11
votes
Dowel diameter reduction
This stick already cost $16, looking for cost effective and efficient way to reduce 1/4" down the entire shaft. Any ideas?
The easiest, most cost effective plan will be to just go buy the right ...
- 9,558
10
votes
Accepted
What is the cheapest way to create a right triangle out of a square dowel rod or similar?
You can buy what you need already fabricated. Search "champfer strip". Here's a Home Depot link: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Alexandria-Moulding-3-4-in-x-3-4-in-Pine-Chamfer-Strip-Moulding-0W995-200RLC/...
- 1,072
10
votes
Accepted
How can I flute my own dowel or create dowel with similar properties
That style of dowel would be difficult to emulate.
Not so much actually! You can do a decent job of simulating this texture by simply gripping the dowel in pliers, vice-grips etc. and drawing it ...
- 64.4k
9
votes
Accepted
Reduce diameter of a dowel (preferably efficiently)?
While you can sand dowels to reduce their diameter it's not the most efficient method even to take off just a millimetre or two, and it's difficult to ensure consistency along the length. Especially ...
- 64.4k
7
votes
Accepted
What is the functional purpose of fluted dowel?
There are two main purposes that I know of. First, the flutes allow air to escape and glue to fill the voids as you are inserting the dowels. Without them, it is possible that you would not be able ...
- 4,788
6
votes
Is there a way to extend the length of a dowel blade?
TL;DR
Return or sell the 2x4, "drill bit" / "dowel blade" and/or skip lunch and use the money to buy a pack of 1000 ready-made dowels online.
Is there a way to extend the length of a dowel blade?
...
- 1,844
6
votes
What is the cheapest way to create a right triangle out of a square dowel rod or similar?
I would not want to start with 1/2" x 1/2" square stock unless you have a table saw. Trying to rip small stock with the tools you listed would be quite difficult (and dangerous).
Instead, start with ...
- 5,500
6
votes
Accepted
Difference between commercial joinery dowels and smooth dowels
Dowels for joints I think are usually called fluted or grooved.
Fluted dowels are usually made of hardwood and the plain dowel you link to is made of pine. Not equal. For the same diameter hardwood is ...
- 2,119
6
votes
Accepted
How do I get good glue coverage with a very small, 2-3mm, dowels?
Following the usual rule of thumb, the 6mm thick wood suggests 2-3mm dowels are as large as I should go (this is about 1/16 inch).
3mm is maybe pushing it (as it leaves only a quarter of the wood's ...
- 64.4k
5
votes
Accepted
making or buying a wooden tap?
To buy
Once you're received the tap and done any necessary cleanup/renovation work on it to be serviceable you prepare your dowel1, thread a portion of it, then determine what the pitch and profile is....
- 64.4k
4
votes
Considerations when making my own threaded dowel for a vise
Excellent answer already from grfrazee, just wanted to add some practical options.
The tool to use would be one just like this (but not necessarily this one):
I see in the Comments that you say ...
- 64.4k
4
votes
Accepted
Considerations when making my own threaded dowel for a vise
If I am going to make threaded dowel for a vise what do I need to consider. I can think of two things.
Wood Something like a maple; at least a hardwood minimum
I think you'll find that a lot of ...
- 12.1k
4
votes
Reduce diameter of a dowel (preferably efficiently)?
Chuck the dowel in a drill and make a jig. Two pieces of wood 90 degrees. Glue sandpaper to them and then turn on the drill. Depending on how much you want to take off and it doesn't sound like much I ...
- 301
4
votes
How can I inwardly round off the end of a dowel?
You can use your drill. You'll need a bit whose size is the same as the diameter of the inner curve you want to cut. Clamp your dowel stock firmly, position the drill so the outer edge of the bit is ...
- 2,602
4
votes
Affixing a dowel to the bottom of a piece of board
The joint you are probably thinking of is a mortise and tenon joint. Such a joint is very strong, but strength is relative. If you have the top securely fastened to the file cabinet, and only need ...
- 8,036
4
votes
Accepted
Replacing a 1/2 dowel with a 3/4 dowel
but it occurred to me that my 3/4" dowel rod might yield a stronger leg then the previous 1/2" whatever they used
It would, but the strength might not really be needed. 1/2" dowel in a good wood is ...
- 64.4k
4
votes
Joining MDF - Pocket holes vs dowels
I would definitely recommend the dowels. The greatest stresses will be in tension trying to pull the boards apart and breaking the connection of the screw or dowel with the boards. Both the dowel and ...
- 8,274
4
votes
Strengthened leg miter joint with spline [key]
The plans call for a domino or dowel, plus a spline for added strength.
Just so you know, this is probably overkill.
Many such legs are reinforced by just one means, not two, and the tables survive ...
- 64.4k
4
votes
How big hole can I drill in edge of plywood?
As I was reading this I was thinking there is nothing wrong with doing this, a 3/4" dowel should be able to be drilled and glued in with no problems. Then I read the part about being the back of ...
- 15.7k
3
votes
Antique Dowel Maker?
It is called a dowel plate, and several manufacturers sell them nowadays - e.g., Lie-Nielsen. You could also make your own, which might be what you have there. You are spot on with the usage - pound a ...
- 2,602
3
votes
Replacing a 1/2 dowel with a 3/4 dowel
It's unlikely that going from a 1/2" hole to a 3/4" hole will cause the frame to fail, but not impossible; Just highly unlikely. The foot, at 2" square, should be fine.
A ball-park minimum would be ...
- 940
3
votes
Accepted
How many dowels is enough to support this joint?
Assuming a heavy load of books, the connection is can easily be uspported using two 3/8" x 2" wooden dowels. The 2" length insures that the dowels are firmly held in the framing members on each side. ...
- 8,274
3
votes
What is the functional purpose of fluted dowel?
If I understand correctly that shape will allow the dowel to be inserted easily but make it harder to move around?
Nope. The chamfered end is what makes insertion easier (always advisable to do this ...
- 64.4k
3
votes
Accepted
What is a hardware attachment for dowel rods that allow for running wire through the ends?
Try this location (there may be others, but this came up almost immediately when I Googled "dowel caps".) for a selection of plastic dowel caps with eyelets. (see below from the afore mentioned link ...
- 3,667
3
votes
How can I flute my own dowel or create dowel with similar properties
Is there another method of working the dowel that will get a similar functional result?
You could maybe make a dowel plate,
but instead of drilling a regular hole through the steel plate, make a ...
- 12.1k
3
votes
How do cabinet makers achieve seamless joins
The answer to this question could be simple or complex depending on exactly what sort of joinery or cabinet making you're talking about - you're asking it in a fairly generic context. That said, it ...
- 181
3
votes
Accepted
Joining MDF - Pocket holes vs dowels
MDF is different than normal wood, in that there is no end grain vs face grain. Since MDF is all just basically sawdust combined with a resin, any surface is as strong as the other for gluing.
It ...
- 8,036
3
votes
Joining MDF - Pocket holes vs dowels
I use biscuits in this situation, not for strength, but because wood and mdf likes to move when glued, even when clamped. The biscuits align the piece so the edge is clean. Dowels would do the same ...
- 81
3
votes
Accepted
How big hole can I drill in edge of plywood?
Is it feasible to drill into the edge of glued-together plywood like this?
Yes.
Just a note for future readers: this is not a universal yes for all plywood, because of the limitations of some ...
- 64.4k
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