FILENAMES:

bearing1.jpg
bearing2.jpg

DESCRIPTION:

These are pictures of carbon steel objects that the poster wishes
to identify. His first guess was that they were some type of bearing.
Posted by Robert A. Lodder <Lodder@pop.uky.edu>.  Robert posted the 
following in rec.crafts.metalworking:

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I am hoping that someone has seen something like these objects before
(bearing1.jpg and bearing2.jpg in the drop box at
http://www.metalworking.com/dropbox/).  They are both carbon steel in
composition.  One is brass-plated.  The composition has been confirmed
by xray fluorescence spectrometry.  Possible uses that have been
suggested for the objects are valves, tapered roller bearings, or "feet"
for a box or cabinet.

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This reply, also posted to rec.crafts.metalworking, seems to have
solved the mystery.

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They are a tumbling medium called ballcones. Try http://www.riogrande.com/ they
may have a picture of them on their web site. Burnishing medium like these come
in an assortment of shapes in order to reach into the recesses of the
workpieces.

Paul K. Dickman

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And then Robert returned with a better location for sources and explanations.

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> They are a tumbling medium called ballcones. Try http://www.riogrande.com/ they
> may have a picture of them on their web site. Burnishing medium like these come
> in an assortment of shapes in order to reach into the recesses of the
> workpieces.
>
> Paul K. Dickman

  Thanks.  I could not find them online at Rio Grande, but did find them at
AbbottBall in West Hartford, Connecticut at http://www.abbottball.com/burnish.htm ,
which also included the picture.  Thanks for the help.