Making Dowels with a Homemade Dowel Plate

[@FearsomeWarrior]

Love this channel for many reasons. One of them is that you are always doing something that nobody else is doing. Completely different.

[@timthomas9105]

I was talking to my Son yesterday about your video. He is a welder and gave me a piece of 1/2 inch steel plate that he had left over from a job. He found a 5 ft tall giant bird cage, removed rust, welded a little, epoxy to a few holes and paint. It looks like new. He had to buy 4 dowels for it. I told him about how we can make as many as he wants. In disbelief I told him about you, and the challenge is ON. I'm going to drill imperial SAE and METRIC holes and he has to try it out. Thanks for the tip. I bought a KREG plug cutter for pocket holes. With this, don't know if I'll EVER get to use it. Thanks again.

[@johnjude2685]

I don't like the English language from England but Ausis you people says it best. More importantly Sir you are a teache.Thanks for showing me the ropes

[@burningbernie]

Much better than those available commercially. Now I can collect dowels too. ;)

[@leslamb9190]

Made this using your template. Many thanks. I found pressing a wood rasp to the spinning dowel as it goes through the plate is useful. Just a little touch with the rasp on wider parts helps prevent using excessive pressure and potential for breakage.

[@betteramwthanbmw]

Thank You Sir from Hamburg Northern Germany - useful tool. We appreciate people, who make their own tools and those tools in a stylish way ... And excellent photos on Your site - by the way.

[@PaskMakes]

Thanks very much Andreas! :)

[@IanSmithKSP]

I like all the woods you use. Here in the states, you get used to the sights of cherry, maple, oak and walnut. Yours are all so beautiful and clearly so, so dense some of them.

[@ratroddiesels1981]

being able to make your own dowels is a great asset , many times you just can't find the right dimensions for dowels at your local hardware shop .. your dowel jigs are really professional . that's a beautiful mallet you have . thanks for an entertaining programme..

[@TheOriginalFreak]

Great video. That last part about riving vs sawing the stock to increase strength is now my favorite demo on woodgrain. That 5 second part of the video took my 30+ years of experience with wood working and the grain of wood (hobbist level at best mind you, not professional by any means) and summed it up into the perfect little memory worm to keep on hand when I have a lapse of memory on the subject. Seriously, if I had had that demonstration presented to me in grammar school when I started working with wood in shop and at home, I truly believe I would have enjoyed my projects more, and may have even made a side business out of it. I am always amazed at the wonderfully helpful nuggets of knowledge one can find on KZbin. Thank you much, best of luck, and God bless!

[@canaan5337]

Having a dowel collection of a lot of different woods is a good idea it could be good to have when trying to imagine what a thing would look like made out of different kinds of wood by having a piece of that would look at for a reference

[@PaskMakes]

That's a good thought - I like it! :)

[@vegascad]

Pretty cool. If you take the plate to a machine shop and have it surface ground after the holes are in it will be razor sharp and wook even better.

[@MindenMoose]

Very interesting, informative and well done. I love the focus on doing, rather than promoting sponsors that is overtaking DIY sites. Thanks and carry on.

[@Visigoth_]

I like it! 5:09 I would drill a hole into one of the "legs" from the top down; for a place to store your accessory "Dowel clearing rod."

[@richardhawkins2647]

Hi Neil, thanks for that. It turned out to be the easiest way to make the buttons, eyes and nose for a turned snowman!

[@phbrinsden]

G’day Neil from Brit in Texas. All of your projects are great but when I read the feedback below each video the most common theme is how you inspire others to tackle a project or “give it a go”. I have been a wood and metal worker for a long time but always under pressure to do things that keep me out of the workshop. Since subscribing I have found my way back to my favorite place, my workshops! So thank you for that and the can do and creative approach to the project. I hope you continue to inspire us to get up and get going for a long while to come.

[@Barnagh1]

I like the way you mounted the dowel iron in the block, very classy.

[@roflstomps324]

Awesome. I am starting a black walnut, birch, oak, cherry and red oak split plank table soon. Now, once I make this, I will have the dowels to match each wood. Great job.

[@fallen2189]

Great tip, mate. I've been working wood for 45 years and this video gave me valuable information I've never seen. Thank you.

[@leifhietala8074]

I love the simple but elegant appearance of the finished product, especially knowing that the way it's used is by hammering. "Yes, it's quite lovely," WHAM WHAM WHAM.

[@FullSailDale1]

Just came upon your channel. Nice work! And, I appreciate that you give both metric and Imperial measurements... for those of us in one of the three countries in the world that insist on being stuck in the Dark Ages.

[@dougscheaffer9534]

How have I not found you sooner? I have spent the last hour watching your talents. You are simply brilliant, sir.

[@PaskMakes]

Thank you Doug - Glad you're enjoying it! :)

[@drflfonseca]

Congratulations my friend. I liked very much. Thanks

[@hundredhundred-thousand7951]

TELL ME ABOUT IT. Here in Australia you either get radiata pine, tassie oak or meranti. No choice whatsoever unless you go to a specialty timber store (which there aren't many of!). Now I can make some dowel with WHATEVER TIMBER I LIKE! Thanks for the great video!

[@End_of_Dayz]

I work with California Red wood on a daily basis. Beautiful color, and surprisingly enough, quite strong for how soft it is.

[@commonsensibility2051]

Nathan Jeffries .so your the guy that's chopping down the big trees!

[@David481146]

Absolutely brilliant. I have tried quite a few dowel making jigs, and I think the use of a circular saw is good, but unpredictable. Routers are another source, but once again, unpredictable, especially when the stock is fed into the router bit from the opposite end of normal feed, very dangerous. Thanks for the advice regarding different types of timber, softwood and hardwood. As you say softwood can be used with a drill, but hardwood is a different matter. I had to make some 1/4 inch hardwood dowels once, and used a drill, with the stock in the opposite end in a bearing secured. It worked well using a sanding block, but took some time.

[@PaskMakes]

Thank you very much David! And thanks for sharing your insights. :)

[@bomaite1]

Have you seen how to make a dowel with a chisel? You need a scrap of something a little beefy, like 2x4 material. Drill a hole slightly bigger than the dowel you want right on the edge of the wood. You want it to leave an opening in the edge. It is probably easier and safer to shave the hole open with the table saw. clamp the chisel at a slight angle across the opening so that it acts like a pencil sharpener. Then you chuck your square dowel stock into your hand drill and spin it through the hole. Don't go too fast or you can burn the edge of your chisel from the friction. Try it. Much faster than a dowel plate if you are making a number of them.

[@PaskMakes]

I’ve tried that with both a chisel and the tablesaw, it works well but you need to make a jig for each size hole. 😊

[@SteveSmith-zz4ih]

some bloke on utuube said put a sprinkle of salt between the blocks of timber when glueing/clamping and they wont slip - acts like a grit, just thought i might share that - it comes from the heart ya landlubber z! Thanks for the vid old cokk

[@terrywong7879]

Simple and useful, nothing more needed Thanks very much.

[@markharding6582]

Excellent tip on riving the wood.

[@michaeltaunton3978]

Great video , to the point with no waffling. Well done .

[@slaveNo-4028]

I don't know anything about wood but from what I've seen so far, is it true that dark wood is generally harder/denser/stronger than lighter colored wood?

[@aridemedina8770]

Your Dowel Collection looks more like a Mini Wood's Museum! Congratulations fro Brazil!

[@deltech7603]

One of the best videos I've EVER seen on ANY subject.......... Thanks for this.

[@updownstate]

There aren't many channels where I know I'll always see something good. This is one.

[@nullings]

I found one just like it in an old garage. It was basically a holder for drilling bits. I had to redrill them since it was all in inch:P If its hardwood its nice to have a 0.5 mm increment increase. Very good idea, thanks!

[@wlial]

Very good Neil! One more great idea!

[@alutious]

Maybe a little alcove for that small piece of wood you use to finish driving the new dowel through. That silky oak looks cool, ima look for that! NJ!

[@MrRShoaf]

If I may suggest, countersink the leading edge. The reason is with a square edge you are cutting the wood. With countersunk hole you tend to compress the dowell a bit, and when you glue it in it swells up a bit for a good tight fit. You also want to put a small relief on the exit side as well. An old pattern maker showed me this method. Another improvement would be to drill the holes slightly undersize and reem the holes to size and perhaps lap (polish) the holes. For a really good job make your plate from tool steel and heat treat and then polish. This may sound like overkill, but it would make the best dowel. You probably don't have these tools, but you got the woodworking down. Offer to trade with a machinist. Betcha he would really like some nice wood tool box fixtures to hold his micrometers, indicators and the like. Great video!

[@chomskyist9638]

what do you mean with:" You also want to put a small relief on the exit side as well"? my english is not that good. Thanks

[@MrRShoaf]

@@chomskyist9638 On the plate the wood is forced in one side (top) and comes out the other side. (Bottom) the bottom of the hole should have a small taper.

[@chomskyist9638]

@@MrRShoaf thanks, taper out, right?

[@MrWaynesworld33]

As an amateur with woodworker, i typically feel overpowered with the entire arrangement kzbin.infoUgkxrYREG3-7f1Aqk9ams3ZESRNzGnfdUtyQ . Be that as it may, this arrangements drove me through with much clarity and effortlessness woodplans. Works i now work like a genius. That is great!

[@NancyGarcia-cm4yy]

Maestro, con sus ideas mejora la facilidad del taller...que la prosperidad, salud, abundancia, amor , armonía sean infinitos para ud y su familia...gracias por sus enseñanzas

[@sebuteo]

Hi Neil. I love your videos and projects. I find them really inspiring. This one is the first I've actually tried out myself. And in order to do it I also had to make my own centre punch, which was fun in itself. At the time of posting this comment I've nearly finished making the 10mm thick steel plate: the dowel template holes are all drilled, as are the pair for screw-mounting the whole thing in a wooden block. My 50mm x 10mm steel bar is a bit oversize, so I'll be trimming that down to 180mm, or thereabouts, tomorrow. Thanks for sharing your creativity. Best, Seb.

[@PaskMakes]

Sounds great Sebastian! Glad you're giving it a go! Thanks! :)

[@robd7703]

Great build. Store bought dowels are seldom 'true sized'. This will be a good addition to my shop. Thank you.

[@mikec2173]

Marvellous. Thanks for posting

[@christopheleblanc9175]

very nice addition to your shop tool collection

[@michaelvenditti1607]

Hello Pask, I first came across your channel about a year ago and I became addicted immediately, . You truly are a craftsman and I enjoy your work immensely. Keep up the good work and I look forward to your next video.

[@PaskMakes]

Thank you Michael! :)

[@markoldendorf5393]

Nice. It is better than the $300 machines. I am grateful that you mention the difference between hard and soft woods. I am dealing with very hard woods.

[@larry097]

Australian hardwoods are so beautiful and varied.

[@MichaelMacGyver]

So that's how you get a square peg in a round hole!

[@xaiano794]

You use a hammer, and if that don't work, use more hammer...

[@HomelessPank]

@@xaiano794 If a bigger hammer doesn't fix it, it's electrical.

[@xaiano794]

@@HomelessPank I'm an engineer, that means I solve problems, not problems like what is beauty because that would fall under the prevue of philosophy - I solve practical problems...

[@friedchicken1]

thats what i was doing as a kid, I just wanted dowels.. whos dumb now!!!

[@SgtStickyTits]

@@xaiano794 "Engineering is the professional art of applying science to the optimum conversion of natural resources to the benefit of man." Bigger hammer checks out. Optimal dowel smashing force!

[@billsutherland2128]

Laughed at the nerdy dowel collector bit. Great video! Keep ‘me coming.

[@hogue3666]

That should be the start of more classified ads. "Hi, my name's Neil. I like dogs, long walks, and collecting dowels." You'll have to beat them back with a stick. Lucky for you, you're in the stick business. Keep up the great work. :)

[@SgtStickyTits]

This is one of the most underrated comments I've seen in a while. The stick schtick was fantastic. I like your sense of humor. Let's be best friends.

[@KonwTheTrut]

Win

[@KonwTheTrut]

@@SgtStickyTits agreed

[@QSing999]

that was absolutely brilliant !!!

[@guybarrette4864]

J'ai découvert votre site pour fabriquer des goujons beaucoup de méthodes mais la votre est la plus meilleure que j'ai utilise vous être le champion toute catégorie merci et salutation du Quebec.

[@SMee67]

I love how much pride you take in your work, even the simplest of jobs turn out fantastic. Well done mate.

[@PaskMakes]

Thank you Bill - I'm pleased it shows! :)

[@SilentStorm4U]

Neil that is brilliant thank you 👍

[@kieranfoster902]

Love the block. Thanks for sharing the idea.

[@markforrestsm]

Pask, you take the act of a "simple" solution to an "art". Awesome video and great finished article! One of your other viewers said it... Wish I could find a full set of drill bits with the half mm increments...

[@PaskMakes]

Thank you Mark - glad you enjoyed it! :) Although I'm finding that it's less stress on the dowel going in half mm, I don't think it's essential. :)

[@fa18mhr]

I have not bought a commercially made dowel plate because the bloody things are way more expensive than I am willing to pay, especially since they are such a simple device. I knew I could make one but your video gives me the impetus to belly up to the bar and do it. Thanks.

[@TracksWithDax]

This has been in my recommended for a few weeks... as a fellow woodworker, this is brilliant!!!

[@ArkRed1]

I made something like this that I use with bone to make small bone dowels for inlaying. Hammering will split the bone, but a drill press works great. Work the drill press a little at a time as not to burn the bone. Sometimes I will use oil to cut down the heat.

[@colinrobertson843]

thank you so much mate so good to see how to make my own dowels for my own wood working jobs

[@PaskMakes]

Glad you liked it Colin! :)

[@drasco61084]

That's so cool! I always thought they were made by turning a piece of wood. Didn't know you could just pound em out through a hole...

[@jamesgrey3368]

That's what she said.

[@bobomonkey702]

I just watch a few of your videos and I love the simplicity of your ideas. Simple and effective. You just got a new subscriber. Keep the videos coming.

[@PaskMakes]

Thank you very much! :)

[@paulwhite760]

Got so excited over this video I couldnt contain it ...I had a dowel movement . Its good to know I can have them in different colours !

[@slimsterslim6531]

Cheers Bro. I'll have one done in workshop before the end of the week. Nice one.

[@capnblackleg]

I didn't realize I needed this until now, very nice! This guy really deserves many many more subscribers.

[@PaskMakes]

Thank you! :)

[@Thundermuffin93]

Happy to tell you that 5 years later he has many many subs :)

[@capnblackleg]

@@Thundermuffin93 happy to tell you I'm still watching, he's so great!

[@0xbaadf00d]

I have an adapter for by drill so I can mount sockets on it. Then I make a suitable end on the piece of wood and just push it in. Works quite good. I never had it slip.

[@duett445]

Thank you for your video. I am going to make a dowel plate just like yours.

[@X3WorkshopDesigns]

Awesome! Another jig to make and add to my collection.

[@markduggan3451]

Never thought about making dowels, but I like the look of it.

[@mickramsay5002]

Enough of buying dowels, now I’ll make em myself. Great idea, thank you!

[@troystaten5633]

Very nicely done, love the drill trick for running the dowels through the plate.

[@paele1962]

Great solutions don’t need to be complicated....thanks for sharing!

[@dfpguitar]

This is truly brilliant, couldnt believe it would work till I saw it! I also liked the closing statement, reminds me of Baldrick.

[@rosmansaat7632]

Well mister,though it's quite sometime u had shown this dowell plate maker, I ve just seen it recently n to me yours is the best.Tq for the inspiration.

[@lorenzotodd4673]

Amazing video. Kudos to the Aussie gentleman.

[@KateMondor]

Yet another fantastic idea! I have my plate in a block, but would never have thought of the guide holes underneath.

[@PaskMakes]

Thanks Katie - glad you liked it! :)

[@khaledadams4329]

You cover most of the tools I'm interested in making. Very cool!

[@RutherfordNJDrywallRepair]

Sheer brilliance! how anyone can unlike this video is beyond me!

[@chrysanthemumestermutimbwa4765]

Awesome. Looks easy to do will.give it a try

[@gianniutube]

Deceptively simple solution to a tricky problem. Loved it! Thanks! :)

[@brettmansfield5661]

Everything about this is awesome

[@paulhaggett3710]

You have taken dowel plates to a new level. I would be tempted to buy one if you marketed them.

[@PaskMakes]

Thanks Paul! Sorry I don't have the time but glad you like it! :)

[@seasonedtoker]

We all made this tool. For what it is worth it is good for ramming premade made dowels to fit your drill bit exactly. Or for the in-between sizes, like 10.5mm etc. However it is a pain to make a perfect dowel by using a square piece. Or shaving from 10 down to 5mm. And it is virtually impossible to go below 5mm, they will break (hammer) or twist, (drill press).

[@PaskMakes]

Thanks for the input! :)

[@vileguile4]

Really great video! Im exhausted by how how good you made the tool. That is meant as a compliment! The weird thing about these videos is that even though i don't use dowels much i now have the need to make them ......... Making stuff is the best drug there is and you among other youtubers are my dealers :D

[@PaskMakes]

Thanks! I agree making stuff is very satisfying! ;)

[@RutherfordNJDrywallRepair]

haha, well said I feel the same just be careful this can be a very expensive hobby, ask me how I know!?

[@kellemderarovely1550]

l

[@brianrob9757]

great idea, thank's for making the download available

[@PaskMakes]

No worries Brian! :)

[@luisguillermoperezmejia7907]

La mejor solución que he visto para este tema. Excelente construcción. Una bella herramienta. Saludos cordiales desde Medellín Colombia

[@CammiesGarage]

Great build and excellent video. I like your cinematography. Nice work.

[@TheWtfnonamez]

When the zombie apocalypse comes, I will have plenty of spare crossbow bolts thanks to this gentleman.

[@hogue3666]

F that. Here come the vampires. :)

[@madman2u]

Someone will certainly benefit from the bolts, whether it be you, your killer or the person who finds you after you've been caught by zombies.

[@leocrossfield]

I have found a 9lb hammer works better on zombies, bit messy but works well. Just saying.

[@Rikard_Nilsson]

@@leocrossfield said 9lb hammer mounted on a pivot connected to a V8 motor just spinning away works even better

[@jasonsexton8869]

@partisan Unfortunately, its less zombie apocalypse and more War of the Worlds. Mass hysteria is the name of the game it seems lately. That and outright lies.

[@lapislignum]

Nice and simple! Mattias made one that uses a chisel to lathe (I guess) the wood down to size a bit like a pencil sharpener but he rounds it over on 4 corners with a router before running it through with a drill, better for long dowel (which isn't really required for anything useful anyway) but much more work and it's one chisel/block per dowel size. I might have to make one like yours as I hate paying for dowel. or anything.

[@PaskMakes]

Thank you! I did see that video, a few years ago now. :)

[@matthewallen5994]

When He said "Hi! My name is Neil and I like to collect Dowels", that made me laugh but at the same time, made me want to have a Dowel Collection now! lol 🙂 #PaskMakes #Dowels #IWantADowelCollection

[@billybobfudpucker5817]

Good job mate. I agree that we have a crap selection of dowel in Australia and this is a brilliant and easy design and NEVER would have thought of this.

[@soundboy89]

This is awesome. Where I'm from it's not easy to find dowels at all, making one of these would be a lifesaver. Now I have to buy a steel bit set...

[@DataSmithy]

great point about riving the wood to get straight grain, thank you!

[@mrshoeguy2477]

Turn the plate over & on the other side you can counter sink the holes and cut some teeth into them with a triangular file so you can drill them in from that side & drive them from the other.

[@jasond8734]

I didn't even know I *could* make my own dowels. Now I must. Thanks Neil.

[@Ronsparks1006]

Another great idea! If I don't stop watching your videos I'm never gonna get anything done in my own shop! Lol I keep making the tools you show on these lol

[@PaskMakes]

Haha! Better go and make something! ;)

[@JamesTalvy]

What a great video! I had no idea how to do this before. Thanks for sharing!

[@BrianBoniMakes]

I didn't think that was going to work but I was wrong, it does a nice job!

[@neilsparks.4447]

That looks lovely

[@MegaYosarian]

Great video mate.

[@noel-ec4iy]

Jarrah, Silky Oak marvelous