On Wed, 4 Apr 2012 22:09:13 -0700 (PDT), Bob La Londe
wrote:

If you needed to put a hemisperical end on a bunch of 1/4" stainless
dowels how would you tackle it? Say 400, give or take.
Assuming you have a lathe then you can buy a corner rounding endmill,
as others have suggested, or you can make a form tool out of HSS.
Making the form tool is pretty easy. Put Dykem or similar layout ink
on the tool and scribe the form. Rough out the form with a grinding
wheel and finish the form using a brass rod turned to the proper
diameter charged with lapping compound. I use diamond lapping
compounds but Clover compound works well too.
Eric