I always remember thinking “these things are oddly heavy,” but never really understanding why. Guess I know now
Lord-Velveeta on
Those were satisfyingly heavy.
TrainsDontHunt on
Ooohhh, so modern…. 😗 mine had SAND which was fine until there was a little hole in the rubber foot. It took YEARS to figure out why my desk and file cabinet were always a little gritty. 😠
supercyberlurker on
Yeah, they need weight to hold it down as you pull tape.. but doing that with metal would be expensive.
So.. concrete.
brandogg360 on
That’s plaster, not concrete
NarcissisticSupply69 on
3M filled them with radioactive beach sand (Monazite) from Brazil in the 1970’s. I guess they got a good price on it, LOL. I have one in my possession and it indeed does set off a geiger counter.
I have had multiple floor lamps/torchieres that had plaster in the base like this. Definitely plaster, as it breaks easily (like your tape dispenser.) I kept getting chunks coming out until the base was no longer heavy enough to keep the lamp stable.
LCranstonKnows on
*had
RedneckChEf88 on
They all did.
Traditional_Key_763 on
yes it does.
BentButter on
If it’s so heavy then why does mine keep disappearing
Frybanshe139 on
Just be glad it’s not asbestos
cuntnuzzler on
Had
tonypizzaz on
What a beautiful thumb
justredditinit on
I think we found Gladys’ murder weapon.
mckulty on
The good ones do.
When they put concrete in speakers and lead weights in ear buds, you’re getting ripped off.
Secret-Tap5659 on
Yup. Looks like you’ve got some concrete proof right there.
motormouth57 on
Mine has sand.
Zealousideal_Gap_553 on
*had
RacyNortherner on
Not anymore it doesn’t.
EvilWata on
I never really gave a thought about it’s weight, other than it was kinda heavy for what it is… And this is the answer I learned today!
Proctor20 on
Not anymore.
PckMan on
You’d be surprised how often concrete is used in everyday objects as a weight. Unfortunately pure concrete like this crumbles very easily, as you discovered here, which makes it a pain to replace. A lot of washing machines use concrete blocks as counterweights and unfortunately they can quite easily break and need replacement, which is no easy thing to do since the ones on washing machines are much larger.
IrishThree on
so does some heavier silverware.
rosier9 on
Ours had sand.
_oo00O00oo_ on
*had
LucidThot on
Back when concrete was cheap!
DadEoh75 on
This reminds me of an old washing machine a friend of mine had. I was helping him move it and the thing weighed so much than it looked like it should. We got it on the dolly and I glanced at the underside and there’s this huge chunk of concrete right in the middle, about the size of a basketball. There was no way to remove the weight. I believe it was there to help the unit keep stable when it the tub was spinning.
iceworm2 on
Yknow the memes that are like “the closest thing to you is your only weapon in a zombie attack, how fucked are you?” This post immediately made me think of this. Wouldnt be the worst option 😂
Jhewitt1111 on
Had…
Maharog on
That tape dispenser does not have concrete in it
mutelore on
Since people are now dming me over it: sure, “had.” Thank you – I can not edit the post. I appreciate you trying to help 🙂
INEEDMEMANSHERB on
Wait this isn’t normal??? All the tape dispensers in my school have concrete in them
35 Comments
That. Actually makes a lot of sense.
I always remember thinking “these things are oddly heavy,” but never really understanding why. Guess I know now
Those were satisfyingly heavy.
Ooohhh, so modern…. 😗 mine had SAND which was fine until there was a little hole in the rubber foot. It took YEARS to figure out why my desk and file cabinet were always a little gritty. 😠
Yeah, they need weight to hold it down as you pull tape.. but doing that with metal would be expensive.
So.. concrete.
That’s plaster, not concrete
3M filled them with radioactive beach sand (Monazite) from Brazil in the 1970’s. I guess they got a good price on it, LOL. I have one in my possession and it indeed does set off a geiger counter.
https://www.orau.org/health-physics-museum/collection/consumer/miscellaneous/tape-dispenser.html
Better than sand … just sayin … better than sand.
I have had multiple floor lamps/torchieres that had plaster in the base like this. Definitely plaster, as it breaks easily (like your tape dispenser.) I kept getting chunks coming out until the base was no longer heavy enough to keep the lamp stable.
*had
They all did.
yes it does.
If it’s so heavy then why does mine keep disappearing
Just be glad it’s not asbestos
Had
What a beautiful thumb
I think we found Gladys’ murder weapon.
The good ones do.
When they put concrete in speakers and lead weights in ear buds, you’re getting ripped off.
Yup. Looks like you’ve got some concrete proof right there.
Mine has sand.
*had
Not anymore it doesn’t.
I never really gave a thought about it’s weight, other than it was kinda heavy for what it is… And this is the answer I learned today!
Not anymore.
You’d be surprised how often concrete is used in everyday objects as a weight. Unfortunately pure concrete like this crumbles very easily, as you discovered here, which makes it a pain to replace. A lot of washing machines use concrete blocks as counterweights and unfortunately they can quite easily break and need replacement, which is no easy thing to do since the ones on washing machines are much larger.
so does some heavier silverware.
Ours had sand.
*had
Back when concrete was cheap!
This reminds me of an old washing machine a friend of mine had. I was helping him move it and the thing weighed so much than it looked like it should. We got it on the dolly and I glanced at the underside and there’s this huge chunk of concrete right in the middle, about the size of a basketball. There was no way to remove the weight. I believe it was there to help the unit keep stable when it the tub was spinning.
Yknow the memes that are like “the closest thing to you is your only weapon in a zombie attack, how fucked are you?” This post immediately made me think of this. Wouldnt be the worst option 😂
Had…
That tape dispenser does not have concrete in it
Since people are now dming me over it: sure, “had.” Thank you – I can not edit the post. I appreciate you trying to help 🙂
Wait this isn’t normal??? All the tape dispensers in my school have concrete in them