Subscribed a couple days ago. been checking your vids out. I admire that you are soo polite and never sarcastic! :)We are kindred spirits.People say they want to learn but then expect you to spoon feed them every step of the way. people have become afraid to fail so they don't even try.They are so afraid they cry about safety for every thing.Our shop is our last refuge.We get to say what's good or safe there.No one else.That's freedom! To make saw dust...our way.BTW, nice jig!

Totally agree. The cutting edges are formed by drilling the two smaller holes beside the bigger one. The shallow divots are for clearance.

Thanks again John. You are just an AWESOME individual. I am much appreciated. Have a wonderful day.

Absolutely, positively the smartest, simplest, most well-thought-out dowel (tenon) maker I've ever seen! Bravo!

lol you remind me of the Red green show, not in a bad way or anything, your innovative and resourceful and It's cool that some people still make things by hand rather then spend $10 at a store

That is a cool idea and when you see how much they want in the shop for dowel it's well worth making.

This is unique i have seen many dowel makers and they all are the same on youtube great to see something different great stuff

Thank you John Heisz, for showing me how to make great dowel and providing detailed instructions to go with the video.

i like the idea that you show what you can do in a pinch with out buying a bunch of things to get a job done. its a rare tallent thease days do with what you have and its a shame that to many people relay on machines and store got goods thanks.

You could probably make bigger ones, but they wouldn't fit in the drill - you'd need to turn down the shaft or make a holder that the drill could drive. Better to make big ones on a lathe or with round over bits on a router table.

Thanks. Yeah, a lot of guys see danger where, for practical purposes, none exists. They fail to consider the experience of the operator, and that he is fully aware of the hazards and is working within his comfort zone (risk vs productivity - there's always risk, but to be productive we have to minimize it without having it handcuff us). I wrote an article covering the design of this dowel maker on my website - link is in the description.

Thats a good idea! Thats one HELL of a center punch!LOL it looks like it'd take a oil drilling rig to turn that screw!

Sometimes I found myself in weird parts of youtube but not this time this is really neat

So you're that guy who makes all them sticks at my hardware store? Well done!

Not sure how I got here from a funny or die video about macklemore, but hey, I like woodworking. Cool stuff.

Thanks! I would guess that I was a little sloppy with the drilling. The table I was using at the time was not very firm either, and this probably contributed. I really wasn't looking for 100% accuracy, just close enough. Nice if it's just a little bigger anyway, as it will be a better fit in a drilled hole, if that is what it's used for.

Dear Mr. John I am Brazilian, resident in the capital of Brazil, in Brasilia, I am 71 years old, university professor my hobby is carpentry and I like very much, I always watch your video and I like very much because they are simple and very well finished. I want to tell you that your work is very good and congratulations to you.

@Thejwgrant Thanks! I tried a cutter type, but found it was very hard to hold the cutter at the right distance and angle and keep it there during the cutting operation. I have cut about 30 - 24" maple dowels with this one without a problem and it's still fairly sharp.

A very good idea. Now I can make a tool to make arrows. Saves me a fortune from ordering ready made one. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Thanks for watching and commenting. I'm actually using the recommended speeds for drilling mild steel. A good indication is the cutting - fine ribbons (as seen after the 5/32" and 1/4" bores) of steel coming off, as opposed to chips. The 1/2" was a bit fast, but did no harm and I was too lazy to lower the speed.

@salamiedonut Thanks! I try to keep things simple. There are 3 holes that I drilled through the steel: the big one is 1/2" (for 1/2" dowel) the 2 beside it are 1/4" and form the cutters. I also do 2 shallow relief cuts with the 1/4" drill to make the cutters work better. I hope that helps and I'm glad you like the video.

I'm not a teacher and I'm not going to take responsibility for the education of everyone watching. Learning to use the tools safely is up to the viewer to do, regardless of IQ. I'm also not going to alter the way I do things to "look" more safe - safety is in the operators hands. I'm comfortable (and therefore more safe) with how I do things. If you would like, you could make some videos on the safe operation of shop equipment and post them. They can joint the others that almost no one watches.

That dowel maker is much better than mine. I'll go out and make one as soon as you return my centre punch. I'm running out of big long screws! :-)

This is an awesome solution! I welcomed the lack of explanatory narrative. Your video was concise, showed each of the main parts in turn and concluded with a finished article. I understood every part of what you accomplished. TBH, the 3 drilled holes had me bewildered at first but then I realised what you were doing. Everything was in focus, the sound levels were spot on and image framing was exact. Top marks! Thank you! I'm subscribing.

Pretty slick john. Way better than other ones I've seen.

@nbaietti Glad you liked it!

that bench vise is wicked

Thank you for sharing this video. I've read the comments and some people are just being bitter while others try to express concern but just come across as rude. Love your work and I look forward to your other videos!

Now that is some skill there. Clever too.

This is great idea, If you center drilled those holes and then drilled and reamed them in a Bridgeport they would be perfect!

@jonneyj Thanks! The holes beside the bigger one in the centre form cutters. The centre hole is 1/2", the side holes are 1/4" - it makes a 1/2" dowel. Thanks for watching.

@RedJohn24 Thanks. That's oil to help the bit cut better.

Dear Mr Heisz, I have a complaint, this is not what the equipment was designed for... I LOVE IT!

Отлично ! У нас говорят -: " проще пареной репы " !!! И не надо габаритных станков ! Молодец !

most of the time I was... "what tha'... hell..." then, when you used it everything made sense! excellent jig, my friend!

Could be a number of reasons why it's tearing. It should cut fairly cleanly until it get dull, then it can be sharpened with a round file.

Link in the description to a full article on it, complete with pictures... Thanks, glad you liked it.

Wow, this is pretty neat.

He had to be talking about the 1/2" bit, it's the only one that could snag the work without breaking. In that sequence, you couldn't see the end. Truth is, I was holding and, as explained (ad nauseum) in previous comments, I was well aware of what could happen and the potential outcomes. My remark that you so helpfully provided evidence against was more of a joke - the Bugsley thing.

People are too soft now days. Might as well sit inside and watch Judge Judy for the rest of your lives. John just showed us how to make arrows which is bad ass! Keep using your skills and abilities and continue to spread the knowlege bro Peace!!

@ls1camro In the video, I made a 1/2" dowel, and the 'cutters' were 1/4" - these were spaced so the arc of each circle intersected and left a gap (the gap makes the edges of the cutters). The correct spacing for the cutter holes was just slightly less than 5/8" from the centre of the 1/2" hole. Hope that helps.

Excellent video as always. Great work. Regards,

Your amazing John great idea

HEALTH AND SAFETY!!! This is an example how NOT use tools, unless you want to loose your hands

Excellent ! Great stuff ! all the best ...

Not trying to sound like a smart guy, but 3 holes? The running commentary would go like this: "now I am drilling this hole, and now I am making it bigger..." No need - it's easy enough to see what the result was and for a more detailed explanation (with measurements), there's a link in the description to an article I wrote for this.

Good job on the tool. I like the multiple size idea zephzhang posted. I love the smoke with the medium speed steel drilling. You have a dead man's grip for sure.

Dude! Thats awesome!

There are factors involved in whether I clamp something down - it's not a hard and fast rule. If the bit is small, it will break before it can exert enough torque on the work to cause it to swing. If the work is longer (the case here) I can hold it well enough to be confident it will not catch. Short or thin parts get clamped. Besides, beginners don't listen ;-)

Nice video and great tool to make.

man you job is fantastic

I do like that end of bench vice, neat as.

Talk about insulting my inteligence with simplicity.... I would've never have thunk it! OMG! Amazing! Now i have a new jig to work on! People, if you have any sort of trial and error intelect, you would be able to grasp the concept, and build one yourself. This is nearly self explanatory....

Very simple and cool! Thank you

john just a quick tip when drilling metal the cutting speed recommended is a formula ...4 x cutting speed / diameter of drill ...mild steel is around 200 or so cuting speed .... 4x200/.250=3200.. your bits will last longer and if sharp will cut like butter...just a thought to share with your viewers

Simply amazing!!

I love that 4x4 clamp that you have on the side of your work table. Do you have a video where you built it?

Great video! This will really come in handy if Home Depot or Lowes goes out of business. Honestly, I learned something new and the video was very well done and to the point. I have to check out some more of yours. Thanks

Great piece of work making your own cutter. I sure would like to see a close up of the finished metal work just so I could see what shape it actually it is. nice work.

Ok, ,I just loved it for its simplicity speed and good results, thank u.

Haha, 1:29. Your videos are full of all sorts of excellent style.

Keep up the good work, John

Great video, Thanks John.

Cool! Thanks for the video!

Hi John, I'm a big fan of your KZfaq videos, they are a big inspiration to me :-) I've made a quick solution making a dowel: run your dowel-source thru a nut fastened in a wise using a handheld power drill. I tried improving it removing the thread in 3 places with a little saw. The shredded tree pulp seems to stick to the thread though but it still works if one uses some more force to push the dowel thru the nut, i think the pulp could be removed threading a screw to the nut.

Anti-rotational torque management stabilization system engaged (finger in hole): Check

Great little innovation John thanks! Pre-cut dowel in the UK is ridiculously priced that will save me time and money. Keep them coming! Oh and a note to the 'safety police' if you're not comfortable using a drill press in that manner, don't - you should have some ability to even attempt this stuff so give it a rest let the man do his thing you might learn something and save time and cash.

genius, now I can make bolts for my pistol crossbow. yay.

to sweet man nice work

Como siempre un trabajo genial. Adema lo haces parecer muy fácil de realizar y eso anima.

Thank U! Very helpful! Good Luck!

Funny, I thought your video went a little too slow and you showed too much of the making process. Oh well. Great video by the way. I have never seen a vice incorporated into a wooden table like the one at 2:40 Very cool

Has anyone else made this? (I haven't gone through all 300+ comments yet! ;-). I'm making it now, nearly done, after a couple of false starts. I'm guessing: I should've just "gone for it" and seen if it works, rather than getting all precious about perfection, which didn't help anyhow. Learned a few subtle things about machining metal that I'd forgotten, mostly just "don't rush it". SO: just took the first test run, with the 1/2" side with some pine, and WOW! Still need to fine-tune the prep of the square stock, but real happy so far. Also planning on surface-hardening it with some Kasenit once I make sure everythings filed nicely and working... If you've built one, please respond to this - would love to trade notes!

Good idea!

That's a home run John.

Thank you so much --- will do! And, another thanks for more details on the web.

Great idea

Great video

Thanks this was really helpfull i've been thinking of making a wood spinning rig to do this but this way is much easier !

THIS is Human Ingenuity! I love the idea :)

nice job!

John I spent over 40 yrs in industry and had so many safety advisors and unofficial safety advisors tell me when I was doing something wrong by their standards. I still have ten fingers etc. If some of these safety advisors were more attentive on what they are doing with challenging equipment there would be less accidents and less need for someone leaning over your shoulder telling you what your doing wrong.

When I have to drill a hole in a tough piece of steel, I leave the piece long for drilling it, this way I will have more leverage. And then cut it to size when I'm done doing the holes. If the piece is already too short, I will weld a piece of flat bar to it to get the same result. Short of that a good Vicegrip should do the trick

You’re welcome.

Bravo !! effectivement je préfère une demo rapide a de grand discours, et on comprend très bien. je vais essayer de fabriquer mes tourillons. Merci du partage Caro

Hey John, For whatever reason I'm glad you did not answer my question about the 1/4" dowel dimensions. It made me get off my lazy mental duff and figure it out. Cheers

Yeah man! I like your finger grip

Alô John Heisz! Obrigado era essa ferramenta que eu estava precisando. Obrigado.

Neat trick and with low cost. Thanks:

Anyone who uses words like "didactic" can surely understand exactly what you are doing in this video. I even understood (the video, but not the word!)

Now that is a good idea!

I've always just went to the store and bought mine....works ever time.

Great video thanks for sharing

thanks for the ideas :) cheers

cool, smart way to use drill. thanks

Immediate application. Thanks a lot...!!!

I make one today, it works perfect! I´ll check the link in the description for more datails. Nice tool ;)

Superbe! Just did one for 1/4 dowell. I must say that the two "half holes" are critical. Thank you very much.

Very good well done

You must be related to MaGiver.....fantastic idea's and work.....