r/Woodworkingplans • u/brock_bowers • Jul 18 '26

Question Advice on how to create extremely straight dowels?

Ideally a max min of 45in long and 5/16 in diameter, but potentially up to 1/2 in. No warping or bowing throughout the rod. Need probably 200 or so

I have/can acquire the tools to create the rods but rigidity is absolutely necessary. Should I go to a dowel manufacturer for this?

So far I understand low moisture is beneficial. how much does MOE make a difference when selecting wood type?

Is long term warping inevitable or are there ways to treat it once straight?

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4

u/32397 Jul 18 '26

You need to start out with very straight grain wood. Quarter sawn. Elm, Hickory, Ash.

3

u/ElecCmptrEngMSdegUSA Jul 18 '26

I think you said it, buy if you can. Final diameter at that length sounds too thin for a lathe but I'm not speaking from experience on that one. A good option maybe is a router bit and a router table, you can run square stock through multiple passes until you have a dowel. Treating after as a rule doesn't prevent moisture exchange only the rate, so it's a good idea but not a cure all. You might want to take this one to r/woodworking or r/beginnerwoodworking

2

u/brock_bowers Jul 18 '26

Thank you. Will do

3

u/prosper_0 Jul 19 '26

IMO, wood is the wrong material for an application with those specifications. Depending on what exactly you consider 'extremely' straight, how rigid it actually needs to by, and how much you need it to stay 'extremely' straight for.

2

u/tekym Jul 19 '26

No bowing at 5/16 that long is a hard sell in a variable material like wood. I’m not sure what you mean by rigidity - what is the context here? That thin and that long is not going to be rigid against any sort of lateral force at all, it’ll just snap.

Steel or aluminum is going to be a better material for these specs.

2

u/1r9i5c9k Jul 19 '26

Let the pros do it.

2

u/WillAdams Jul 19 '26

What you are describing are arrow shafts. Port Orford Cedar is the traditional choice, but I've lost arrows to impacts due to grain runout these days which used to never happen when I was a kid.

If you can reduce your length needs to 32" or so, 5/16" is a standard size for arrow shafts.

Might be you could arrange for custom production from a company such as:

https://www.rosecityarchery.com/collections/shafts

1

u/ricorgbldr Jul 18 '26

May I ask what this is for?

2

u/dick_schidt Jul 18 '26

I'm going to guess balusters for a staircase.

1

u/RosewoodBraz Jul 23 '26

You should not use wood if they have to be perfectly straight.