Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: What to do with thousands of wood dowels?

  1. 03-08-2004, 1:50 AM #1
    robert king
    robert king is offline [OP] Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    11

    What to do with thousands of wood dowels?

    This can be great fun. I have recently acquired thousands of wood dowels. They come in two sizes: 3/4 in. by 8 in. and 1 1/8 in. by 11 in. I am a hobbyist with a well equipped shop and want to make items to sell, hopefully wholesale. The profits will benefit a volunteer group that helps local children. I prefer that the items are easy to make and do not require too many additional materials. Do you have any ideas of what to make or how to sell the products?
    Let's see who can be most creative! Toys? Household items? Office supplies? Start a new Fad?
    Last edited by robert king; 03-08-2004 at 1:52 AM.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 03-08-2004, 4:12 AM #2
    Michael Ballent's Avatar
    Michael Ballent
    Michael Ballent is offline Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Glendale, AZ
    Posts
    1,042
    How about whistles? or make them into lincoln logs

    -Michael
    I can pay retail anywhere, so how's your service?
    Grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory one project at a time
    Maker of precision cut firewood

    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 03-08-2004, 6:55 AM #3
    Tyler Howell's Avatar
    Tyler Howell
    Tyler Howell is offline Contributor
    Send a message via MSN to Tyler Howell
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Grand Marais, MN. A transplant from Minneapolis
    Posts
    5,513

    Question

    After a bunch of coat racks, FP and bench dawgs how about A really big fire.
    Robert, I'm stumped. I always need some but I can't think of anything in mass quantities for that size. Any fancy hardwoods?
    Last edited by Tyler Howell; 03-08-2004 at 9:24 AM.
    TJH
    Live Like You Mean It.



    http://www.northhouse.org/
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 03-08-2004, 8:58 AM #4
    Todd Burch's Avatar
    Todd Burch
    Todd Burch is offline Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Chappell Hill, Texas
    Posts
    4,741
    The 1 1/8" dowels could be used to make smaller ladders. Have you ever seen an apple tree ladder? A cutoff saw and a forstner bit are the most complicated tools needed.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. 03-08-2004, 8:59 AM #5
    Kelly C. Hanna's Avatar
    Kelly C. Hanna
    Kelly C. Hanna is offline Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Terrell,TX
    Posts
    2,321
    Log home birdhouses for one thing. I made a few for XMAS gifts from aromatic cedar a couple of years ago....very popular!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  7. 03-08-2004, 1:10 PM #6
    Chris Padilla's Avatar
    Chris Padilla
    Chris Padilla is offline Moderator
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    15,332
    It either WOOD or American Woodworker that had a few pages about puzzles. One was from dowels that looked impossible to take apart much less put back together. If I can remember (and I ususally don't...PM me), I will flip through them and find the issue for you.
    Wood: a fickle medium....

    Did you know SMC is user supported? Please help.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  8. 03-08-2004, 1:57 PM #7
    Bill Pentz's Avatar
    Bill Pentz
    Bill Pentz is offline Guest
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Northern CA
    Posts
    265
    You can make really nice wine racks. Mine uses 10" long 1x1s with four holes on each end. I put the holes into the angles instead of the flats. the holes hold 4" long dowels. You can "Tinker Toy" a wine rack of any size you want making it permanent with just a little yellow glue.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  9. 03-08-2004, 2:12 PM #8
    George Summers's Avatar
    George Summers
    George Summers is offline Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Oxford, NC
    Posts
    384
    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Pentz
    You can make really nice wine racks. Mine uses 10" long 1x1s with four holes on each end. I put the holes into the angles instead of the flats. the holes hold 4" long dowels. You can "Tinker Toy" a wine rack of any size you want making it permanent with just a little yellow glue.

    Bill -

    You got pictures of your racks?

    George
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  10. 03-09-2004, 11:59 AM #9
    Bill Pentz's Avatar
    Bill Pentz
    Bill Pentz is offline Guest
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Northern CA
    Posts
    265

    Dowel Wine Rack

    George,

    I saw this design in a store and wanted something quick and easy, so copied it. Although no show piece, it is very functional and simple.

    bill

    Dowel Wine Rack
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  11. 03-10-2004, 2:36 AM #10
    robert king
    robert king is offline [OP] Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    11

    Thank you, keep those ideas coming.

    Thanks so much for those who have responded. So far ideas that I can use are lincoln logs, tinker toys, birdhouses, log cabins, whistles, bottle rack, puzzle, small picture frame, and wooden bowl using the dowels as the stretchers. Keep coming up with other great ideas.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Permissions

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

Forum Rules