ministeamer
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Anyone know what these are?I was just looking for some tools when I came across these in an old toolbox, and they intrigued me. No-one in the family could work out what they were, and I wouldn't have a clue what to search online.
As you can see, there are two of them. One is slightly longer and has a coarser set of teeth on the end. (There's undoubtedly a technical term, but I don't know it) Both have a thread on both the larger tapered piece, and the barrel onto which this piece goes. The shaft on which the handle and the toothed end are mounted rotates within the threaded barrel, and has some lateral slop.
So, does anyone know what they are? Thanks.
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Dampfmaschine
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No idea - But my guess would be something you screw in to a sink / bath tap barrel then turn the handle to gouge out an old perished washer?
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scorpion2nz
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Tap reseating tools
you use them in your water taps to reseat the base where the seal sits
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ministeamer
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I definitely never would have guessed that, thanks guys! 
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Steamboat Willie
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What is it!The tapered thread screws into where the spindle of the tap unscrews from the body of the tap. Then the inner threaded ferule is wound down for the selected cutter on the end of the tool to make contact with the tap seat. With a smooth action and a positive pressure the handle is then rotated which causes the cutter to reface the seat of the tap.
There are a number of different sizes of cutters that can be purchased to fit the different sizes of taps.
NOTE: It is VERY easy to not seat the cutter properly on the tap seat resulting in chatter and an irregular surface. When using these it is best to proceed slowly and ensure that the inner spindle is wound down far enough to ensure that no chatter can occur.
I am not in a position to question anyone's ability, but I would get an old tap and use it on that before using it on a tap in your home, particularly one recessed such as a shower tap.
You will know when you get it right by the feel of a smooth cutting action.
When it feels as though it is smooth all round, remove the tapered cone and visually inspect the seat. If there is signs of any pitting keep going until it is a smooth shiny seat all round.
I have used these many times to great effect. Mine would have paid for itself about 10 times over by now! It is also a good practice to replace the tap washer when you reseat a tap. Also, make sure that you flush all the brass chavellings out before you replace the spindle otherwise they will embed in the new washer.
Hope this helps.
Steamboat Willie
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Mile High Steamer
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it deffenitly looks like something for wood working to me but yet also looks like some sort of vice   will fugure it out one way or another 
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classixs
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Before anyone runs down to rip a set of these of the shelves in the hardwarestore...
Please notice that there the last 20-30 years (at least in Denmark) mostly have been sold kitchen and bathroomtaps with ceramic seats where this tool can`t be used.
But if someone still have oldschool taps with brass-seats its a fine tool indeed which is to be used exactly as Steamboat Willie instructs 
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Steamboat Willie
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tapsClassicx raises a good point. You will need to use the tap reseater to dress the tap seat BEFORE you replace the old spindle with a ceramic one. If the seat of the tap is not perfect and the ceramic insert is screwed down onto it , it will either bind or crack the ceramic disc. But Classicx is right - once the seat is dressed, the insertion of a ceramic disc insert means that you never have to reseat that tap seat or replace the washer again.
Steamboat Willie.
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ministeamer
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Thanks very much all, Steamboat Willie in particular. This forum is a veritable goldmine of information.
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