Large Diameter Dowels

[kgworkman]

I'm going to be duplicating a game for some family members, but am having trouble finding the proper sized dowels.

I need 1.75" diameter (44mm really) dowels. This is slightly larger than the standard closet rod which I had hoped to use originally.

I wanted to keep it as "authentic" as possible, but may have to settle if I can't find anything large enough.

Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[MikeMcCoy]

You might try a custom mill work company (hand rails and that sort of thing). Other than that, if you knew someone close by with a lathe, that would fix you up with any size you wanted.

[linear]

Rolling pins?

http://www.amazon.com/18-Rolling-Pin.../dp/B00024WN9K

[Ken Massingale]

Here you are:

http://www.americanwoodcrafterssuppl...cts/dowels.htm

Birch, 36" long, about 3/4 down the page

[TheRic]

Find someone to turn some for you.

Not sure how long these need to be. Take a walk thru Lowes / HD / etc looking everywhere for parts that might work (cut off the parts that don't work): railing, spindles, flagpoles, handle replacement (for broom, shovel, axe, etc.), curtain rods, etc.

More than once I have gone thru a store looking for something without knowing what I'm looking for and finding something that would work. It's intended purpose for something totally different.

[gwyneth]

Depending on how many you need and how unusual the wood is, you may want to make one of the dowel-making fixtures in Bill Hylton's "Router Magic"...one is very simple, one is a little more complex.

[havighurst]

Sounds like a great reason to buy a lathe!

[Stormbringer]

Here you are:

http://www.americanwoodcrafterssuppl...cts/dowels.htm

Birch, 36" long, about 3/4 down the page

I would go with Ken's masterful find. Seems the quickest and, depending on how valuable your time is, the cheapest.

Good luck,
Greg

[radhak]

Enter a Bed-Bath-and-Beyond store, and walk upto their draperies hardward section. You'd see a variety of curtain rods, many made of solid wood, and most would be pretty expensive (say, $40 for a 6 ft piece) because of the extra thickness.

But in that same section would be (could be) a box of one-off pieces which are sometimes as much as 80% discounted. LOML bought a bunch of such for a steal couple of months back - $8 for the 6 ft ones, and $12 for the 8 ft ones. . If you are lucky you would find plenty of them.

Like I said, I cannot guarantee it, but I have seen those more often than not.

Of course, if you need the exact thickness (44mm), I wouldnt know how you could trim any thicker dowels down....

[kgworkman]

Sounds like a great reason to buy a lathe!

This is definitely the most attractive suggestion so far. Not sure I could make if fly though since this is not a LOML endorsed project.

I am forever in search of "a project in need of a tool".

I'll be checking out HD and a Bed bath and Beyond this weekend. Maybe I'll get lucky and save some $$$.

Thanks for all of the great suggestions!

[kgworkman]

To Lathe or not to Lathe

Maybe I could justify the lathe on the grounds of how much faster it would be to apply a finish...