dagabu Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 By the way, where do people get their different wooden dowels? I bought some from a couple of places online, but I'm guessing that there is a better source for better wood that members here would know. I suggest that you go to Menards and grab an Oak dowel for pressing rockets, they seem to last longer then other hard woods. Keep in mind that dowels for stabilization sticks is a poor choice as they tend to be made from hard woods and are heavier, they have a round profile and grab little air. Square or rectangle pine sticks are much better and lighter.
dagabu Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 Online, for not much money you can buy 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch aluminum rods by the foot that don't split, and when you get tired of filing your own you can give them to your lathe-owning buddy to turn you up some proper tools. If there's a decent hardware store nearby, eg McFadden Dale, you might get them locally (but you'll probably pay more). There a lot of hardware stores the sell aluminum rod (1/2" & 3/4") in the USA for less then $6.00 for 36".
dagabu Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 Hi tgis81. Got my sticks from Cincinnati Dowel & Wood Products Co. Here. Bought 42 3/8" X 36" sticks for my 1 lb. rockets. Shipping is free on orders over $25. So I ordered 42 sticks for $25.45 delivered. Unit price is $.606 per their invoice. Not too bad. Would be curious to know of a better / cheaper source. I do have a buddy with a woodworking shop and plan to ask him if he would do this at a lesser price. A table saw and scrap pieces of pine or cedar make for very cheap stabilization sticks.
ausgoty Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 If you don't have a table saw, get a circular saw and bolt it, upside down, to a nice big table (may have to cut holes). Works really well, pay nothing for my sticks now
dagabu Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 If you don't have a table saw, get a circular saw and bolt it, upside down, to a nice big table (may have to cut holes). Works really well, pay nothing for my sticks now If you do that, get a 2'x2' piece of 1/4" plywood and mount it on the saw then mount a fence at whatever stick size you want to cut and SLOWLY drop the blade into the board. This keeps the sticks from getting pulled into the blade and getting kickbacks. Cut a 2x4 down to 5/16" sticks and you will see what I mean.
Peret Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) There a lot of hardware stores the sell aluminum rod (1/2" & 3/4") in the USA for less then $6.00 for 36". I can't recall exactly what I paid* for 3 feet of 1/2 inch aluminum at McFadden Dale recently, but it was substantially more than $6. It was, however, substantially cheaper than this vendor! * yes I can - $9.55 plus tax Edited February 9, 2011 by Peret
Guest no6 Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 A table saw and scrap pieces of pine or cedar make for very cheap stabilization sticks. Thanks. The sticks I have from Cincinnati are various hardwoods and vary in weight from 33 grams to 66 grams. Definitely will rip my own going forward.
Recommended Posts