Any wood workers/hobbyist around?

[rhawk]

I am trying to figure out how to do something with wood dowels that are 3/8" diameter and 18 inches long, but since I am not a wood worker I am struggling to figure out how to do what I want. I want to chamfer one end of the dowel and finally realized I can use a pencil sharpener to do this! Now I need to place 4 positioned holes (1.5mm diameter and 2 to 3mm deep) on the dowel (rod) on the same plane (I will put eye screws in them, and they need to line up perfectly). Now the problem, I need to make hundreds of these. Any wood workers her who can offer advice/ideas on doing this accurately and fairly quickly for each dowel?

 

[d taylor]

Make jigs for your project.

 

[rhawk]

I am not familiar with wood work at all. What is a jig?

 

[Occams Barber]

I am trying to figure out how to do something with wood dowels that are 3/8" diameter and 18 inches long, but since I am not a wood worker I am struggling to figure out how to do what I want. I want to chamfer one end of the dowel and finally realized I can use a pencil sharpener to do this! Now I need to place 4 positioned holes (1.5mm diameter and 2 to 3mm deep) on the dowel (rod) on the same plane (I will put eye screws in them, and they need to line up perfectly). Now the problem, I need to make hundreds of these. Any wood workers her who can offer advice/ideas on doing this accurately and fairly quickly for each dowel?

You'll probably need a drill press along with a home made jig to hold the dowel in position and move it along set distance for each hole position.

OB

 

[Occams Barber]

I am not familiar with wood work at all. What is a jig?

Jig (tool) - Wikipedia
A jig is a type of custom-made tool used to control the location and/or motion of parts or other tools.
A jig's primary purpose is to provide repeatability, accuracy, and interchangeability in the manufacturing of products.[1]
​

If you're not familiar with the idea of making your own 'jig', you may be a bit out of your depth with what you're trying to do.

OB

 

[rhawk]

I do have a table top drill press that I use to drill a single hole in plastic rods. To hold the rod in place I made a v shaped plate that I slide the plastic rod in to and I have a pin that stops the rod so the drill is positioned where i need it. But this method on the wood dowel allows for the wood to rotate slightly and the 4 holes may not be properly aligned. :/

 

[rhawk]

So, the jig is sort of like what I did for the plastic rods, but I am at a loss on what to make for the wood dowel rods. :/

 

[rhawk]

One idea I have so far is get an aluminum rod that has an inner diameter id about 9.5-10mm and make the end solid on one end. I then drill the holes into the rod so they are positioned right and a final hole at the end that goes through. I could put the dowl in the rod, drill the hole that goes through, and put a pin through it to hold the wood dowel in place, then I can drill the 4 needed holes. Problem is this will be slow. Also pondered if I could put 4 drill presses in parallel and rig a single leaver to them all and then I could bang out 4 holes on the same plane in one shot. But I do not know enough o rig that up. :/

 

[Occams Barber]

One idea I have so far is get an aluminum rod that has an inner diameter id about 9.5-10mm and make the end solid on one end. I then drill the holes into the rod so they are positioned right and a final hole at the end that goes through. I could put the dowl in the rod, drill the hole that goes through, and put a pin through it to hold the wood dowel in place, then I can drill the 4 needed holes. Problem is this will be slow. Also pondered if I could put 4 drill presses in parallel and rig a single leaver to them all and then I could bang out 4 holes on the same plane in one shot. But I do not know enough o rig that up. :/

Congratulations you've made a jig!

To stop dowel roll you could set up the jig so that it moves with the dowel in it. It could be as simple as a length of wood with a groove where the dowel sits. You could use a circular saw to cut the groove. You may need something in the groove to stop the dowel from spinning (a bit of sandpaper, a pin?).

Marking the jig with the hole positions will allow you to line up the press for each hole. There'll be a little bit of measuring and positioning but once you're set up it should work ok and be repeatable.

OB

 

[Robban]

Not a bad idea, the alu tube,

Only only one snag, there will be some wood dust mounting up.

Not a problem if you have an aircompressor.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I am not familiar with wood work at all. What is a jig?

I needed to increase my woodworking skills to make a good banjo neck for my project. I used Youtube. It is an excellent resource that can show you all you need. Also, using Google gives you access to plans and instructions. As a result, I made several good banjo and ukelele necks, along with slots and frets. If a guy who failed woodwork at school can accomplish what I successfully did, then you can by using Google and Youtube.

 

[d taylor]

I am not familiar with wood work at all. What is a jig?

Jigs are anything that will help you reproduce the same marks again and again. For example you could take a piece of wood drill 5 holes in it placed at 1" apart to use in drilling into your project.

jigs for wood working - Google Search

 

[Robban]

If you are going to make hundreds best not make it too complicated.

You can do five at a time by laying them in a tray
made to measure,
a lid which is also a template and fastened with one or two excenter clamps.

You are only drilling 2-3 mm, you can use a batteri drill with a stopp on the drill.

 

[Robban]

The eyescrews can be screwed in with a batteri drill too.

 

[Daniel Marsh]

I am not familiar with wood work at all. What is a jig?

Three Shop-made Woodworking Jigs for Cabinetmaking
Use something like an Adjustable Shelf Hole Jig and a box to line everything up.
If you can find metal peg board at a scrapyard that works best.

 

[Wyatt A.]

Jig (tool) - Wikipedia
A jig is a type of custom-made tool used to control the location and/or motion of parts or other tools.
A jig's primary purpose is to provide repeatability, accuracy, and interchangeability in the manufacturing of products.[1]
​

If you're not familiar with the idea of making your own 'jig', you may be a bit out of your depth with what you're trying to do.

OB

a piece of wood with a hole to hold the dowel from spinning. The piece would probably have to be flat on the bottom so it doesnt spin, (the dowel I mean). To get all the holes right, use a center punch and mark all the spots on all the dowels first. If the holes for the screws are small you may not need to drill a pilot hole first. If the hole for the screws is more than 1/4", drill pilot holes for the bigger drill bit so it doesn't wander.

The piece of wood would only have to be 4" x 4". You will need a table set up in the same plane as your drill press platform. You can do it.

 

[Wyatt A.]

a piece of wood with a hole to hold the dowel from spinning. The piece of would probably have to be flat on the bottom so it doesnt spin, (the dowel I mean). To get all the holes right, use a center punch and mark all the spots on all the dowels first. if the holes for the screws are small you may not need to drill a pilot hole first. If the hole for the screws is more than 1/4", drill pilot holes for the bigger drill bit so it doesn't wander.

The piece of wood would only have to be 4" x 4". You will need a table set up in the same plane as your drill press platform. You can do it.