So far I’ve struck out searching for 1/8″ Maple doweling rods. I know that there have been sources for it this small in the past because I ran across an artist/turner/fine woodshavings maker who used some in a series of uber-creative pieces. But he couldn’t recall where he got it from and the two places he suggested don’t carry it.
I’ve found inumerable sources for Birch at 1/8″ and nearly as many for Maple and a variety of other American hardwoods at 1/4″, but I can’t use larger than 1/8″ and I don’t like how brown the Birch is – not enough contrast.
Anyone out there know of a source?
Replies
"Know of a source?"
I sure do: Lee Valley has "micro-dowels," the larger of which is 1/8". Now, I haven't looked carefully at what wood this is; it probably isn't maple but perhaps is light enough for you?
-Andy
Oh, very interesting! Ya know... while I was searching I kept thinking about those round toothpicks and how they're a lot smaller than 1/8" and they are obviously turned. The smallest of these micro-dowels look like they're probably comparably sized.
I sent off an email inquiry asking Lee Valley what the species is. If they are Birch than that's essentially what I've already got. It's passable, but I'd really prefer something lighter in color.
Thanks for the tip!
Rockler does carry 1/8" dowels, but I don't see maple listed. They also have a minimum order requirement of $5.00.
http://www.McFeelys.com has maple dowels from 1/8 - 2".
Dood, you rock! They're a bit spendy compared to the Birch ones I've been using, but beggers can't be choosers.
Thank you very much!
Another option might be to bleach the birch you already have.Cliff
Re: bleachingIt crossed my mind, also, but I wonder if you get the intended effect (nearly white wood) when you trim the end off of the dowel -- does the bleach soak through?Another possibility that hasn't been mentioned is to buy or make a dowel plate that will make 1/8 dowel -- then you can get whatever is available in 1/4" and make 1/8" to your heart's content.
-Andy
Bleaching had occurred to me too. With the dowel pieces only being 1/8" and Birch being relatively soft I imagine that the bleach would probably penetrate all the way through. But I think that the relative softness/porosity of Birch is part of my problem with it.
What I'm using the doweling for is as an accent against much darker wood and when I sand everything flush I appear to be getting little bits of the darker wood lodged into the pores of the Birch, which adds to the Birch already being a tad bit browner than I'd like. Maple seems like it would kill two birds with one stone in this application - lighter in color and denser too.
I manage a professional paint shop for a living and my helper suggested the dowel plate idea a while back. By happy coincidence he's a much better wood worker than I am and I'm a much better finisher/painter than he is and we both find ourselves at a point in life where we're more interested in what the other is more skilled in. So we both spend a lot of time picking each others brain. But he's never used a dowel plate and I've not only never used one but have never even seen one used or even read/heard a good description of how to use one.
I've actually Googled "dowel jig" several times hoping to find something that would make dowels. Perhaps my greatest flaw there was in my search terms. You say that dowel plates can be bought? The ability to make my own doweling would be ideal because then I could work with other wood combinations and not be restricted to what would contrast with Birch or Maple.
Here are links to two dowel plates.
http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?sku=DP
http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/12366
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The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. -- Herbert Spencer (1891)
Thanks!
Those are the ones I was thinking of, yikes, I bet they are on the "restricted: expensive tools, do not recommend" list!
Seriously, I'd like to get one myself.
-Andy
If a light color is what you are looking for, have you considered bamboo? It is readily available in the size you want at your local grocery store -- just look for chopsticks or shisk kabob skewers.
That's a great idea and one that I'd already thought of. In fact I was using bamboo before I switched to Birch. The bamboo worked great and I'd probably still be using it except the fact that it's not a real wood bothered me. I'm taking a purist perspective, I know. But the entire point of the piece is an artistic showcase of hardwoods, both domestic and exotic. And I want the entire thing to be hardwood. Thus my quest for Maple dowels.
That said... I may go back to using bamboo at some point. Except for the fact that it's not wood it really did meet every other need that I have for this application. Well... except for the fact that those skewers aren't made to any tighter tolerances than the cheap Birch dowels I've been using are, and I'd really prefer something more consistent in size because my drill bit doesn't vary at all in size. So I may end up buying a dowel plate if for no other reason than to exert control over the diameter consistency.
Thanks for the suggestion!
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