Tapered dowel pin

[Prashun Patel]

A friend of mine needs to cut a tapered dowel to use as a banjo tuning key.

I can't think how to do this without a lathe.... Basically, I need a round pin that's about 2" long and tapered down from let's say 3/8" to 1/8".

Ideas welcome!

[Alan Schwabacher]

You could drill a 3/8" hole in a block of wood using a drill press, then slice part of the block off at the desired taper angle and clamp on a finely-set block plane. With this clamped to a drill press table and a spinning dowel in the chuck, lowering the drill into the hole will cut a clean taper. The guide block makes the taper angle accurate, and prevents sideways force on the drill press.

You could use sandpaper instead of the plane, but a plane would be preferred.

[David Christopher]

Cut the dowel long and chuck it up in the drill press and use different grits of sand paper

[Paul Atkins]

Here is a peg shaver/shaper for violin, costs a few bucks, but the idea is there. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Violin/Peg_Shaper.html

[Prashun Patel]

Once again, I am reminded that there is a tool for EVERYTHING!
Thanks

[george wilson]

Those peg shavers only work well if you grind their cutting edges at a steep angle.That way,they mostly scrape. If they are left sharp and cut,they always grab into the wood and do a rough job,ruining your peg.