I’ve never seen a piezoelectric igniter that looks anything like what OP posted. Just to be clear, you’re talking about these that are in most lighters, right?
Yes. There’s one variant that looks more similar to Ops picture, but I haven’t seen it around in ages. But the wire inside the spring is more indicative if a motor brush.
(But to answer your question, with a small amount of carbon, sure, but in my opinion that doesn’t mean that steel is “made out of carbon” any more than we would say humans are made out of iron)
![[solved] Springy thingy found outside](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/0f7ee8f4-185b-49d3-8d3a-6105f858a1d6.jpeg){kind=link}
Looks like the piezo-electric igniter from a lighter. Either that, or what GreyShuck said - A carbon brush from a motor.
It’s definitely a motor brush.
I’ve never seen a piezoelectric igniter that looks anything like what OP posted. Just to be clear, you’re talking about these that are in most lighters, right?
Image of piezoelectric igniter
Yes. There’s one variant that looks more similar to Ops picture, but I haven’t seen it around in ages. But the wire inside the spring is more indicative if a motor brush.
Yep. Here’s an example.
Waaay more likely to be laying around in the ground outside too.
Like, I can’t recognize a brush on sight, but I would be shocked if they looked identical to a common switch found in cheap electric lighters…
But it is in fact a carbon brush nonetheless
Yeah. Apparently they do look exactly alike:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0067/8582/6887/products/Bosch-2604321904-Carbon-Brushes-B310-CSB-400-2-CSB-420-E-CSB-420-to-fit_22cd18af-c174-4ad6-9db4-d391f9955362_1024x1024@2x.jpg?v=1591282643
What are their purposes?
To make an electrical connection to a moving (rotating) part.
Every brush is a carbon brush.
Lots of smaller brushed motors use brass or bronze brushes. Slower moving mechanisms use a variety of materials.
Happy cake day!
Woah, I didn’t even know. Thanks! 😁
A steel wire brush isn’t.
I was initially going to say “my hairbrush isn’t”, but I forgot plastic is largely made of carbon, so you’s still be right.
And how do you make steel?
Well, you take iron ore, heat it up, and add, uh…
I don’t. I have people to do that for me.
(But to answer your question, with a small amount of carbon, sure, but in my opinion that doesn’t mean that steel is “made out of carbon” any more than we would say humans are made out of iron)
To be fair, I’m only “right” pedantically. 😂 My understanding is rocks and minerals aren’t mostly carbon, but still contain it…