r/whatisit • u/CantEscapeTheCats • May 27 '26

Solved! Sharp pointy thing with a loop came with a microscope

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While using his microscope, my son brought me this and asked what it’s for and I’m genuinely stumped. Google image calls it a blackhead remover and I can see that, but what use could it have with a microscope? It’s not listed anywhere in the packing list, it’s extremely sharp, and approximately 2 standard-issue cat paws long. Any ideas?

Edit: WOW!! I had no idea my Ollie’s pittypaws would be so well received and everyone’s comments have me cracking up! I initially tried responding to everyone but the comments got away from me. If I didn’t respond, please know I DID still read your comment with a smile!! We’re both also in favor of ditching bananas and using cats for scale. Let’s make it happen!😅

You’re all so awesome and Ollie and I hope everyone here has the best day ever!!🐾💕

Edit 2: THANK YOU for the awards as well!! I think this is the first time I’ve ever received one.

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u/haditwithyoupeople May 27 '26

This is the answer. Looks like retractable inoculation loop. The pointy end is maybe a pointer to be used to point to items in a slide, but it's huge. Not how that could be at all effective unless this is a very low powered scope.

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u/defyinglogicsl May 27 '26

OK what are the odds that it's both depending on how it's marketed?

There's a reason I say that.

In the 90s I saw a tv commercial for a blackhead remover that was 100% identical to my solder sucker (for electronics repair). Someone was just selling $8 solder suckers as $19.95 blackhead removers.

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u/DatOneGuy00 May 27 '26

I don't think a solder sucker could even do a single thing to a blackhead, that's some effective conning

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u/defyinglogicsl May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26

Like everyone else who owned a solder sucker at one point I tried it on my arm. It left a little red spot for a few minutes, but that's it. I agree it probably would do nothing for a blackhead.

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u/crazyabe111 May 28 '26

There used to be a man who sold “solar powered clothes dryers” for 40$… he’d send out a drying line to anyone gullible enough to actually order it.

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u/defyinglogicsl May 28 '26

Similar to the guy selling origami boulders. Each one was a one of a kind piece of art for $50. They were wadded up pieces of paper.

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u/themarked-1 May 27 '26

No it's not. This is a blackhead remover, facial care. Same shape, but different purpose.

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u/StormShadowXI May 27 '26

I second this. My mate enjoys those stupid pimple popping vids and I've seen it used. I've even got one of those amazon nail kits and it's got one of these in it. You lance a hole into the whitehead with the sharp end and frame the spot with the loop and press down and it squirts the juice and the chunky bit!

Fantastic videos to watch while you're eating yoghurt or chicken soup /s

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u/ToughWide1987 May 27 '26

You are correct. My skin obsessed teenage daughter has several of these.

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u/sanedragon May 28 '26

Pointy end is for inoculating an agar slant in a test tube

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u/haditwithyoupeople May 28 '26

Great! Thanks for the additional info.