Guess what this is a photo of!

[Uncle Bob]

It's a cleaning tool. To swab then out........

 

[Buck]

No Uncle Bob. Thank you for playing our game.

Hint to all: Look to the precursor of the mold.

 

[Buck]

Do the different diameter of the balls come into play for thir weight or their size.



........OMG, I can't believe I just typed that.

Sorry Jeeks, I missed your post earlier.

Yes, size matters. All us guys know that!

 

[expatgirl]

Buck, I was thinking more along the lines of they are/were used to pounce silver or other metallic objects--that is to transfer decorative motifs onto cups, plates, etc., The bigger the object or motif the bigger the tool end. But after seeing the recent guesses I don't think that was what you had in mind.

 

[pacanis]

Can these items be found online?
Are they used in sand casting?
Are they adjustable Q-tips for the Tinman?

 

[Buck]

expat. Right. Not what I had in mind.

pacanis,

Yes. I got this picture online.

Yes, but not directly. Something has to happen to make the sand casting mold. The object in the photo has something to do with that process.

Ha ha ha ha.

 

[Jeekinz]

Is it used in the pattern making process? Or is it a pattern for a certain object?

 

[Buck]

Yes, it's used in pattern making.

 

[pacanis]

I went through 409,563 pattern making sites, too Couldn't find any
I did find though that you can get to the same site no matter how many different ways you start the search

OK, are they tools that are inserted in a hole to clean it out after they are pulled out? Don't know why they would have to be ball shaped though... a disc would work.

Edited, I should have said inserted into a hole before the pattern is poured.

 

[Buck]

We admire your tenacity, grasshopper.

This tool has nothing to do with holes.

It has everything to do with relieving stress at 90 degree joints.

Your cup of knowledge runs shallow.

We hope this hint will fill it up.

 

[pacanis]

It is used to create fillets in a wax pattern?

Ahhhh, yes! I don't know why I didn't run into these tools before, but the operative word "fillet" was missing from my searches.

 

[Jeekinz]

It has everything to do with relieving stress at 90 degree joints.

Which, in turn, eliminates the "notch effect" on a load bearing surface.

 

[Buck]

Excellent work pacanis!!!!!

You win the prize.

It is a filleting iron used to create fillets at 90 degree joints on patterns used to make sand molds for the foundry.

Congratulations. You're up.

 

[Alix]

Hey pacanis, can I make a request? There are several of us who like to participate here but are finding the "gadget" theme pretty tough. Would you consider doing something else? Anything else? Geography, monuments, anything.

 

[pacanis]

That was a rough one, Buck. I must have ran across every tool BUT those

Alix, I had already taken and uploaded this pic in anticipation, but it's an easy one (basically, at least I think so) and not a gadget. Unfortunately it has nothing to do with geography either, which is a subject I always hated .
If I ever win another one I will try to lean towards a different theme .

OK, here goes.......

 

[pacanis]

What is this?

 

[Andy M.]

A metal striker for flint and steel fire starting.

 

[YT2095]

I agree, looks pretty much like one

 

[pacanis]

No, it is not used to strike anything, nor does anything strike it.
I liked your guess, though.

 

[YT2095]

is it a small Steel?