Make Dowels with a Nut - Fast & Easy

[@savvybuilds]

The stock I start with is square not round. Thanks for watching!

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

is the through-cut slot even necessary? I don't think that the shavings are going through there, and I think you can easily cut the spiral step on the face of the nut without the slot. ultimately you have a nut that tolerates vice pressure much better. if somehow a looser fit shouldbe required to get the nut off of the dowel, which I don't think is the case, I would rather bend the cutting edge inward a little bit.

[@savvybuilds]

@@Ass_of_Amalek I'm not sure...yet. I'm gonna make a few more tweaks and make another vid with my findings.

[@ronmit-p5g]

i been wasting all my nut making kids.. i could of been making dowels this hole time ...damn

[@peterburkey3740]

It is?? Now that you say it is square stock looking closely when you mount it in your drill I can see that, but that's not at the beginning of the video. Yet the most difficult task has already been performed before the video. Creating the square stock is more difficult than what you show here.

[@savvybuilds]

@@peterburkey3740 It's in the first 30 seconds. I consider that "the beginning". This isn't a how to video, it's more of a concept video.

[@squa_81]

Well, you just transformed all my wood scraps into dowels! No more need to go to the hardware store for these anymore!

[@savvybuilds]

That's the best part! Unlimited stock.

[@Tubeytime]

You're still going to the store, but now it's for nuts lol

[@Ponk_80]

This is how to save money, we just make our own tools and share the ideas with others. This is what humanity could be, instead of depending on greedy corporations and big businesses.

[@squa_81]

​​@@Tubeytimeexcept I have a bunch of random unknown nuts lying around that can become tooling, instead of scrap for the bin

[@Tubeytime]

@@squa_81 ok

[@NishitChokhawala]

Nice! Adding another plain nut right ahead will help keep the final dowel straight.

[@POPERYLEE]

i make arrows as a hobby and let me just say this is so helpful ...thank you

[@callumclark3358]

Has it worked for you?

[@isaaco5679]

That was the first thing that came to mind.

[@soul0360]

I'd expect a bit more precision is needed for arrow making? Looking at the video, it seems a bit vobly in the drill, which I'm guessing vould effect balance of the finished arrow? That's why he is only suggesting this for dowels, and not for any precision building applications. But then again, if your arrows, is just so that your kids, have something to play with in the yard. It would be fine?

[@Graywolf116]

@@soul0360 Nah, straightness is mainly set by the wood. A curved piece will come out curved, etc. If the finish is rough you can sand or plane it down. I'm interested to see how this handles conifers like fir or pine -- their grain is prone to breaking *but* since this method is more of a cutter than a scraper I think it'd work better than those dowel making jigs you see on amazon/walmart.

[@schwuzi]

​@@soul0360Check out videos on the 'archers paradox'. Arrows will bend in crazy ways when fired from a bow. l

[@thechuckyboi1438]

I will most likely never need this information, but I very much appreciate this video! Very informative no BS and no sales pitch just an honest solution good job!

[@savvybuilds]

Thanks!

[@mjremy2605]

Genius! I laughed with joy. Finally a solution to pricey dowel rods from the store. What a clever man you are! Now to get me a vise. Long overdue.

[@billymacktexasdetective5827]

A half inch dowel 48 inches long is a dollar. I guess we define pricey differently...

[@unsafe_at_any_speed]

@@billymacktexasdetective5827 have you ever tried to buy cocobolo dowel? How about purple heart or epay?

[@SimEon-jt3sr]

C'mon you really think you'll save time and money vs a good oak dowel? Will you be selling better cheaper than home Depot?! I sure hope so man!!!

[@SimEon-jt3sr]

​@@billymacktexasdetective5827where? Not a maple or oak one. A Chinese? Are you Canadian?

[@billymacktexasdetective5827]

@SimEon-jt3sr $1.38 at lowes for a soft wood dowel like he made in the video. I tend to compare apples to apples, but you do you... As far as maple and oak, $5 for the size I mentioned previously. For other woods, I use a plug cutter. It's not very often I need a dowel much longer than a plug cutter can make...

[@77thTrombone]

The science of dowelology marches onward through the annals of time! 🥁

[@muggzzzzz]

Let's put this dowel in the anal of time haha :D

[@gastonyoung6391]

Huh huh, he said annal

[@ratansharma951]

​@@gastonyoung6391 I think 'annals' is different from 'anal'.

[@joeesposito5101]

Kind of an open ended pencil sharpener. Very clever. Thanks.

[@iloveitUbet]

Perfect analogy 👍

[@PhilLesh69]

That was exactly my first visual thought. A pencil sharpener adjusted to a very wide diameter rather than a point.

[@61spindrift]

@@iloveitUbet I agree, could not have said it better. Matter of fact, not that his design has flaws, but now that you have brought up this point I believe even a better dowel jig could be made.

[@civildissension]

Man. You’re great at explaining things using basic terms. That is such a lost art. Happy to have you on my radar. Cheers

[@savvybuilds]

Glad to help!!! Cheers

[@fractode]

Wow...the first attempts were, of course, part of the learning curve--but it must have driven you nuts... [ SORRY, couldn't resist. ;D Brilliant idea! 👍 ]

[@savvybuilds]

😂 The whole process was a little nutty lol

[@dcsensui]

My scoutmaster had a woodworking shop and one of the machines he had made dowels from pieces of wood like you had. I guess the cutting mechanism was similar, but what you've created is a lot more compact. Like a thousand times more compact. Thanks for the demo!

[@savvybuilds]

No prob! Thanks for watching!

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

Very nice indeed! Thanks for sharing! Probably a second nut or two, with the threads drilled out, placed on the other end of the vice would guarantee a straight rod. Not really necessary when making dowels but could be useful if one needed to make a rod.

[@joedukes9760]

Great tip, and perfect timing. Just destroyed the canvas on my boat towing it home without it properly braced. Broke one of the tubes holding it in a couple places. Now I can make the perfectly sized dowels to place inside the tubes and mend them together. Just need a large enough nut to sit out a 3/4” dowel.

[@savvybuilds]

I haven't tried one that large yet...I guess it could be hard to find a big nut like that. Let me know how it goes.

[@therealchayd]

Just when I thought the hole-in-sheet-metal was a neat dowel-making tool, along you come with this! Excellent design and finally a use for the tin of miscellaneous nuts I have!

[@savvybuilds]

Thank you very much!

[@wolverine1694]

I love it... gonna try and make one... like you... I've spent a lot of time with different methods... yours is simpler.... God bless

[@noiamhippyman]

This is a super cool idea. Finally something cool that I can actually make quickly and would benefit from. I would LOVE to have some fancy bloodwood dowels and now I can make my own.

[@savvybuilds]

Thanks, I agree! Making custom dowels from exotic woods that you can't buy anywhere else...Priceless!

[@Dad-ij2qy]

Excellent video -- good timing, superb narration, short & sweet. Thank you for showing us the secrets to your success. Very inspiring. Yet one more reason I need to buy a vise.

[@savvybuilds]

Thanks! Yes vices can be handy.

[@MrTimjwilson]

Perfect. No blabbering, to the point; 100% usable.

[@VashStarwind]

This is genius. Way better than the swage block method. Gonna throw this in the ol' memory bank. Thanks for sharing this technique.

[@islandonlinenews]

I wonder if you could achieve the same result with a lock washer with minimal or no modification?

[@paulerickson1906]

Very simple yet works great. Way to go. I was looking for a way to make 1/4, 3/16 dowels. I'll give this a try.

[@savvybuilds]

Totally worth it! I got tired of driving an hour to the store for overpriced dowels. This has been very convenient!

[@nevales]

Some things simplier works better 😊. Creativity has no bounds and sharing is blessing. Thanks.

[@CrisAnderson27]

I would call that a bevel, vs a spur or burr. I spent a good bit trying to figure out if you'd somehow bent it in (my attention was pulled away for a moment in the middle where you explained a bit). But where you said it was tapered with that part more sticking up cleared it up for me. Awesome idea! Thank you.

[@savvybuilds]

No prob! Something different. I still plan on trying to make it better some day, just low on time lately. Cheers!

[@Ponk_80]

Thank you for sharing your idea with the world, we all need to do this if we want a better world, if we all did this, money would be obsolete and the world could flourish.

[@RustyInventions-wz6ir]

He he. I have made one very similar to this about 3years ago. Very clever. Love it when people also use their brains.

[@savvybuilds]

Cheers to that!

[@doclees11]

Thanks for your persistence.

[@najdiy]

Very brilliant idea, it's so useful for making arrow shaft

[@CatNolara]

Next up you could put another nut, just with drilled out threads and no cutting edge, and clamp it some distance apart from the other. It will serve as a guide and will make it easy to get the dowel straight.

[@hohenstaufen.1010]

Best idea ever seen for making dowels 👍🏻

[@waynec369]

Congratulations! You reinvented the peeler.

[@savvybuilds]

😆

[@joshb6993]

Strikingly beautiful in it's simplicity. Well done sir!

[@Wallymakesstuff]

Brilliant sir! I have had issues sourcing specialty woods in dowels - this will save me in the future.

[@savvybuilds]

Me too! I sometimes like to make cedar dowels to contrast the pine when plugging holes. But I can imagine it would be even more difficult to find walnut or other exotic wood dowels.

[@Toasty_Britches]

This is going to save me so much money haha thank you!

[@AlexanderPearson-c2i]

Thank you for this. I made 3 sizes all worked perfectly. Using eucalyptus.

[@savvybuilds]

Right on! That's great to hear! Thanks for letting me know. I hope more people give it a try.

[@neilcrompton3488]

What's euclyptus for? 🤷‍♂️

[@AlexanderPearson-c2i]

@@neilcrompton3488 making eucalyptus arrow shafts.

[@waynesweirdworld5788]

​@@neilcrompton3488... here in Australia, if we want a strong wood, we use one of our Eucalyptus species. Ax handles were most often made from Spotted Gum ... aka... Corymbia maculata... Eucalyptus maculata(older name)

[@orbsphere-]

​@@neilcrompton3488 The Roman God of staffs

[@cappystrano1]

Best tool for making dolls I’ve seen yet! Thank you!

[@indianatone218]

Nice thanks for showing us ,greetings from wales UK .

[@breannestahlman5953]

3:50 Waow, impressive number of tries. Good job, very useful, thanks for sharing.

[@savvybuilds]

Thank you! It was totally worth it. Cheers!

[@TheZombieSaints]

Amazing! Nice little trick that one. Well done! Thanks for sharing 👍

[@SimonLee-y1j]

Ingenious.

[@glennfelpel9785]

outstanding, what a clever idea. You are truly a craftsman. Thank you for the video

[@savvybuilds]

No prob, thanks!

[@MLJohnsonian]

You should make a video on how to make a woodworking video short, clear, and to the point. Veeery Nice.

[@joshuadelisle]

Excellent idea. Well done. Cheers J

[@savvybuilds]

Thanks!

[@ruatarengsicolneyrengsi8924]

Very ingenious. Marvellous. Thanks for sharing.

[@savvybuilds]

Thank you very much!

[@DD-uf2uo]

Great video, very well explained. Video shots and sound are excellent. 👍 .

[@savvybuilds]

Thanks!

[@glennlopez6772]

Nice! When the movement of a grand piano is removed for adjustments, if a key is depressed, the hammer head gets stuck and the "shaft" gets broken. Better replaced than glued! No piano expert service man has gotten away with out such damage. The dowl shown her looks like the same size of the piano "thing"!

[@punkrockviking]

This is really awesome and simple! Thanks!

[@savvybuilds]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SantinoDeluxe]

pretty elegant design there boss, nice job

[@1kreature]

How about trying this with a coupling nut? The longer exit should help guide the rod straight. Once the cutting geometry is good you could also heat-treat the bur by quenching as coupling nuts tend to be soft.

[@SimEon-jt3sr]

Should you have bigger ones to bring your stock down incrementally. For mass production situation. Asking for a friend.

[@JaredAF]

You should get those metal 3d printed and sell them. that's an awesome idea. unless this is already a thing that's available commercially

[@dkruitz]

This is an awesome idea and I am definitely going to try it! Any idea if you need to harden it to maintain an edge?

[@savvybuilds]

Mine is not hardened and I was able to make quite a few. Hardened steel is always better though.

[@TonyFabris-lb2mg]

Very cool …! You’re a clever guy. Thanks a lot for sharing…👍👍 👋

[@savvybuilds]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@fictionfinder]

Great idea! Does tightening it in the vice squeeze / compress it causing a diameter change to the original intended inner diameter? If so, how do you account for the reduced diameter due to compression?

[@savvybuilds]

Surprisingly not. The nut is too stiff to flex but there is potential if clamped too tight. I have an idea to fix this for version 2.0.

[@survidmt]

Good you showing how you just "tried" many variations. Trial and error method, yeah it's not exactly computer modeling simulation testing. But more fun and you get real outcomes immediately. Besides even stuff designed the complex way, has to be built and tested.

[@savvybuilds]

Thanks! Trial and error is my style! Get er done!

[@TheBigdawg0614]

This gave me an idea to try lock washers instead. No cutting the nut, and they come in a huge variety of sizes.

[@jackstaunton1457]

Did that work, using the lock washers?

[@TheBigdawg0614]

@@jackstaunton1457 yes. At first it was a little difficult using just 1. So I stacked about 6 together, hit both the front end back side with a file to sharpen it. Then used a little epoxy so I can use it in a vice. After nailing down the process I made multiples of each front 5/16"-1" in under an hour. Just go easy on the epoxy. Less is more

[@debunkthelies]

@@TheBigdawg0614Epoxy?? Applied to what? Adjacent washers?

[@TheBigdawg0614]

Sorry. I ran a couple beads of gorilla glue on the outside just to keep them together while in the vice

[@ARR0WMANC3R]

@@TheBigdawg0614 I wonder if you could sharpen the inside of one of the washers and offset it in the stack just a little bit, creating an edge to cut a spiral groove through the dowel so that it has a little more glue area.

[@neilcrompton3488]

@savvybuilds now im wondering if this would work in the centre hole of a washer?

[@savvybuilds]

I actually tried that but the finished product wasn't as smooth and uniform. The bur on the washer was too pointy and dug into the wood a lot leaving deep spiral marks. But if you are up for experimentation, perhaps you might have better luck than me with using washers. Thanks for watching!

[@neilcrompton3488]

@@savvybuilds did u try 3 or more large washers stacked together to create a wider surface area?

[@savvybuilds]

@@neilcrompton3488 No, just a single. That sounds like it could potentially work. Great idea!

[@denniswendtland9707]

Loved your idea. Now I’m trying to think of uses for and excuses to make 1 or more. I wish you had put some closeups of the finished nut/cutter from different angles to better visualize the cutting edge shape. I guess I’m not as bright or insightful as some others.

[@maugan22]

Suggestion: I feel like using a rod coupler (ie a 20-30mm long nut) rather than a standard nut might improve this build as it would keep the dowel straighter as it’s getting fed through. Should result in a rounder end product

[@savvybuilds]

I'm thinking of trying that out in the future!

[@windsunh2o]

Love it! Anything special you do to make the blanks?

[@savvybuilds]

Thanks! I make sure to choose wood with straight grain and no knots. I'm using pine in the video but it also works well with fir and cedar. I have yet to try on harder woods like oak.

[@bwmacallister]

That was nuts

[@williamogilvie6909]

Great idea and you are officially an inventor.

[@savvybuilds]

HAHA Thanks! I like that :)

[@woodman2269]

Genious idea !.... I will be trying this out later..

[@johnjude2685]

I definitely know tiny rods are helpful for woodworking. I will build a few sizes. A few dows in different directions can lock in a lot of strength into a block of wood to prevent splitting later with age Cleaver Award should be earned by everyone 👏 🙌

[@savvybuilds]

Thank you! I use them all the time for stuff like that. Great for matching the dowels to the project with the same type of wood too!

[@DIYTinkerer]

Wow, that works great 👍🏻

[@savvybuilds]

Thank you! I was surprised too.

[@joeblakeukeman]

Thank you! I will try this out! I often have none when I need a dowel.

[@savvybuilds]

Glad it was helpful!

[@thomask4836]

You are Brilliant! Thank You Sir!

[@C200michmich]

très utile. je me suis lancé dans la fabrication d'arcs et de flèches .merci

[@mikecozzi1040]

😲 Kool! Do you know how to make a tap to go with it? Thanks for Sharing!

[@user-zq6pj5jo8j]

Be careful or "Big Dowel" will come after you for sharing their secrets to making dowels.

[@savvybuilds]

That could be fun! lol

[@fenexj]

Amazing video, works sooooooo well, thank you Savvy!

[@b3arwithm3]

With the groove, won't the nut collapse when being pressed in the vise?

[@TAZAR_II]

Dowel making is nuts.

[@savvybuilds]

haha sure is

[@rong4189]

That’s really neat! Great job and thanks for all the r&d!

[@savvybuilds]

Thanks!

[@Hin_Håle]

Very interesting! I make dowels about an inch thick for my work. Wonder if this design can work for that.

[@savvybuilds]

I don't know if it would. Ide probably go for a jig on a table saw for something that big. BUT you never know until you try it :).

[@kjata77]

I need 2 doz dowels for a project I'm working on for Mother's Day this Sunday. Something told me (that soft voice) to wait to go to Lowe's... now I know why. Instead of spending $60+ I can spend @$20 and an hour or 2 to have 2 sizes of dowel making machines :) 'Spare time' so yes, the time is free. I'll probably grab 5 or 6 different sizes for future use. Thanks!!

[@andynicoll8566]

Ok, I know how to put a burr on a scraper or a chisel but how do you make the burr after filing the curve?

[@vladimirputindreadlockrast812]

That was satisfying to watch.

[@bigviper64]

Excellent video!…Couldn’t be any clearer. It happens that I do need a specific sized dowel to fix the armon a kitchen chair…now I know how to do it and I don’t have to go to Home Depot to buy one! Thank You…

[@savvybuilds]

Glad it was helpful!

[@billstevens8553]

Brilliant work, and well presented!

[@savvybuilds]

Many thanks!

[@gobot109]

Very cool! This is crazy useful for me. Thanks!

[@savvybuilds]

Glad it was helpful!

[@theprogenesis2000]

This is actually nutty!

[@wrekced]

Thanks! This is a brilliant idea!

[@LawrenceLarson-ln8yy]

Call it a "tooth"

[@jamesa.rodriguez8598]

That's the ticket! "A tooth"

[@steamer2k319]

Using the terminology of cutting tool geometry, it's the "rake face".

[@handduggraverdronline]

Lol I was going to say cutting tooth

[@savvybuilds]

I love it! Thank you!

[@Akimikinaak]

Agreed

[@HighlineGuitars]

The International Association of Dowel Artisans and Manufacturers is reviewing this video with their legal team. Just kidding. Great idea!

[@LisaCraft-f5k]

😂

[@diytwoincollege7079]

Do you mean the 3 guys in India?

[@balazslakatos9817]

simple solution, well done.

[@JohnDoe_toetag]

What kind of psycho mounts a vise without overhang?

[@schlolar]

Super! Took about 10 min to make the "Nut" jig.

[@TalRohan]

pretty darn cool thanks for sharing

[@savvybuilds]

Thanks for watching!

[@rpclance]

Question about how accurate the dowels area. Any imperfections? I have a fancy cutting board idea I’ve done once. Embedded a dowel between strips of wood, glued up then cut in strips and turned end grain. If the dowels are out of round or have gouges they won’t glue up correctly. I tried a 3/8 round over with 3/4” x 3/4” strip hoping for 3/4” dowel. Came out with some flat areas.

[@savvybuilds]

I only made 5/16 sized dowels so far and they appear to be fairly accurate and very round. I can't say 100% prefect but I don't have any flat spots. There are some small indentations from spinning through the nut but could easily be sanded out. Of course sanding would affect the size. It's possible to compensate for this by making the dowel slightly oversized. I'll have to experiment with larger nuts/ dowels.

[@jebknott1550]

Thank you for sharing your work

[@imsowright90]

Neat. I will have to try this.

[@6ftS]

very clever indeed. Thanks for this great tip. oak dowels incoming...

[@savvybuilds]

I haven't tried hard wood yet, let me know how it goes!

[@adambergendorff2702]

Excellent idea and presentation!

[@savvybuilds]

Thanks!

[@bobadams1696]

Brilliant!

[@mikedoingmikethings702]

AWESOME!!! Thanks for sharing!

[@MASS1866]

Would you be able to lease the threads in and thread the dowel?

[@savvybuilds]

I had problems with the threads getting clogged up and creating more friction.

[@CelticGod220]

Hole in object technology! But really such a simple solution I'm ashamed I didn't think of that.

[@casual257]

Doesn't tighting the nut in the vise close the gap on the nut ( or could close the gap) making the dowel a smaller diameter than needed

[@savvybuilds]

It might, but the nut is really stiff. You would have to tighten it pretty hard to make that happen. That being said, I am working on version 2.0.

[@kaptainwarp]

Two demonstrations before getting to the point. Bold for a small channel how-to video.

[@savvybuilds]

Thanks for watching, helps my channel grow.

[@colind2955]

What a great idea thanks pretty ingenious

[@eenayeah]

You are so kind for sharing this information. I would have just gatekeeped this. 🤣

[@savvybuilds]

Glad it was helpful!