Has 10mm fluted dowel sticks really gone?

[Mark C]

I have just discovered that I cannot buy lengths of 10mm fluted dowel anymore anywhere in the A.C.T. Only 38mm length pre-cut packs (or 50mm on special order) by/from Haron International. My son and I are re-making (read reducing) width of a bunk bed head and foot frame we made only a few months ago. To our great surprise, only 9.5mm available in lengths supplied by Porta and others. We need 60mm long pieces of dowel and already have some 10mm holes drilled in the uprights/legs. Looks like those with 6,8,10mm dowel jigs are going to have a useless 10mm component of their jig. BTW 10mm jigs are still sold by various 'hardware' retailers.
We do have a cunning backup plan - use liquid nails with 9.5mm dowels (+thin shims if needed) in the few already drilled holes and drill 9.5mm holes for the rest.
Is this problem Australia wide?

[Acco]

I've got a heap of fluted dowel in long lengths at home that came from a sale years ago, not sure if it's 3/8" or 10mm though, will measure it for you later today when I'm home.

[A Duke]

Hi,
A bit of advice I was given resonantly " With all the businesses going bust and moving off shore, get all your hardware before you start your project."
Regards

[Mark C]

Thank you Acco and A Duke. Good news, I have managed to secure enough 60mm long dowels from an unexpected commercial source for $nil, as a one off. How lucky. Diplomacy wins over desperation. Yes as we humans sometimes make errors in planning etc.... I will not assume our local 'hardware' stores actually know what to sell or why. Sadly, they seem only interested in turnover and profit. Anyway, I am out of trouble for now and will seriously look at biscuit jointing for future projects.

[Evanism]

Everyone is right. Might I venture an opinion on the market based on a single observation today at bunnings? Went with SWMBO to get some more mature roses (her new hobby) and the place was PACKED with people over 65. They were buying "things" like there was an apocalypse tomorrow I hadn't heard about.

Not useful things like hammers and dowel, or drill its and nails, but pre-packaged-ready-to-eat things, just as if they were at Harvey Norman.... Not a hardware shop.

My opinion of Bunnings was always rock bottom as a hardware shop, but it has now firmly cemented itself not as a hardware place but a big box retailer. It also showedthatolder people have next to zero interest in a sport like ours (not saying young people do either!)

Ok, rant over

With fluted dowel, if you need flutes and can get 10mm dowel, drill an 11mm (or so) hole through a block of wood. Drill a 2mm hole horizontally from the side and put in a sharp pointed screw. Wind it in until the point just sticks through into your 11mm hole. Wind it until it digs into the dowel and run it back and forth a few time...screw it down a smidgen more and do again if needed.... Rotating 90 degrees each time to give a few flutes of course.

This little scratch-stock stick has worked well for me in the past.

[mark david]

Hi It is easy to make your own custom dowels.
I make mine form jarrah,teak or whatever I need
I just bandsaw lengths of timber just larger than what The finished dowel will be and then use a hand plane to just tak off the corners.

A simple strip of thin steel is all you need with various size holes drilled in them,I then just hammer the strips through the holes until they are the size I want.
It is best the lengths are not overly long say maybe 200mm or so and check the timber strips dont have too much grain run-out or they can shatter when you hammer them.Always wear a face shield just in case.

They won't be futed though but you can chisel a small groove down the length afterwards to allow excess glue and air to escape the joint.

Works a treat for me although you may be ok with your 9.5mm dowels.

[China]

Mark C, Biscuits are not a replacement for dowels they do not provide strength to a joint as dowels do.

[Acco]

Ok, checked my stock and they're 5/16", so no good for you. But you've got the problem licked anyhow

[Mark C]

Thank you to all reply folks. This forum is indeed still very useful.
I did omit that I could not get 10mm plain dowel either. Yes, agreed, biscuits are not a strong joint for rail and post joins. I do love the challenge of dowels, and have done mortice and tenon when truly getting into serious furniture / frames. I should try to make my own dowel as a bit of a challenge and control over timber selection.
So in summary, I am not out of my tree - just appropriately trimming it to get a better view. And remember "Measure thrice ...and then doubt thyself."

[Lappa]

I buy some fittings from this store. They have 10mm dowel in 62mm lengths

http://www.thewoodworks.com.au/index...nufacturer_id=

[Mobyturns]

I will not assume our local 'hardware' stores actually know what to sell or why. Sadly, they seem only interested in turnover and profit.

That is why customers are heading to the "big box" stores with their high turnover "low margins" business model.

The smaller specialist retailers require higher profit margins to sustain their business model. Low turnover specialist items and high quality tools which are low volume by nature are not sufficient to maintain turnover / profit for a business to remain viable. Unfortunately the "big box" stores cherry pick the higher volume profitable items and ignore the rest. So if you are not prepared to take a small hit on most lines from a specialist retailer then the specialist lines you depend upon that specialist retailer to supply will simply disappear. Basic law of supply & demand.

It would be interesting to see a Bunnies discontinued lines stock report. No turnover - they go!

[clear out]

When you make a dowel plate as Mark suggested you can produce flutes by raising a few centre punch marks on the rim.
1/4 inch mild steel works well.
I have a Matherson plate somewhere in the stash.
It has slightly tapered holes.
H.

[Christos]

Mark C, Biscuits are not a replacement for dowels they do not provide strength to a joint as dowels do.

I agree.

[Mark C]

Well, back to my original question...has 10mm fluted dowel sticks [of 1.8m. 2.1m. 2.4m or whatever] really gone?
The replies to this thread were helpful alternative approaches.
As to whether the suppliers and retailers have stopped providing 10mm dowel generally around Australia would be interesting to know from fellow woodies using this forum.
There is a similar thread Looking for 10 mm fluted long lengths of dowelwhich hinted at a problem in 2011, though I did not notice any retail issue here in the A.C.T.
I can only presume a possible error of assessment of market need for the time being - or the deletion of this size (in stick lengths) due to slow(er) sales turnover.
Us experienced woodies are clever enough to work around a problem (or challenge) like this one for example.

[Mobyturns]

Short answer no.

http://www.porta.com.au/products/pro.../tasmanian-oak
http://www.bunnings.com.au/porta-9-5...dowel_p0084618