Keilim 13:4-5

Keilim 13:4

Rabbi Meir says that if a shovel’s scoop has been removed, is still susceptible to ritual impurity because it’s like a hammer but the Sages declare it insusceptible. A saw that is missing every other tooth is insusceptible to impurity but if a hasit of consecutive teeth remains, it is susceptible. (A hasit is the distance between extended index and middle fingers.) A damaged adze, scalpel, plane or drill is still susceptible to ritual impurity, but if their steel brace has been removed, it is insusceptible. In all these cases, if the tool is split into two parts, both are susceptible to ritual impurity except for the drill. The wooden block of a plane without the blade is insusceptible to impurity.

Keilim 13:5

A needle whose eye or point has been removed is insusceptible to impurity but if one modified it for use as a pin for stretching cloth, it is susceptible. A sack needle whose eye has been removed remains susceptible to impurity because one writes with it; if its point has been removed, then it is insusceptible. A pin for stretching cloth remains susceptible to impurity in either of these circumstances. Regarding a needle that has rusted, if this impedes sewing with it, then it is insusceptible to impurity; if it is not impeded from sewing, then it remains susceptible. A hook that was straightened is insusceptible to ritual impurity; if it’s bent back, it regains its former susceptibility.