The video “Stop buying these from stores! (Make them instead)” is by Stumpy Nubs (James Hamilton). In this fun and informative guide, James shares how to create your own dowels, a skill that can save time and money while ensuring consistency in your woodworking projects.

When it comes to dowels, whether you need them to plug screw holes, create joinery, or for furniture legs and spindles, knowing how to make your own can be incredibly beneficial. The dowels available at hardware stores often lack consistency in size, quality, and wood species. Wouldn’t it be great to craft dowels from the same wood you’re using for your project?
James shows a quick and easy method for making both small and large dowels from scrap wood using a router table and bits you likely already own. Plus, he shares some tips for achieving more consistent results.
Getting Started with Your Dowels
First things first, you need to rip your blanks to the desired width for your dowel. For instance, if you want a 1-inch dowel, you’ll create a 1-inch rectangular blank. The next step is transforming those rectangles into cylinders using roundover bits. Many large bit sets come with a few roundover sizes, and you can always add more since they are fairly inexpensive. Having a variety of roundover bits allows you to make dowels in different sizes as needed.
Remember, a roundover bit is measured by the radius it cuts. So, for a 1-inch dowel, you will use a half-inch roundover bit. For a half-inch dowel, you’ll need a quarter-inch roundover bit, and so on.
Setting Up Your Router Table
Set the bit so that the lower end of the cutter is flush with the top of the router table. You can judge this by feel with a scrap piece of wood. Adjust the bit until the wood no longer catches on the cutter. Then, repeat this process with your fence, ensuring it’s flush to the top of the bit’s cutter. James recommends using a fence rather than the guide bearing on the bit itself, as this will help control long dowel blanks throughout the cut.
Since a roundover bit doesn’t remove a lot of material at once, you can make four full-depth passes instead of multiple passes on each side to shape your dowel. Start by cutting about an inch on the end of the blank to ensure the bit is set up correctly. If the result is round without any flat facets or uneven surfaces, you’re ready to continue cutting your dowel.
Making the Final Passes
The first three passes should be straightforward, but keep your fingers safely away from the bit by using push blocks. James has seen too many people using their fingers alone, which can be dangerous when working close to the bit. You can’t sew back on what a router may cut off!
Now, the fourth and final pass can be tricky. Some videos show people making this pass with the sharp edge in the crease between the fence and the table, but this method can lead to the dowel rolling as you remove more of the supporting waste. This is especially problematic with smaller dowels, where even a slight shift can create an uneven cut.
Instead, James suggests starting each pass about an inch from the leading end of the blank and stopping before reaching the trailing end. Leaving uncut rectangular bits at the ends helps to keep the dowel from rolling and produces a more consistent result. However, this method requires that you have a fence and table support for the full length of the dowel.
Sanding Your Dowels
Usually, a router bit will leave a smooth surface that only requires light hand sanding along the grain. If you find that you need to do more sanding due to flat spots or cut marks, or if the diameter is slightly too large, you can use a drill for quick sanding. Small dowels can be chucked up like a drill bit, while larger dowels may require a socket that fits over the end. James demonstrates how a lag screw can be driven into the end of a large dowel to sand it quickly while using a socket to spin it in the drill.
This technique leaves radial scratches that must be removed by hand sanding along the grain. If you plan to finish your dowel, such as when making spindles and stretches, the ability to make your own dowels means you’re no longer limited by what’s available in stores.