Looking for a tool

[dkanen]

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?

[chief]

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.

[northie66]

Can't you just sand it down?

[Barry]

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

[dgman]

Take a look at this:  www.highlandwoodworking.com/dowelballerset.aspx

[Dragonlord85]

Thats what I was thinking of dg. I have also seen some that connect to a drill.

[Rapid Roger]

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

[dgman]

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.

[northie66]

Aww... that is so cute dgman!

[dgman]

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.

[Russ C]

I just use my sander. Works great. 

[loftyhermes]

It could be done on a lathe.

[dkanen]

Thank you all for the information it will help with what I am making.