this: I think that it has to do with a craft called "Viking Knit". There are a few how to's on Pinterest. MayBe?