Replies

1. 
   JDorn | May 12, 2003 05:54pm | #1

   square dowels?

   why don't you just make some on your tablesaw?

   Seems like the easiest solution to me.

   JD

1. 
   theRev | May 13, 2003 01:21am | #2

   Make them yourself? At quantities of 100? Whew. That's a bit of work, not to mention how much material loss would be due to saw kerf, planing, etc. Considering time and money, buying them would be a no-brainer, IMHO.

   Scott

2. 
   GeeSeaWhy | May 13, 2003 08:55pm | #3

   Hobby store or dollhouse shop. Building model airplanes and dollhouses are what comes to mind that would require that size stock (although 1/2" might be on the large side there). Your choice is likely to be basswood, balsa or basswood.

   HTH

   Graeme

   Oh, you said "hardwood". Guess that eliminates the balsa, doesn't it? :-)

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/13/2003 1:58:17 PM ET by GEESEAWHY

3. 
   kenewald | May 13, 2003 11:30pm | #4

   I'm with JDorn on this one.  Heck, you can make 100 square dowels in minutes.  I'd bet if you did the calculus it's less expensive.

   It's also a good way to use scraps.

   I only buy the round ones.

   -Ken

4. 
   kenewald | May 13, 2003 11:35pm | #5

   Oops, my bad.  Just looked at your profile and saw that this is your first thread on this forum.  You may not have the tools, etc.

   Yea, your best bet may be a hobby shop.  You might want to see if there's a local woodworking group.  What's your locality?

   -Ken

5. 
   pauld | May 15, 2003 07:00am | #6

   Pilon,

   Making your own is simple and quick. I made a large quantity of square dowels from Ebony the other morning, to the exact dimensions I needed. It was liberating because I wasn't limited to the sizes available in a store or catalog, there were no shipping charges, and I didn't have to wait for UPS to deliver.

   As others have mentioned, this is a great use for offcuts - just make sure your blank is wide enough to keep your fingers away from the blade and prevent the stock from rolling over.

   If you want two-inch dowels, and you start with a blank four feet long, you'll get all the dowels you need ripping only three or four pieces from the edge of the blank.

   (1) Square a blank, (2) plane to the appropriate thickness, (3) rip a few lengths from the edge, (4) smooth the cut edge with a plane or scraper, and (4) crosscut to length.

   If  you joint the edge of the blank before you rip each strip, you can reduce the hand- planing, although I found it quick, easy, and pleasant to plane the cut edges smooth.

   Waste and planing are minimal if you use a multi-tooth, thin-kerf tablesaw blade or a bandsaw.

   Adjust the cut-off-stop on the fence of your SCMS, and cut them all to exact length in just a few minutes. If this feels too dangerous, crosscut them at the bandsaw.

   Good luck with your project,
   Paul