G'day All

[Twisted Tenon]

I have been a lurker for a while now (had to reset my password to get on). I am the son of a child of the depression who with my uncles was a builder of sorts. They were typical of that era in that they were jacks of all trades. I became a printer and my son is in his final year as an apprentice carpenter. It is in his blood.

I have enjoyed doing small renovations and projects over the years and have inherited some of my fathers tools. I have also enjoyed restoring some of his Stanley planes especially the Bed Rock 604. I've had a desire to do some cabinet making and need to learn the basics like 'dovetail joints' and 'dowelling' and I guess to learn the various timber joins. So am looking forward to accessing the knowledge that flows through this site.

Iv'e bought a Stanley No 59 Dowel Jig on eBay. Of course it is in imperial but was wondering if Stanley make metric guides for it. It strikes me that it shouldn't be too hard to make some up myself. I'm not sure which forum I should use to investigate this further and would appreciate any suggestions. I plan to enrol in some community based carpentry courses at my local community college. I live on the Central Coast NSW.

[Woodwould]

Welcome TT!

I'm probably going to cop a hiding for this, but I would recommend you put the dowel jig back on eBay. Dowels are for making plate racks and supporting tomato plants.

Hang around here and you'll soon learn to make proper furniture joints!

[paul k]

Welcome Mr Tenon

I had a tomatoe plant once and it fell over,you learn something every day.
The forum does work

All the best Paul

[Claw Hama]

Welcome Twisty, you should check out the Lumber Bunker in Gosford (Manns Rd), Steve is a good guy and has classes there on a regular basis. Sells a nice stick of timber too. He is often lurking around the forum here too.
Don't worry about that old Woodifhecould, I love my dowels, cheep fast and if used and done properly work very effectivly. (Sorry WoodWould) And a sh.t load cheaper than all those biscuit and dominothingys. {that should put the turps on the cat} now wait for the fur to fly.

[Twisted Tenon]

Welcome TT!

I'm probably going to cop a hiding for this, but I would recommend you put the dowel jig back on eBay. Dowels are for making plate racks and supporting tomato plants.

Hang around here and you'll soon learn to make proper furniture joints!

Thanks Paul, Looking forward to that. I made a lid for a large trunk using that method though. No jig just used a scribe to mark the positions for the dowels. It cops a fair workout from my teenage kids.

[Woodwould]

[Claw Hama]

[munruben]

Now now children, behave yourselves
Welcome TT

[Christos]

Welcome to the Forum

Should I also get into the Dowel debate? Nah. Enought said.



I use dowels. Sorry could not help myself.

[Lumber Bunker]

G'day TT,
Good on you for getting in and having a crack, We (The Lumber Bunker) run the woodworking courses for the Central Coast Community College, we supply everything for the intro and other courses. It;s too cold in the workshop this time of year, courses will resume in october ( I think... check with the college).

In relation to your jig, you may find that there are some modern cross overs, the 19mm dowel you buy at timber ards, will fit pretty well into the 3/4" drill hole, etc etc. you may not have to change anything

Regards,

Steve Thomas

[Rookie]

Welcome TT!

I'm probably going to cop a hiding for this, but I would recommend you put the dowel jig back on eBay. Dowels are for making plate racks and supporting tomato plants.

Hang around here and you'll soon learn to make proper furniture joints!

At least you didn't say "put it back on eBay and buy a Domino"