Replies

1. 
   rslatm | Dec 28, 2003 07:31pm | #1

   Clamp them so they don't roll.
1. 
   user-190708 | Dec 28, 2003 08:43pm | #4

   thanks for help. and yes, I wanted to "picture frame" the piece. I will try to find out what machinists vee blocks look like, it could be the answer.

1. 
   Steinmetz | Dec 29, 2003 06:34am | #6

   vanadoo,  try this to see a V block with clamp.

   http://www.cartertools.com/vblock.html

   This price can be beat if you check Grizzly/Macmaster Carr etc

1. 
   patternmaker | Dec 29, 2003 07:38am | #7

   Try this:

   Take a short piece of square stock and miter one end.

   Miter one end of all your dowel rods.

   Clamp the square piece to your crosscut guide with the miter cut vertical to the table.

   Use the mitered end of the square piece as a stop and to orient the first cut on your dowels.

   Cut the second end and put the frame together.

   Work safely ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬PAT¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

   Edited 12/28/2003 11:46:43 PM ET by Pat

1. 
   user-190708 | Dec 29, 2003 04:51pm | #8

   Thanks again to all. So far, If I get where Pat is going, seems to be the cheapest/simplest and will probably work, though, can't visualize it in whole, will try whatever it takes though.

   Van

2. 
   Steinmetz | Dec 29, 2003 05:02pm | #9

   vanadoo, If you mill a 'vee' dado into a length of wood with parallel sides, and long enough for your material,all you need is to place the dowel in the v groove and tack or tape it down to the jig (so it won't roll).

   Then, miter both ends (Don't cut all the way through the jig though.) Ed.

   Edited 12/29/2003 9:06:37 AM ET by steinmetz

3. 
   user-190708 | Dec 30, 2003 01:47am | #11

   yes Ed, thanks thats kink of where I was starting to go in my own mind.

   Van

4. 
   patternmaker | Dec 30, 2003 01:47am | #10

   Van: I am not the swiftest person on givivg directions.Let me try again.

   First,be careful that the dowel does not try to rotate when making the first 45 deg. miter cut.

   Now after you miter one end of the square stop block,3 inches is a reasonable length,place it on the crosscut guide with the short side clamped to the guide,the saw cut will be vertical to the saw table.This is your stop block for length. Now,as the mitered end of the dowel goes into the stop,it will be rotated to the proper position for cutting the other miter.The outside,or long side of the dowel will be snug against the guide.It cannot rotate in the cut because it is trapped in the stop block.

   No new fancy tools required

   Work safely ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬PAT¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

5. 
   aksophie | Dec 30, 2003 04:34am | #12

   Once again, Pat, a good solution. Were/are you a patternmaker?

6. 
   patternmaker | Dec 30, 2003 06:57am | #14

   Yes, I have been in the trade since 1940

   Master patterns for the foundry trade and engineering models of many kinds. I have been retired for the last 22 years and now am able to play with some of the ideas that I had when time was money.I work several hours each day on fine furniture projects and toy items for the children.

   Work safely ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬PAT¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

7. 
   user-190708 | Dec 30, 2003 04:45am | #13

   I get where you're going Pat and it would work, however I am not using the table saw, i am using my compound mitre saw.

   However, your idea of locking in the dowel end is the point from which my mind started to get it.

   Where I would freehand one end and then "lock" that into a block and have the other end ready to go at the proper length, although freehanding at all shouldn't even be neccessary, just throw it in the jig and chop 2 45's, of course that would require a clamping mech of some kind. One small move with these things and it's all over.

   thanks for help.

   Van

2. 
   ron61 | Dec 28, 2003 07:48pm | #2

   are you just mitering one end? or like a picture frame cuts on both ends? cuts on both ends you would almost need to drill a hole in a square block fix it where you could tighten it on the dowel so when you  would have a reference to cut the other end.
3. 
   Steinmetz | Dec 28, 2003 08:13pm | #3

   Vanadoo, Buy your self a pair of machinist's VEE blocks complete with two clamps.

   They are great for drilling round AND square stock  To keep the set up parallel with your back fence, lay down a parallel spacer slat between the jig and the fence.

   Once you cut the right end miter, don't un-clamp before you cut the left end. Stein.  If you are Cheap, (Like me) Make your own from hard wood after you 'Scope out' what one looks like.  Stein.

4. 
   rslatm | Dec 28, 2003 09:04pm | #5

   One simple way is to hotmelt a square or rectangular piece of stock to your dowel so it won't roll. You can then cut it with a tablesaw or chopsaw. A long wooden V-block mounted on a wider piece of wood where you could mount a Destaco type clamp to hold the dowel. A variation of the V-block used by machinists. You make your first cut and slide it to a preset stop for a more production like set up.

   Get Woodshop Jigs & Fixtures by Sandor Nagyszalanczy on Taunton

   An excellent book on jigs

   http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/070202.asp

   
   

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   Edited 12/28/2003 1:15:33 PM ET by Rick at Arch. Timber and Millwork