Novice needs help - dowels, buttons, and balls

"Danny Bloodworth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
<snip>
> The problem is that the project calls for: 7/16"X11" dowels (for the
> rails), 1.5" dia. (drawer pulls), and buttons and plugs. I can't find
> any of these that match the color of the walnut we bought.
>
> So, here are my questions:
> 1. I do not have a lathe, so turning my own dowels is out. <snip>
> Any other ideas?

Try these people http://shop.store.yahoo.com/squaredrive/do-4316.html
>
> 2. I have the same "lack of a lathe" for the drawer pulls (which
> actually act as decoration) more that anything. I though about
> attempting to hand carve these, but fear they will cause me hours of
> displeasure only to look like crap.

You can start your door pulls by cutting out with hole saws, once you have
started the hole with the pilot cutter, reduce the length so it still acts
as a pilot but doesn't go right through the wood.. If you have a drill
press you can hold your blank with a screw in the chuck and sand.
>
> 3. The fasteners are covered (normally) by wooden 3/8" mushroom
> buttons, or 3/8" plugs. Seems like I've seen a tool/jig at some time
> in my travels that allows one to create their own buttons and plugs.
> Am I off my rocker or does this tool/jig exist? Any creative ways of
> doing this?

Making your own buttons would be a bit of a problem, but there are lots of
plug cutters, here's one place to start:
http://www.cvfsupplycompany.com/woplcutoset.html
>
<snip>
> DB

Bernard R

Thanks to all who posted. I will test out the suggestions to see what
will work best.

Danny Bloodworth wrote:

> I'll try to keep this short even though I have several questions that
> hopefully someone can help me with.
>
> I have built several cradles for friends and family who were
> expecting. As long as I have been able to build from wood species
> that are common, no problems. Recently one of my best friends found
> out that he and his wife were expecting. So we all went to a local
> lumberyard that specialized in hardwoods and they fell in love with
> the South American Walnut stock there. We bought the wood and I got
> started.

You might want to play with that walnut a bit before you commit to
anything--while most lumber sold as "South American walnut" is just that,
juglans neotropica (was looking at some today--quite nice), there is
another species, Ipe (scientific name Tabebuia), that is sometimes sold as
"Brazilian walnut" and its properties are _very_ different--it's one of the
hardest, strongest woods known.

> The problem is that the project calls for: 7/16"X11" dowels (for the
> rails), 1.5" dia. (drawer pulls), and buttons and plugs. I can't find
> any of these that match the color of the walnut we bought.
>
> So, here are my questions:
> 1. I do not have a lathe, so turning my own dowels is out. I called
> a local wood turning company (the only one in the phone book) who
> wanted $10.50/dowel. I need 30. Ouch. Does anyone know of a rental
> company that would rent me a lathe in the Atlanta Area (Home Depot and
> Lowe's both did not have one) or know of a woodworker with a big heart
> in the Atlanta area who might turn these for a better price, or know
> of a way that I can accomplish this without a lathe. I've read about
> pounding through a metal opening slightly larger than the desired dia.
> but is this practical? Is an 11" dowel too long for this process?
> Any other ideas?

Do you have a router and a variable speed drill? If so, scare up a copy of
Patrick Spielman's "The New Router Handbook". Chapter 17 starts off with
using a router to make dowels using a fairly simple shop made jig.

> 2. I have the same "lack of a lathe" for the drawer pulls (which
> actually act as decoration) more that anything. I though about
> attempting to hand carve these, but fear they will cause me hours of
> displeasure only to look like crap.

He shows another setup that could easily be modified (shorten the bed and
make a template with the right profile) to make your knobs. It's going to
be kind of Rube Goldberg but it will work as long as you're careful and
take your time.

> 3. The fasteners are covered (normally) by wooden 3/8" mushroom
> buttons, or 3/8" plugs. Seems like I've seen a tool/jig at some time
> in my travels that allows one to create their own buttons and plugs.
> Am I off my rocker or does this tool/jig exist? Any creative ways of
> doing this?

Plug cutters are commonplace. Sears has a set for ten bucks that includes
3/8.

> These really are good folks that I am building the cradle for, but
> unfortunately I can't afford to buy my own lathe right now. So,
> please don't just tell me I need one. I know.
>
> Thanks in advance for your help,
>
> DB

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

[email protected] (Danny Bloodworth) wrote:

>So, here are my questions:
>1. I do not have a lathe, so turning my own dowels is out. I called
>a local wood turning company (the only one in the phone book) who
>wanted $10.50/dowel. I need 30. Ouch. Does anyone know of a rental
>company that would rent me a lathe in the Atlanta Area (Home Depot and
>Lowe's both did not have one) or know of a woodworker with a big heart
>in the Atlanta area who might turn these for a better price, or know
>of a way that I can accomplish this without a lathe. I've read about
>pounding through a metal opening slightly larger than the desired dia.
>but is this practical? Is an 11" dowel too long for this process?
>Any other ideas?
Rockler at NE corner of Roswell Road and Johnson's Ferry in Sandy
Springs, or maybe Woodcraft on Holcomb Bridge just west of 400.

>2. I have the same "lack of a lathe" for the drawer pulls (which
>actually act as decoration) more that anything. I though about
>attempting to hand carve these, but fear they will cause me hours of
>displeasure only to look like crap.
Rockler or Woodcraft again.

>3. The fasteners are covered (normally) by wooden 3/8" mushroom
>buttons, or 3/8" plugs. Seems like I've seen a tool/jig at some time
>in my travels that allows one to create their own buttons and plugs.
>Am I off my rocker or does this tool/jig exist? Any creative ways of
>doing this?
For buttons, Rockler. For plugs, cut your own with plug cutter from
Highland Hardware, Woodcraft, or maybe Rockler.

Call any of these before you travel far--these are just my impressions
of who locally would have them. Highland Hardware is always a great
starting point--very knowledgeable, and will help you with alternative
approaches and alternative sources.

If this fails, DAGS; lots of sources there.



--
Alex
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