Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 23

Thread: How to cut dowel rod in half

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Vermilion,OH
    Posts
    205

    How to cut dowel rod in half

    Hello Gang,

    I would like to cut some dowel rods in half for a project. How can this be done? Using a V-Block? How do I clamp the dowel in the V-Block to keep it from turning? Thanks for the help

    Joe

  2. #2
    what size?
    If they are sufficiently large so kerf loss is not a major consideration I suppose a pair of V-blocks held together with screws or dabs of glue would hold them firmly enough to run through the table or bandsaw.
    Or... Maybe a bit of glue on each end of the dowel in a v-block would work so you could run the dowel through the planer. That does double your dowel wastage.
    Just guessing.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Lubbock Texas
    Posts
    931
    Drill a hole in 2 blocks of wood to fit the dowel and glue onto each end. Cut with table saw and then cut off blocks.
    No PHD, but I have a DD 214

  4. #4
    vblock, hot glue is the easiest. If you don't have a hot glue gun you can try some 100 grit sandpaper on the vblock. Handsaw works best for me.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Northwestern Connecticut
    Posts
    7,149
    Make a square block for the front and rear of the dowel, make the square equal in dimension to the rods diameter, attach using dowel pins and glue, then cut the dowel rods in half, bandsaw would be my preference though TS would work, and then cut off the half squares from each end. You could also clamp them to a v block, use a dado or regular blade and a cross cut sled or miter gauge to create a flat at each end, say 1/4" deep, then glue a piece of 1/4" MDF or such to this to establish a foot, cut these off after splitting the dowels,

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Kodak, TN
    Posts
    746
    Maybe I'm missing something here, but wouldn't it be easier to take flat stock, make two passes on a router table with the appropiate round over bit, then cut off the semi circle on the table saw?

  7. #7
    Jim: Bingo!

  8. #8
    I'm with Jim
    CW Miller
    Whispering Wood Creations


    I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.
    Winston Churchill

  9. #9
    Joe, I ran into this same problem a while back, and here is what I did and it worked great.
    I took the dowel and edge glued it to a piece of pine or plywood scrap same length as the
    dowel . After the glue had dried for a while, I ran the piece through the band saw with the flat edge against the rip fence set at the proper distance to cut the dowel in half length wise, I popped the glued half off the scrap board it was glued to....and I was done.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Mid Missouri (Brazito/Henley)
    Posts
    2,769
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Eller View Post
    Maybe I'm missing something here, but wouldn't it be easier to take flat stock, make two passes on a router table with the appropiate round over bit, then cut off the semi circle on the table saw?
    But, that's twice as hard as using a half-round router bit! If we are going to think outside the box of dowels, let's go the extra mile!
    [/SIGPIC]Necessisity is the Mother of Invention, But If it Ain't Broke don't Fix It !!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Milwaukee, WI
    Posts
    900
    Everyone is assuming he wants to rip it.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Courtenay BC Canada
    Posts
    2,750
    I would pin it to some flat stock with a 23ga pinner and rip in in half on the bandsaw.. Right through the pins..

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Northwestern Connecticut
    Posts
    7,149
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Eller View Post
    Maybe I'm missing something here, but wouldn't it be easier to take flat stock, make two passes on a router table with the appropiate round over bit, then cut off the semi circle on the table saw?
    Well, he didn't ask the best way to make half rounds, he asked how to split dowel rods. Maybe he already has the dowel rod in some species? You sure are right it would be easier and safer, probably quicker to bullnose some wide stock and rip these off, but where is the challenge in that?

  14. #14

    Thumbs up How do I cut a dowel Rod in half

    If you do not want to hot glue it then I suggest double sided carpet tape to hold it in place. This would be if you are using a band saw If you are going length wise I suggest the affore mentioned router table with a rounding over bit then rip the round over part on the table saw. Good luck

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    The Little Tennessee River near Knoxville.
    Posts
    1,227
    Quote Originally Posted by George Bregar View Post
    Everyone is assuming he wants to rip it.
    This is true, because we are also assuming he is not retarded and really wants a cross cut.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •