Step 8: Making/Installing the Dowel
I decided to make my 3/8" dowel this way I wouldn't have to go to the store again and I guess I'm a bit of a cheapskate. You can purchase a 3/8" dowel if you want from the store and just cut it down to about 1/16" height then install it if you want or you can do like I did and make your own.
To make a dowel you will need a dowel plate. In my case that is a 1/4" thick steel plate with various sized holes from 1/16" to 1". I work in metal fabrication so I had one cut at work on a CNC laser. I then etched the hole sizes so I wouldn't have to check each time. Making a dowel isn't too hard, cut a small piece of wood 3/8" x 3/8" x 1 - 2 " then the fun begins.
Remember how they used to scold you for trying to put a square peg in a round hole? Now's your chance to prove them all wrong! Drive that square peg down with a mallet. Beat it till it fits! If it really won't go at all just go up a size, knock some of the corners off and try again. It does help to take a pocket knife and round off one end to help it start off.
After your dowel is complete carefully take a chisel and scribe all around it at about 1/16" height then push a little harder on the chisel and roll it around pushing a little harder each time till it breaks off. Be gentle on this step because its really easy to destroy your dowel by smashing it too hard with the chisel.
To make a dowel you will need a dowel plate. In my case that is a 1/4" thick steel plate with various sized holes from 1/16" to 1". I work in metal fabrication so I had one cut at work on a CNC laser. I then etched the hole sizes so I wouldn't have to check each time. Making a dowel isn't too hard, cut a small piece of wood 3/8" x 3/8" x 1 - 2 " then the fun begins.
Remember how they used to scold you for trying to put a square peg in a round hole? Now's your chance to prove them all wrong! Drive that square peg down with a mallet. Beat it till it fits! If it really won't go at all just go up a size, knock some of the corners off and try again. It does help to take a pocket knife and round off one end to help it start off.
After your dowel is complete carefully take a chisel and scribe all around it at about 1/16" height then push a little harder on the chisel and roll it around pushing a little harder each time till it breaks off. Be gentle on this step because its really easy to destroy your dowel by smashing it too hard with the chisel.
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