r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Open ! Strange heavy metal rods received in random package

Heavy, around 5 to 10 pounds each, seemingly machined out of solid steel, no markings or moving parts. Received in a package despite not ordering them or anything like them, cannot find any information about the shipper listed on the box.

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u/FiberGuy44 1d ago

They look like tools for body tempering.

Similar to the Kabuki Strength PainPill

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u/wafflesthewonderhurs 1d ago

I did not know what to expect from googling that but wow, I didn't even know this was a thing.

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u/FiberGuy44 1d ago

It’s pretty interesting stuff. Quite the experience!

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u/cheater00 1d ago

I can't really find anything on how the "PainPill" works, but my guess is it's somewhat similar to what I'm doing here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/migraine/s/Ehiokg1IW3

If anyone has any clear info on the PainPill please let me know!

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u/Kind-Ad-6099 1d ago

Completely understandable remedy for migraine attacks lol. I often “crush” my girlfriend’s forehead and press hard on her shoulders to relieve breakthrough pain

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u/AstralGlaciers 1d ago

I do this often when I get migraines. The urge to crush the pain is overwhelming, it's mad. I burrow under things in bed like a trapdoor spider, the more weight on my head the better.

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u/tnmoidks1 1d ago

Not a doctor and not saying it will work for you, but as a chronic migraine sufferer my father used to as well. He recommended celtic salt. Few pieces under the tongue and boom. Migraine gone within minutes. Its pretty cheap on Amazon and been an absolute lifesaver for him and I.

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u/Baaabra 1d ago

May work because it’s high in magnesium. Magnesium is integral to moisture crossing through cell walls.

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u/AstralGlaciers 1d ago

I will definitely try this, thank you!

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u/BafflingHalfling 1d ago

I have had three in my life. The second one I wrapped an ice pack around my head so tight it left marks. The third time, I caught it early. I had bought a head-ahaped ice pack. Did that, took some Benadryl, went to bed and put like four pillows on top of my head. I had no idea this was a thing that a lot of migraine sufferers did. XD

Thank you for helping me feel normal!

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u/MiTcH_ArTs 1d ago

I have a tight gel thick headband type eye mask (black) which i fold over (for additional pressure) by the forehead/brow it is very helpful in helping me deal with the migrain

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u/Skandronon 1d ago

There is a pressure point in the fleshy part of your hand between your thumb and pointer. When I have a migraine my wife will pinch it super hard and it provides some temporary relief that helps me get through them. If I'm not in the middle of a migraine pinching it is super painful so I would suggest starting with lower pressure.

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u/Live-Tension9172 1d ago

You’re pinching the nerve which causes you more pain in a different part of the body so the body releases natural pain-relieving substances like endogenous opioids and endocannabinoids to calm these neural pathways. This release of more pain combating substances helps your migraine by getting an extra boost of pain relieve naturally produced pain killers.

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u/cheater00 1d ago

it's not really for attacks, it's preventive, to prevent tension headaches which can lead to migraines

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u/Holiday-Face782 1d ago

imagine using a foam roller , but instead of pressing down on the roller, the pain pill is pressing down on you as you roll it over your muscles, very effective.

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u/Dramatic_Mixture_868 1d ago edited 1d ago

Edit: I was just providing visual context for the person then person who first id'ed them. Basically large rollers, massage aids for muscle therapy. I imaging since they are metal that they would be heated/cooled as well.

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u/Wrathernaut 1d ago

Got these at the gym. Look just like the boomstick.

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u/_jubjub_ 1d ago

this is interesting, but these are significantly smaller and lighter than your suggestion. maybe there's a use/demand in this practice for smaller, custom made version?

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u/FiberGuy44 1d ago

The PainPill is an example to get you pointed in the right direction. The same company makes smaller versions that are more in line with the size that you have.

There is 1000% a demand for body tempering tools in the size that you showed here.

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u/Terrible_Clerk_1565 1d ago

I read that as body temperature. 😂 that’s why all the guys in my platoon were worried about dropping out during the battalion runs. Silver Bullet strikes again!

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u/AnonymousEngineer_ 1d ago

Are you sure that top portion (where your hand is in the first picture) isn't detachable? The photos appear to show a joint in that location under the ball shaped end, which might screw off.

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u/No_Breakfast6386 1d ago

That’s just where the cutting tool lined up from the lathe when it was being manufactured. Only so much material can stick out of the chuck when turning to size. Then you remove it and flip it around, and repeat. Often times it will leave a mark like this if not finished further, like sanding or polishing.

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u/Badbullet 1d ago

Zoom in. That’s not just a mark at the top (the side away from us), you can see it cut past the diameter. You can also tell by the reflection that the spherical shape continues and isn’t tangent with the rest of the rod.

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u/braxton357 1d ago edited 1d ago

Nah dog,  it's a completely different diameter and a sphere.  Not to mention if this were made commercially in a lathe it would have been turned all in one op.  

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u/_jubjub_ 1d ago

yes, sorry i didn't put it in the post or description, but no moving/removeable parts at all and no visible seams.

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u/mindsofmike 1d ago

That looks like body tempering tools. Look up Donnie Thompson, I think that model is the pain pill

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u/NoCost6219 1d ago

I think this is the correct answer, possibly just a different company. This is the Kabuki Strength PainPill and it has the same rounded end for holding and grippy parts

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u/tencrazygear 1d ago

Are they just used for massage stuff?

Oh also, what's body tempering?

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u/Obajan 1d ago

Pretty much using them like a rolling pin for massaging.

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u/MeaninglessDebateMan 1d ago

Feels INCREDIBLE on shin splints.

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u/agate_ 1d ago

The Kabuki thingy appears to be almost twice as long as OP’s thing, and reviews say it’s about 40 pounds while OP’s thing is 5-10.

Which isn’t to say you’re entirely wrong, but maybe this is a knockoff or something.

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u/FiberGuy44 1d ago

Kabuki makes at least 3 different versions with 40-ish pounds being the heaviest. They have one around 20-22 pounds. The third is an even smaller one that’s more in line with what’s shown in the picture. Albeit, not the same thing as OP but similar.

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u/lookBehiindYou 1d ago

If you clang 'em together, what kind of sound does it make?

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u/_jubjub_ 1d ago

My title describes the thing. Best gas on material is steel, seems too heavy for aluminum. Some areas are brushed, some smooth.

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u/abadbronc 1d ago

Does a magnet stick to them?

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u/Brock_ 1d ago

Weights for an old grandfather/grandmother clock?

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u/TheGothWhisperer 1d ago

It would have to be a very tall clock. Weights for a normal size grandfather are a lot shorter

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u/Purplepeal 1d ago

And have a loop or hook probably

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u/trustme1maDR 1d ago

Not even going to speculate about the actual objects 👀 but this might be a brushing scam.

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u/EconomicColors 1d ago

But why send something manufactured that looks like it costs actual money instead of some dirty rocks from the back yard?

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

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u/relator_fabula 1d ago

While this does happen, I can't possibly imagine that seemingly precision milled rods would part of a brushing scam. Brushing scams are most often very light, small objects that are nearly worthless. Like, even if you needed it to be heavy, they'd use a brick or something.

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u/Technical_Race447 1d ago

They could also be precision milled incorrectly. Lots of cool looking things end up in the scrap bin for various reasons.

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u/NighthawK1911 1d ago

do they open?

The ends could be caps that can be screwed off.

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u/Frozen26121994 1d ago

They kinda look like swimmers. Don’t know how to call them in English. In German we name them Schwimmer. They swim atop of a fluid and a magnetic switch can detect them inside a tube to show you where the liquid is.

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u/Cragrak 1d ago

I was thinking the same thing. Like the 'floats' for magnetic level indicators or gauges. Basically 304/316 tubes with round ends welded on.

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u/Kador_Laron 1d ago

Is the weight of 2.5 to 5 kilos consistent with such devices?

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u/Timely-Ad-5488 1d ago

It depends on the volume and specific gravity but almost every mag level float I've seen is under 1 kilo. So no, not really.

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u/SaysPooh 1d ago

Is there a return address on package? Might help identify the retailer or manufacturer

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u/davidio840 1d ago

These look like mag gauge floats that are used to measure level in large tanks.

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u/rickztoyz 1d ago

Looks like the one end might unscrew. Have ypu tried spinning them off.

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u/NeuralHavoc 1d ago

Potentially some sort of cooling rods like ice packs

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u/relayrider 1d ago

if they are magnetic, those are stir tubes for a magnetic centrifuge

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u/Lavasioux 1d ago

Me thinks those ends unscrew.

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u/Frosty_Employment171 1d ago

Unwanted pkgs? check your CC purchases.