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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: dkanen on July 31, 2010, 03:25:22 pm

Title: Looking for a tool
Post by: dkanen on July 31, 2010, 03:25:22 pm
I?m looking for a tool that might not exist.  I have a kid?s project that will require 15 rounded 1 inch dowels.  Is there a tool that can round over a dowel like the end of a broom handle?  If so does anyone know where to buy one?
Title: Re: Looking for a tool
Post by: chief on July 31, 2010, 04:04:27 pm
You can use a router with a round over bit to do it.  If the dowel is 1" use a 1/2" roundover bit on the end of the dowel and it will round over the end of the dowel like a broom handle.
Title: Re: Looking for a tool
Post by: northie66 on July 31, 2010, 04:16:06 pm
Can't you just sand it down?
Title: Re: Looking for a tool
Post by: Barry on July 31, 2010, 04:32:15 pm
When I make Steve's little clown that "walks" down the ladder it has a number of dowels that I round over.  I use my disc sander and just round them by slowly spinning them around.  You could also just put a piece of sand paper flat on your bench and sand them by hand.  Neither of these will give you the consistent look that a router will, as Chief mentioned, but they look good enough for government work  :)  Depending on your project and the size of the dowels used you can get them looking pretty good with a little effort and it won't cost much.

Barry
Title: Re: Looking for a tool
Post by: dgman on July 31, 2010, 04:47:59 pm
Take a look at this:  www.highlandwoodworking.com/dowelballerset.aspx
Title: Re: Looking for a tool
Post by: Dragonlord85 on July 31, 2010, 10:16:24 pm
Thats what I was thinking of dg. I have also seen some that connect to a drill.
Title: Re: Looking for a tool
Post by: Rapid Roger on July 31, 2010, 10:27:02 pm
I have used an old pencil sharpner to get the sharp corner/edge knocked down real fast and then using a stationary sander to smooth the dowel end to a ball shape. I usually do most of the work on a longer dowel and then cut to length. Then do the next one.
It takes awhile that way but they generally look nice.

Rog
Title: Re: Looking for a tool
Post by: dgman on July 31, 2010, 10:29:31 pm
I have that set. I used the one for 1" to do the eyes for this grasshopper pull toy. For the eyes I rounded the end of a 1" dowel then cut it to size, painted black then glued into the body.
Title: Re: Looking for a tool
Post by: northie66 on July 31, 2010, 11:56:33 pm
Aww... that is so cute dgman!
Title: Re: Looking for a tool
Post by: dgman on August 01, 2010, 12:13:59 am
Thanks Janet, I made several of these for our annual toy drive of our woodworking club last Christmas. We usually make about 1200 toys a year for local needy children.
Title: Re: Looking for a tool
Post by: Russ C on August 01, 2010, 03:56:50 am
I just use my sander. Works great.  8)
Title: Re: Looking for a tool
Post by: loftyhermes on August 01, 2010, 09:30:48 am
It could be done on a lathe.
Title: Re: Looking for a tool
Post by: dkanen on August 02, 2010, 04:30:35 pm
Thank you all for the information it will help with what I am making.