Replies

1. 
   Steinmetz | Aug 07, 2003 06:59am | #1

   Tom, You mentioned plugs and dowels in the same sentence

    Dowels when inserted show the end grain (not pretty) Plugs show the face grain (good)

   Can be inserted 90 degrees to the face grain (Mucho finer)

   Buy a plug cutter and you can make thousands of plugs from your own stock of cut offs. Stein.

1. 
   AlanTurner | Aug 07, 2003 11:52pm | #2

   And for the dowels, try the L-N Dowel Plate.  Works well.

   Alan

2. 
   TR | Aug 08, 2003 04:09am | #3

   I should have explained what I wanted a little better.  I am using a Kreg pocket hole jig and need to use dowels, a plug cutter won't work.

   I need to find a supplier for 3/8" dowel rods in redheart or bloodwood.   I contacted the manufacturer of the jig via e-mail to see if they could help me but have not received a reply.  All I can find is cherry, maple, walnut, oak pocket hole plugs so that is why I am looking for dowels in redheart or bloodwood so I can make my own plugs.

   I appreciate your quick reply. 

   Tommy

1. 
   robkelly1 | Aug 08, 2003 08:31am | #4

   This is such a specialty item you'll never find it. If you have a router table, cut some wood 3/8" square, about 8" long pieces. Put a 3/16" radius round over bit in the router, adjust to cut flush with the edges of the wood, then start rounding over about 2" from the end and run it to 2" from the other end. Do all 4 sides. You end up with 4" of round 3/8" dowel, with a 2" long square section on each end to bear against the table and fence. Cut your dowels out of the 4" section.

2. 
   AlanTurner | Aug 08, 2003 03:09pm | #5

   If you don't like the idea of a dowel plate, which I really enjoy, then you can use a tenon cutter on the end grain.  MLCS has them, pretty cheap.  Probably cuts a "tenon" about 2" or so.  Maybe a bit more.  They are OK for quality; I have several.  I use them for putting a round tenon on the end of  a bench leg going into a hole/mortise in the bench top.  Mine are typically 1" or 1 1/4".

   Flip your DP table to vertical, make a jig with a vertical registering member, glued and screwed dead parallel to the plunge of the quill, and a bottom stop.  Clamp the rig and stock to the flipped table, and cut away.  Pretty easy.

   Good luck

   Alan

3. 
   parrothead | Aug 08, 2003 03:31pm | #6

   Tommy, I don't know of a regular business that has them, but I have seen them on Ebay on a regular basis. Take a look at this auction:

   http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2339617453

   I know this is not the type of wood that you want, but I have seen this seller with the types that you are looking for. Just send him an e-mail and ask about the type you want. I have bought items from him before and it has been nice wood.  I think that he makes them, so he could probably do any specie.

   MikeWe are the people our parents warned us about. J. Buffett