Layers of rust

Images taken in a controlled environment or with a posed subject. All subject types.

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rjlittlefield
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Layers of rust

Post by rjlittlefield »

I ran across this scene a few days ago and thought it was interesting in several aspects. Some of those were visual, some of them not.

As the title says, this is layers of rust. I'll share the "not" aspects after somebody guesses what the rusted thing was. :(

Image

Stereo pairs follow, crossed-eye.

Image

Image

Image

Nikon D800E, Mitutoyo M Plan Apo 5X with Raynox 150 tube lens, extension slightly increased for better framing. Zerene Stacker PMax, synthetic stereo.

--Rik

Edit: corrected typo, "Raynox 105" --> "Raynox 150".
Last edited by rjlittlefield on Sat Mar 07, 2015 8:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

abpho
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Post by abpho »

Is this the thread of a screw/bolt?
I'm in Canada! Isn't that weird?

rjlittlefield
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Post by rjlittlefield »

It is not. This thing was completely smooth when it was new, and there were no threaded components anywhere near this.

--Rik

Beatsy
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Post by Beatsy »

Damascus steel blade?

ChrisR
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Post by ChrisR »

I can understand Beatsy's suggestion, with the appearance of something wrought, and possibly into layers by hand folding/hammering. But it looks SO irregular that I'm suggesting it's a piece of rock/iron ore.

rjlittlefield
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Post by rjlittlefield »

Beatsy, this piece was definitely not intended and never used for cutting.

ChrisR, it's definitely not a piece of rock or iron ore. Not likely to have been hand folded or hammered either, though I can't say for sure about that.

--Rik

abpho
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Post by abpho »

Was it a magnet? Do they even rust?
I'm in Canada! Isn't that weird?

ChrisR
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Post by ChrisR »

Surfaces always tend to rust in flakes, because it forms in a layer then comes off because there's a volume increase, which raises stresses.

First I read "Raynox 105" as 105mm so quite thick flakes, but Raynox 150 would be 210mm so not so thick.
Thick rust, with quite thick flakes, makes me think the layering might be related to an internal structure of the original material. Like a forged leaf spring.
I've never studied rust though, it's not good for much!
I'll go for a forging or rolled piece rather than a straight casting. The layers are sometimes called "mechanical fibering". Cast thin sections can show it too though.
I dare say it would be possible to tell the difference between something rusted in a marine (salty) environment versus dry air, or underground, etc. One for Abby Sciuto.

pontop
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Post by pontop »

The inside of that old focus block you are chopping up?

BTW when looking at the stereo pairs the grayish triangular part looks like it is placed wrong. To my eyes it looks like it is floating behind everything else.

/Bo

rjlittlefield
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Post by rjlittlefield »

pontop wrote:To my eyes it looks like it is floating behind everything else.
These pairs are intended for cross-eyed viewing. You must be managing to fuse them parallel. If you want to do that, then pull them into StereoPhoto Maker and press the Swap Left/Right button.

Magnet, no.

Focus block, no.

Leaf spring, no.

Forged or rolled, probably. :)

--Rik

Picosvistas
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Post by Picosvistas »

Old disused railway track?

Beatsy
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Post by Beatsy »

A file?

rjlittlefield
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Post by rjlittlefield »

Not railroad track, and not a file.

Not an antiquity, either. It is modern manufacture.

An odd fact that may also be a hint: this was a key supporting component in a piece of equipment that was fully functional and used several times daily until 3 days ago, when I replaced it for fear of imminent and catastrophic failure.

--Rik

Bill Eldridge
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Post by Bill Eldridge »

Is it vehicular in nature?

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Post by rjlittlefield »

Not vehicular. The "catastrophic failure" would have been only a matter of the equipment falling apart in place. No injuries would have resulted, and little if any property damage. Come to think of it, the equipment probably would have continued to be functional, despite collapsing. :?

--Rik

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