Veritas dowel maker

[EddieJ]

Does anyone on here own one of the following Veritas dowel makers, and if so, where did you buy it?


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http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.a ... ,180,42288

Sadly the UK supplier can only sell what's listed on the Veritas website, so doesn't have this particular model. Lee Valley are willing to supply me, but the postage and duty costs soon begin to mount.

 

[brianhr]

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/cgi-bin/psProdDet.cgi/J6001

 

[paulm]

I've got a set of those that Brian linked to, may have got them from Axi rather than Rutlands, can't remember.

Great fun and very effective, need a highish drill speed and slow feed rate to get a good finish on them and may need a bit of sanding after depending on how you plan to use the finished dowels.

I kept looking for stuff to put through them just for the fun of it, I ought to get out more ! :lol:

Cheers, Paul

 

[EddieJ]

Sadly the ones linked to aren't big enough.

All the dowel that I use is 1" and although I have a mate with an Intorex trunnell maker who currently supplies me, I hate having to keep pestering him to cut it for me.

 

[brianhr]

Tilgear also have a longer one but is out of stock at the moment.

 

[AndyT]

You could always knock up a hand powered version. Roy Underhill gave a handy drawing of an adjustable one here:

http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/howto/images/e2104Rounderplane.pdf

 

[Woodchips2]

Sadly the ones linked to aren't big enough.

All the dowel that I use is 1" and although I have a mate with an Intorex trunnell maker who currently supplies me, I hate having to keep pestering him to cut it for me.

Hi Eddie

Have you considered a timber rounder from Ashem Crafts http://www.ashemcrafts.com/products_rotary_planes.aspx. They're not cheap but well made and I used them on a chair-making course using green wood and they were very effective.

Regards Keith

 

[EddieJ]

Thanks Andy and Keith.

Keith that has to be the most impressive tools that I have seen in a very long time.

I have literally just given my card card details for one of the Veritas units. I'm now going to have to phone to cancel the order in favour of your idea.

Many thanks for that, it is greatly appreciated.

 

[jimi43]

Get some ear defenders while you are there!!



Jim

 

[EddieJ]

Change of plan..

I mentioned the Veritas to a lad who rents workshops opposite mine, and got a job making making his dowel. This meant the Veritas was a viable short term buy, as between us we use three differing sizes.

The tool arrived yesterday from Lee Valley, which considering the distance etc, is better service than many UK companies!

 

[jimi43]

Good Lord! That looks the biz!!!

How much did that set you back may I ask?

Jim

 

[Argus]

How much did that set you back may I ask?

Jim

It's not 1st April, is it?

Naw....can't be........ sounds like a wind-up to me.

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[EddieJ]

Good Lord! That looks the biz!!!

How much did that set you back may I ask?

Jim

Approx £265.00 (419.00USD) This included a mount and a spare set of blades.

Luckily by taking on the order to make the dowel for the lads in the workshops opposite mine, the blow has been softened. Also by making dowel for myself, it won't take too many frames before the costs have been recouped.

The tool porn that came with it was rather nice as well.

 

[jimi43]

Cheers Eddie...

You are right...that is a lot of dosh but ultimately if it pays for itself and it is for professional use then it is probably the right road.

I saw the Veritas one being demonstrated at the Kent Bashe...it was really effective but hugely loud! Made everyone jump when it was started!

That kit is way more sophisticated....post some pics of the results when you get a chance.

Thanks again for the sensible answer... :wink:

Jim

 

[EddieJ]

Cheers Eddie...

You are right...that is a lot of dosh but ultimately if it pays for itself and it is for professional use then it is probably the right road.

I saw the Veritas one being demonstrated at the Kent Bashe...it was really effective but hugely loud! Made everyone jump when it was started!

That kit is way more sophisticated....post some pics of the results when you get a chance.

Thanks again for the sensible answer... :wink:

Jim

No problem Jim.

When its up and running, I'll try and get someone to film it.

The one thing that I did find odd, was that in no part of the instructions that came with it, was any mention of drill size and speed. I found this strange given that the tool is designed to be driven by a drill. The reply that I got from Veritas when I emailed them, was 500watts and 500rpm.
I can match it fairly closely with my Metabo BE622 which is 620watts and 550rpm.

 

[EddieJ]

Get some ear defenders while you are there!!



Jim

As a necessity I had stop making my current frame today and get on and set the dowel maker up.
The first problem was deciding where to put it. I didn't want it in my main workshop, as sooner or later it would get knocked and damaged. In the end I opted to put it on its own dedicated bench in the office.
When time permits, I will link up a dedicated dust extraction unit to it, but for now it is a case of just getting the Hoover out!

Once bolted down, I set it up as per the written instructions and quickly discovered that the factory 'pre' set blade offsets and stickers were miles out! Not a good start!
I re set both blades and both offsets and started to run out the 12.5mm oak dowel which someone has ordered. I have to say that once set up, it cuts almost faster than you can guide it. Fine adjustment of the roughing blade should hopefully slow it down a bit. The finish of the dowel is perfect, and as far as ear defenders go, the only noise was from the motor of the drill.

I hope to get it set up properly sometime over the next few weeks, and I can then post up a YouTube clip of it working for you.

 

[jimi43]

Another reason it is so much more I guess!

The one at the Kent Bashe had everyone stop in mid conversation it was that loud!

Jim

 

[Rob Lee]

Hi Eddie -

Sorry the blades weren't tuned out of the box - I'll pass that comment on to our assembly folks....

Look forward to seeing your video... !

Cheers -

Rob

 

[EddieJ]

Hi Eddie -

Sorry the blades weren't tuned out of the box - I'll pass that comment on to our assembly folks....

Look forward to seeing your video... !

Cheers -

Rob

Many thanks Rob.

Perhaps you could also mention that both sets of fine adjustment stickers have sadly peeled off as well.
The blades were also loose, but I am a firm believer that you can't get to know a tool unless you can understand how to adjust and maintain it, so the little initiation wasn't a bad thing.

Still a nice bit of kit, which should pay for its self in no time at all.
I also have to say that I am incredibly impressed with the quality of dowel that it produces, and that any deviation has been of my error and not the tool.

My first mistake was not making sure that the dowel blanks to be finished weren't accurately square ended. If the wood to be used isn't ended properly the roughing blade snags up on it. Common sense when you think about it, and I won't repeat my mistake.

 

[SVB]

EddieJ wrote: I opted to put it on its own dedicated bench in the office.

That is some pencil sharpener Eddie!!!!

Cool \/

Simon