What is this tool?

[Zachary Hoyt]

This has been kicking around the shop for years and I cannot
imagine a use for it. Does anyone know its intended function? It's
about 6" long or so, made of some kind of masonite like material.
Thanks very much.
Zach

 

[Zachary Hoyt]

Sorry, here are pictures.
Zach

 

[154]

Fuse Puller

 

[Chris (WA)]

Yep sure is a fuse puller. For pulling fuses out of disconnect boxes on electrical services. Made of insulated material in case you really didn't have the power shut off when you pulled the fuse!

 

[Zachary Hoyt]

Thanks for the explanation. The fuses I've seen before were round and screwed in like a light bulb, except for the automotive ones. Are the fuses you describe still in common use or have they been replaced by circuit breakers now? Thanks a lot.
Zach

 

[Anonymous-0]

lots of fuses round north westen pa. that you would need that tool for. you can buy that tool in most any hardward store round here.

 

[Chris (WA)]

Still in use in industrial applications. Usually find them in the disconnect box at a machine protecting that machine. Fuses are a cartridge. Depending on their currecnt rating,some are as small as the barrel of a pen, some the size of your finger, others the size of a hot dog and some as big as a thermos bottle. Probably even bigger in very high current applications but that is the range of sizes i deal with. Makes quite the noise when the big ones blow!

 

[old]

Yep fuse puller. Back in the day fuses looked like extra long shot gun shells with metal on each end and you use that tool to pull them out.

 

[John Harmon]

Most Farm Grain Bin Electrical Service Panel set ups utilize boxes with Cartridge Fuses installed. Common set ups where I come from.The Tool described is used to remove Cartridge Fuses.

 

[CAROGATOR]

Any body old enough to remember that type fuse with the replaceable element?

 

[DH in Carolina]

They still make renewable link fuses.

 

[old]

Yep seen them and have replaced the element in more then one of them

 

[36 Coupe]

Could be a ball puller.

 

[Slowpoke]

Those screw in fuses are also still in use in older homes built before the 50s. Made of glass with an element visable thru the top. Insurance companys don't like them because people will replace them with a slo-blow or higher amp fuse to eliminate a blown fuse problem instead of finding the reason they blow. Or they'll use a penny under a bad fuse to get power back. Both an unsafe situation.