# ID these mystery leftover project pieces

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-mystery-leftover-project-pieces/626863>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 1, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-mystery-leftover-project-pieces/626863 "2012-07-01T00:21:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-mystery-leftover-project-pieces/626863/1 "2012-07-01T00:21:29Z")

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What are [these pieces](http://www.flickr.com/photos/46138173@N08/7475613202/) from? They were in a bunch of misc hardware/tool items. They smell like non-hardening clay, feel plasticky and slightly chalky, and can be dented with a fingernail.

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**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-mystery-leftover-project-pieces/626863/2 "2012-07-01T00:28:22Z")

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Do they mark things? [Art Pastels maybe](http://www.dickblick.com/products/daler-rowney-artists-square-pastels/)?

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**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-mystery-leftover-project-pieces/626863/3 "2012-07-01T00:31:54Z")

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They look to be the size and colors of lumps of pigment supplied with halloween makeup facepainting kits.

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**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-mystery-leftover-project-pieces/626863/4 "2012-07-01T00:46:31Z")

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They seem too hard for pastels, but they do mark stuff if you press very hard.

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-mystery-leftover-project-pieces/626863/5 "2012-07-01T00:52:03Z")

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Perhaps wax or shellac sticks for repairing furniture finish?

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-mystery-leftover-project-pieces/626863/6 "2012-07-01T01:10:13Z")

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Sticks of buffing compound. Applied to a cloth wheel, then used to polish metal, plastics, stone, occasionally wood.

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**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-mystery-leftover-project-pieces/626863/7 "2012-07-01T01:11:31Z")

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> [@GaryM](#):
>
> Perhaps wax or shellac sticks for repairing furniture finish?

Oh, that reminded me of something - yes, it seems to be [buffing wheel compound](http://www.formaxmfg.com/buffing-wheel-bar-compounds). Thanks!

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-mystery-leftover-project-pieces/626863/8 "2012-07-01T02:26:43Z")

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That was going to be my next guess! 😃

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**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-mystery-leftover-project-pieces/626863/9 "2012-07-01T03:14:24Z")

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Now that the tough part is answered…  
The small round object in the picture looks to be a penny.  
Glad I could help. 🙂

-D/a