Interesting widget

[Dick Linn]

OK, it's a $7. oil filter wrench, but possibly useful for a grasping appendage or other mechanism.

http://jackstoolshed.net/Worlds-Best-Universal-Oil-Filter-Wrench/M/B000M96RVA.htm

If you want to read about it, go see patent 348814 (I love Google patents):

http://www.google.com/patents?id=zzooAAAAEBAJ&dq

[CraigHickman]

Smart. I could see myself modding that into some sort of powered brake system for an arm, or some cylinder gripping thingy.

Cool find!

[Richard Wallace]

..., or some cylinder gripping thingy.Since it's made to grip oil filters, it should also do a decent job of gripping this interesting object (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/22847) from the end.