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I need some 3/8" dowels for two tops I was making for our two twin Grandkids. It's a 36 mile ride to Home Depot so I decide to save some gas and make a dowel jig to make my own dowels. You can make any size dowel you need with this method. This idea came from a YouTube video that I saw a while ago. it works and it's simple!





Making a pitch fork handle

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Thanks for all the praise everyone.

But I can only take credit for finding this idea on YouTube and giving it a try and mabe posting it here on LJ's. I did a search a while back and found this idea. I just looked it up and foud it again. This is were I saw this brilliant maneuver!
YouTube Video

stefang,
When I was looking for a way to make dowels I thought of your idea. I couldn't find any metal in my shop to do this so I did a search on YouTube and found this band saw idea. witch by the way is a very good one too!
It took me just a few minutes to make this little jig and i was back to making the Tops in no time. But thanks for bringing that into my post. I would never be upset at anyone for adding what could be a big help to all of us here on Lumberjocks. That's what this site is all about. If I find any suitable metal I'll give the one you made a try! Good job!

Again, Thank you all for the great comments!
 

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very cool!
 

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Thanks great idea. I agree with others sharing our little short cuts or ideas is what makes this site so great. Appreciate all those that share.
 

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Very slick Tony
 

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What a great idea! Especially when you want a dowel made from a real hardwood and all you can find is some ovalized lightweight Shorea species or some other junk from the other side of the Pacific. Yes, that means you, Home Depot.
 

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Great idea. I would have never thought of it. I will save to my favs also. Thanks for sharing.
Rick
 

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Hey Tony, sorry I'm late to the party but as the old saying goes, "The simpler the better". I have made various dowel jigs but nothing this simple. And, as you know the easier the jig is to set up the more likely it is to be used. Thanks buddy, I am out to the shop to give this a try.
 

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Simple and brilliant. There is no substitute for a bit of thinking.
 

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Love this! Thank you! I was just trying to figure out how to make some 3/4 purpleheart dowels for the project I'm working on and now I have the solution.
 

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Hey Tony, you cease to amaze me with your jigs, first a jointer planer knife blade sharpener jig that is the greatest thing since popcorn, now this dowel making jig, maybe peanutbutter !!!!
 

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Ah that is a great idea, thx for sharing.
 

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Very brilliant solution!
 

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I just tried this and it works awesome, didn't have a socket driver big enough for the wood so I drilled a hole in the end of the to be dowel, drove a screw in the center, nipped the head off with bolt cutters and chucked that up in the drill. All I would say is to cut your square piece quite a bit oversize… some of the first dowels I did have a flat side on one end. Thanks again!
 

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turnkey47.
I havn't tried it on 1/8" dowels yet but I don't see why it wouldn't work!

Doug,
This is why this is so good to know this trick! You can use any type of wood to match whatever your doing!
 

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Wow! Outstanding work! You're clever!

www.bandsawparts.com
 

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Lsmart,
I did say a bit over size the work but maybe I should elaborat on that one. It's ok to make it larger than you need so you don't get flat spots!

I was thinking maybe it's a good idea to stop your band saw after you get the dowel made and then remove the dowel.
 

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gonna try this soon I need some 3/8 cherry dowells and this looks like a great IDEA
 
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