Replies

1. 
   RickL | Jul 06, 2004 08:52pm | #1

   http://www.woodweb.com/ProductDirectory/PDComponents.html

   Dowels at Chicago Dowel and other sources should have woodwn balls

2. 
   UncleDunc | Jul 07, 2004 01:44am | #2

   >> Drill out wooden balls on my drill press would not be fun.

   It's not hard to clamp balls for drilling. Drill holes in two pieces of plywood. The holes should be small enough that the balls don't get stuck under clamping pressure, and large enough that they don't collapse the edges of the hole drilled in the ball against the bit. Then fix one piece of ply to the DP table with the hole centered under the spindle. Put a ball in the hole, lay the other piece of ply on the ball and screw or clamp it down to hold the ball.

   If your bit is really dull and grabby, you can generate more clamping surface by starting with smaller holes and chamfering the edges of the holes that face the balls at a 45 degree angle. That should allow you to use more clamping force without scarring the balls.

3. 
   JeffreyS | Jul 09, 2004 12:03am | #3

   Why not just use small wooden pegs that go through the large dowel/handel near the ends?

   For the larger "dowel" that makes the handle just take a square of whatever wood you want for the handle and knock off the corners with a plane- or round it over with a spokeshave. They don't have to be perfectly round, in fact many prefer it not to be. If that is what you are after, Lee Valley sells hardwood dowels in many diameters, I believe they go up to the range you are seeking.

   Jeff

4. 
   KStrick | Jul 09, 2004 08:04pm | #4

   Boris,

   Whenever I need to clamp anything irregular to drill I use handscrews with moderate pressure as long as you drill down straight you won't have any problem. Also a lot less fiddly than jigs.

   Also dowels shrink so if you don't cross pin the ends they will be falling off. Real irritating, I know from experience.

   Kevin