NEED 1/2 DOWEL FAST

[kmorgan]

I put my foot in my mouth and said I would make some indoor clothes racks, well everyone came out of the wood work and now I have five to make and they take 15, 3 foot sections of 1/2 wood dowel. So now I need a tun of it and none of my local stores has any left. So thought I would throw it out here and see if anyone has a source for dowel that is not outrageous. PLEASE HELP  :-\

[Ianab]

Able to make some?

Use a round over router bit, radius 1/2 the dia of the dowel. Run this down two edges of your board, and then rip of the "dowel" on table saw. Repeat as needed until you have made enough.

Going to take a little while to make 75, but it's pretty quick once you get set up.

Ian

[21incher]

I have had good luck purchasing them from McFeeleys. They come in different species and some come in a box of 50 with only $1.00 S&H. I would call to check availability and they usually ship real fast.

[drobertson]

Able to make some?

Use a round over router bit, radius 1/2 the dia of the dowel. Run this down two edges of your board, and then rip of the "dowel" on table saw. Repeat as needed until you have made enough.

Going to take a little while to make 75, but it's pretty quick once you get set up.

Ian

sounds like a good plan if you have access to a router and strips, otherwise get online and order some,   david

[ron barnes]

Grizzly carries dowels.

[Jim_Rogers]

for 1/2" dowels you need a 1/4" round over bit. joint two adjacent sides of a stick and then plane the other two sides to 1/2" thickness. run the stick through a bench top router or shaper whatever you have and round over all four sides leaving the ends square to register against the fence/and table. Cut off square ends afterwards.
You can make any length you need out of any type of wood you want. Sand ridges as needed.

Jim Rogers

[Farmerjw]

Here are three methods.  For longer dowels I would suggest mounting you cutting mechanism so your dowel is horizontal instead of vertical.  Enjoy and good luck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbbR2JXQrY4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4OEJfa6PtE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1Ursi9nujY

[Remle]

 ??? How about this for an out of the box approach. Who says the rail has to be round ? You might make them 5/8" square and make the tendon round on the end where it goes through the rail. Farmerjw's approach would be easy to do with a couple of modifications, make the blank about 4" longer, cut around the blank with a saw to eliminate tear out at the transition from round to square, pare the ends with a utility knife and drill to the right length.

[Lud]

I'm shocked to see that the Donk hasn't showed up talking about the Veritas dowel-making system!   You OK. Bill??   Bet you're slaving away on that loom finishing Christmas gifts! :D :D ;D ;D 8)

[bannerd]

NORTHCOTT WOOD TURNING  Great place!

[WV Sawmiller]

   Further to @Remle 's suggestion why don't you take square stock and run it through a table saw with the blade set on a 45* and knock the corners off as a pseudo-octagon? I make bench legs for live edge benches using this technique. If you keep your fingers out of the saw : it works real well. 

   Just a thought - remember Free Advice is worth what you paid for it.

[alan gage]

He said he needed it fast and you guys are 8 years too late.

Alan

[VB-Milling]

Maybe this is just the push @kmorgan needed to log back in after 7 years.

<popcorn at the ready!>

[trimguy]