Round Rod Milling Machines in the USA?

[David Dolak]

Hello,

I'm new here. I need to turn about 700 24" lengths of 2 1/2" square rift oak into 2" round rods for a custom chair project. Short of turning on cnc lathing each piece, I wonder if there are any companies in the USA or Europe making a machine for this. I have found several in China and Taiwan on Alibaba but I wanted to buy a higher quality product. Does anyone have any ideas?

For example, something like this: http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/AUTOMATIC-professional-factory-wood-round-rod_60121634623.html

Help if you can.

Thanks,
David

[ian maybury]

Not idea how if it works/how it might work out for such a large quantity of large diameter dowels, but at a more budget/DIY level there's various arrangements about for turning dowels using a router. e.g. http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f27/dowel-making-jig-router-table-39249/

[Chris Padilla]

Sounds like something perfect to contract out to someone who already has such equipment.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

I would imagine someone in the Louisville area could so it. They already make bats.

[John TenEyck]

Why not just buy them? Here's one place: http://www.bairdbrothers.com/Red-Oak-2-Dowel-Rod-DR2-P2308.aspx It doesn't matter if you start out with rift sawn, plain sawn, whatever, once turned they will all look the same.

John

[glenn bradley]

Sounds like something perfect to contract out to someone who already has such equipment.

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner. . . IMHO.

[Chris Padilla]

OF COURSE, we don't want to discourage someone from picking up a fun new toy/tool to play with, do we?! :D

[David Dolak]

OF COURSE, we don't want to discourage someone from picking up a fun new toy/tool to play with, do we?! :D That's the point. If I can use the machine on other projects it is worth the investment.

The link to Baird Bros is an excellent resource though. Thanks for the info.

[Chris Padilla]

BTW, David, welcome to Saw Mill Creek. Keep this thread updated if you do find yourself such a machine...would love to see it!

[Carroll Courtney]

Welcome David to one of the best forums,I can't answer your question from experience but I will offer my thoughts.No, am I going to ask why,or 700 rods for one chair but would love to see you post your plans cause it sure sounds interesting.Anyway few yrs ago I seen a Youtube of a guy who would mount his stock in the lathe,but he had a jig made for the lathe that mounted a router above the stock and he would slide the router up/down the length lower the bit with each pass.He had stops on his router that I think would drop the bit maybe 1/4 at a time but I'm sure thats adjustable.Its just another ideal to add to this post.----Carroll

[Tony Joyce]

Hello,

I'm new here. I need to turn about 700 24" lengths of 2 1/2" square rift oak into 2" round rods for a custom chair project. Short of turning on cnc lathing each piece, I wonder if there are any companies in the USA or Europe making a machine for this. I have found several in China and Taiwan on Alibaba but I wanted to buy a higher quality product. Does anyone have any ideas?

For example, something like this: http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/AUTOMATIC-professional-factory-wood-round-rod_60121634623.html

Help if you can.

Thanks,
David

While not USA made, it is sold by a US company.
http://www.exfactory.com/DetailNew.aspx?recnum=DW-300007&catid=DW&menu=new
All of the ones I've seen new or used are made overseas. The main thing would be buying from someone that can provide parts for it.

Tony

[Rick Lizek]

There's 4 types of dowel making machines. High production is done on a Moulder with a half circle cutter on top and half circle cutter on the bottom head to complete the forming of the dowel.

[Bruce Page]

Why not just buy them? Here's one place: http://www.bairdbrothers.com/Red-Oak-2-Dowel-Rod-DR2-P2308.aspx It doesn't matter if you start out with rift sawn, plain sawn, whatever, once turned they will all look the same.

John

Unfinished white oak, 2" dia x 48" x 350 ends up at a hefty $16,433 and you'd still need to cut them in half.