Source for dowels?

[Chris Allen]

Does anyone know of a good place to buy compressed dowels?

The ones you can buy from dowelmax seem a little pricey to me.

Need 3/8" and 1/4".

Thanks!

[Andy Pratt]

Lee valley has a good variety, and the quality can't be beat. They are spiral instead of just ridged, price is a little less than dowelmax and you're supporting a great company that you probably order from occasionally anyway. I've used dowelmax and lee valley dowels with my dowelmax, and the lee valley dowels fit perfectly whereas the dowelmax ones are a little loose sometimes.

andy

[Chris Allen]

Andy,
Thanks for the reply. I will keep LV in mind.

But, I remember someone posting a link to a store that sold 1,000 dowels for something like $20. I can't find that link now. Not sure of the quality either.

$7 for a 100 dowels seems a little steep(but what isn't in this hobby?).

[Andy Pratt]

The price is a little high, but the quality justifies it in my mind. You can adjust your drill bit size to accomodate the exact dowel size/brand you use, but if the dowels aren't consistent within the same brand it would be very annoying. For me, getting the dowelmax was about getting perfect match-ups every time. I haven't done an objective comparison, but I'll bet the quality control on dowels that cheap is poor, and the joints will slop around a little as a result.

It's all individual preference, but once I found the LV ones fit tightly and were well made, they became my dowel-supplier for the forseeable future, regardless of the cost.

If you do find something that matches up well with the dowelmax drill bits and seems quality I would definitely be glad to know.

Part of the offset for me is that I order from LV almost monthly, so it's almost like I get free shipping on my dowels.

Best of luck,
Andy

[Myk Rian]

I make my own on the router table.

[Chris Allen]

Andy,
I agree about the quality. If the quality is poor, I wouldn't buy them. I'd rather pay more for the right stuff.

Myk,
I appreciate the reply. Between the kids, wife, and full time job, I hardly have time to get out in the shop to begin with. The last thing I have time to do is make dowels. I would love to have that type of free-time some day!!

[Prashun Patel]

They might be the best, but if yr looking for something cheaper,

I got about 500 on ebay for net $0.03 per dowel delivered. They're consistent. You can always use more dowels to compensate for any perceived strength inferiority.

I'm happy w mine.

[James Lee]

i purchased mine from Laurier Wood Craft in canada. i purchased 1000 of the 3/8" and 500 of the 1/4" for about $91 shipped to california. i found this vendor from the bags of dowels that i got from dowelmax so i just went direct.


Laurier Wood Craft
www.laurierwoodcraft.com (http://www.laurierwoodcraft.com)

[Dan Karachio]

Dumb question please. Are there dowels available anywhere for outdoor applications? Meaning they can handle moisture. Kind of like the Festool SIPO dominos.

[J. Z. Guest]

I've used both the Lee Valley dowels and the Dowelmax dowels.

To me, the Dowelmax ones fit better. The Lee Valley ones are so daggone tight, I worry that I'm not leaving enough room for glue.

Maybe I'm imagining it and they come from the same source.

Much as I like to support either of those great companies, I'd rather support a US company that makes them.

[harry strasil]

small dowel (peg) plate.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/dowelplatesmall.jpg


large dowel (peg) plate.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/dowelplatelarge.jpg


dowel (peg) box and grooving plane.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/dowelboxandfluttingplane.jpg

Stanley 77, dowel machine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/stanleydowelmaker.jpg


and for the really big ones, a rounder, (no picture).

[harry strasil]

for premade dowels and wood balls, you might try HOWEE's Inc.

[Steve Clardy]

Try Midwest Dowel.

http://www.midwestdowel.com/

[John Keeton]

And this http://store.cincinnatidowel.com/ Good source for Domino tenons as well.

[Geoff Potter]

Might want to check with these guys. Might have what you need.

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=163

[Myk Rian]

Might want to check with these guys. Might have what you need.

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=163
Except you have to create an account to see anything. Why do people do that?