My wife found this in the back yard??

[keavdog]

Curious if anyone has any idea what it might be. Sure looks like some sort of slugs in an iron casing.

We're not far from Luke AFB... old bomb fragment?

[TOWGunner]

It could be a piece of an anti-personnel round. Might be a piece of a bomb but I can't say for sure.

[lyle]

Interesting. The last pic looks like it maybe was a flux capacitor… older model.

But, upper right. Looks to have been another hole that could have held one of the inserted pieces. Coul that be a center mole below? Maybe a ring of some sort. I wonder if it could be some sort of old automatic weapon magazine? Center fire? Need more beer to be sure.

[keavdog]

Feb 9, 2024 17:38:50 GMT -5 lyle said:

Interesting. The last pic looks like it maybe was a flux capacitor… older model.

But, upper right. Looks to have been another hole that could have held one of the inserted pieces. Coul that be a center mole below? Maybe a ring of some sort. I wonder if it could be some sort of old automatic weapon magazine? Center fire? Need more beer to be sure.

There was on old wrecked DeLorean nearby...

I got the calipers out and the slugs measure 12.7mm or 50 cal

[lyle]

Welll, I suppose you could call Luke, take it by. And never be seen again. Ca I have your stash!

[lyle]

Got a ruler to put by it?

[keavdog]

The more I think about it I bet it came in with the semi truck of decorative rock we bought when we landscaped the back yard. Wonder if the quarry is on some old bomb range.
No, you can't have my stash Lyle!

[lyle]

Feb 9, 2024 17:48:18 GMT -5 keavdog said:

The more I think about it I bet it came in with the semi truck of decorative rock we bought when we landscaped the back yard. Wonder if the quarry is on some old bomb range.
No, you can't have my stash Lyle!

Bummer. You’re no fun. 

[tcoat]

Feb 9, 2024 17:48:18 GMT -5 keavdog said:

The more I think about it I bet it came in with the semi truck of decorative rock we bought when we landscaped the back yard. Wonder if the quarry is on some old bomb range.
No, you can't have my stash Lyle!

Bingo!

It is part of a large industrial rock drill. We used them for driving bore holes for the explosive when I worked at the limestone quarry/cement plant.

Used to look something like this but when they fail they do it in an impressive fashion.

[lyle]

Well, that’s no fun at all. Recall the black Suburbans. Crap.

[tcoat]

Feb 9, 2024 19:42:39 GMT -5 lyle said:

Well, that’s no fun at all. Recall the black Suburbans. Crap.

Ohhh I don't know about that. When they overheat and blow up like that one did it is pretty impressive.

Not nearly as impressive as what follows drilling the holes mind you...

[keavdog]

I'm thinking you're right. I couldn't scratch or dent the slugs - must be some tough material.

[tcoat]

Feb 9, 2024 20:08:06 GMT -5 keavdog said:

I'm thinking you're right. I couldn't scratch or dent the slugs - must be some tough material.

They are tungsten carbide teeth. Those ones are VERY worn. When they get that worn then the whole bit heats up and the hardened steel housing just blows up like that one did. We would have it happen about 2 or 3 times a year.

[keavdog]

Mystery SOLVED!

[tcoat]

Feb 9, 2024 21:14:42 GMT -5 keavdog said:

Mystery SOLVED!

As we wore the bits out and hopefully before they exploded we would press all the teeth out and gather them up. At that time (early '90s) they had a scrap value of around $6 a pound. We would cash them in and help pay for the company picnic with the money.

My current employer makes brake rotors (Thank you F150 and Ram truck owners for keeping me employed) and when I started there as EH&S manager I was walking through the plant and saw a guy thrown the carbide inserts from the machining and drilling in the trash. Apparently this was the practice for years. We started gathering them and had almost 500 pounds a year at almost $10 a pound. 

[stikpusher]

This are has had plenty of blasting done before building homes, so that drill bit makes sense...

[dodgy]

Interesting artifacts and background history. I had no idea what it was. Thanks for posting John.