storebought dowels

[TwistedSycamore]

What kind of wood are the hardwood dowels that are commonly sold in department stores?

[plain_ol_ed]

Re: storebought dowels

Depends on where they are from. The most common by far are from Malaysia and made from a wood called ramin (could be other names for it also).

[Guest]

Re: storebought dowels

bummer! I thought ramin was a noodle or a bunch of noodles. I think that a good chunk of twisted sycamore would make excellant dowels. Sorry.... had to cmment .. great name!
art olver

[Brad_Guibas]

Re: storebought dowels

I just bought a dowel for making my carver table. Home depot has White Pine. I am sure it really depends on where you go.

Brad

[Captain_Bandaid]

Re: storebought dowels

I bought some 'hardwood' dowel rod to use as handles for handforge gouges and it must be that Malaysian stuff. It almost looks like oak but does not stain well. I think I would finish this stuff with oil only, Ramin is a good name for it though. It does look like a giant dried noodle.

[plain_ol_ed]

Re: storebought dowels

Wow - I must have been brain dead to miss that one ... after all ramen is one of my favorite foods; get it good and hot and break an egg into it, nirvanna. I can remember paying 17 Yen a bag for it when you got 360 Yen to a dollar. Ain't gonna say how long ago that was.

[Guest]

Re: storebought dowels

Won't do any good to hide there Ed, I was there too and remember the 360 to a dollar!! LOL good time huh!

[plain_ol_ed]

Re: storebought dowels

Hi-Ho - Now I'm REALLY gonna be quiet!

[icarve2003]

Re: storebought dowels

Hey Brad,

A bit off topic, but what kind of carving table are you making?

I just built a garage/workshop and I'd like to build some sort of carving table to go in there. I'm looking for ideas.

Could you post a picture of it?

Thanks.
Chris

[Brad_Guibas]

Re: storebought dowels

Hello! Chris,
How's the hand doing. Hope Good.
I just cleaned the garage a couple of Saturdays ago. Took me eight hours. What Fun. :P

I am actually making two types. One portable, which I found the idea for on a site by Graham A. Scholes, for the regular workbench I have. The good thing is you can use it anywhere. Would have never thought of it myself.
Here's the link:

http://www.woodblock.info/bootcamp/hori-dai.html

The other bench is not portable and I got the Idea from the Woodcraft supply site. I just looked at the benches they had for sale. They list the dimensions and have a picture of the tops. The picture is small, but it gets the idea across. I am sure I can make it from this info.

Here's the link:

http://shop.woodcraft.com/Woodcraft/product_family.asp?family%5Fid=304&gift=False&0=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D10000%26Tree%3D%2CDepartments&1=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D1027%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree%3D0%2CWorkbenches%20%26%20Hardware&2=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D2078%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree%3D1%2CWorkbenches&Gift=False&mscssid=65D21CF0A6944E82B67A295667B0108C

I am still looking at the different designs of benches. I will let you know if I find anything of good interest.

Happy Carving!

Brad

[icarve2003]

Re: storebought dowels

Hi Brad,

The hands healing up o.k., thanksfor asking. I saw a plastic surgeon the other day who says it looks like I'll need surgery. We're going to wait a couple weeks to see if there is any improvement before he digs in.

Thanks for the info. on the benches. I do like that small table top one, neat idea. I am thinking of building something like the one on Woodcraft Supply site. I'd like to have the big vise on the end and the bench dogs as well.

What type of wood were you thinking of using for the top? Do you have any ideas for the legs? I came across a couple of plans a couple of weeks ago. I'll post the links when I find them.

Thanks again,
Chris.

[Brad_Guibas]

Re: storebought dowels

Chris,
Here is a link to another bench. I like this one.

http://wwwoodcarver.com/Articles/CarversBench.html

I am not certain what kind of wood. Lot of choices. Cedar is a thought. It is good to keep out the little creatures down here.
Looks like vacation will be used to complete my workshop.
Gonna try to bribe the kids into helping a little.

Glad to hear you in such good spirits. If that happened to me I would freek!

Brad

[icarve2003]

Re: storebought dowels

HI Brad,

I was originally thinking of doing the top in maple but I'm not sure how expensive that would be. That bench you just posted is pretty much what I want to build.

Sounds like a fine way to spend a vacation, Brad. Folks up here in Canada usually travel down south for vacation but I see you're already there!

Chris

[Brad_Guibas]

Re: storebought dowels

Chris,

I really liked the last bench too. Took a while to find that one.
Just the word Maple sounds expensive. I found out that building with Cedar is not a good idea. Carvers say it is too soft, so I guess I will have to find a way to incorparate it into the plan. Cedar is a great repellent for palmeto bugs which are over abundant here in Florida.
We may have the beaches and sun, but we have problems too. Bugs - storms - bugs. oh I said bugs!
Another problem is that I never seem to get any kind of big events or conventions in my area. I would like to go to one for the things I like to do. All I ever see is gun & knife shows.
Oh well, I guess I will have to travel out of state to see one someday. Providing I can get the ok from the girlfriend.

Take care and I'll talk to you again.

Brad

[woodenleg]

Re: storebought dowels

You might want to check the price on that maple. On a recent trip I took to the local wood dealer, a good grade of pine plywood was extremely expensive and maple was the cheapest he had -- and the price wasn't bad at all. Apparently, people aren't using it as much as they used to.