How to put a sharp point on a dowel?

[sapwood]

I don't have a lathe, but figure there has to another method for putting a reasonably sharp point on the end of a 1" hardwood dowel, so it can be driven into the ground easily. You know, like a pencil sharpener!

Sander takes too long. Can it be done with a TS, BS, DP, router (not in table), jigsaw, handplane, biscuit jointer ??? ???? ???

Curious,
Sapwood

 

[Joe Scharle]

Can you set your TS miter gage at 45 and get what you want?

 

[kota62]

SapWood...
I use a cordless drill and my tabletop belt sander, run the drill fairly slow and it seems to work better, higher speed causes it to bounce... (When i do the 30mm wooden tips for shadow boxes this is how I finish since i don't have a chuck for my lathe). I drill a small centered hole and drive a de-headed screw into the end for the drill to grab onto
Good luck
Gary

 

[DaveO]

If it is going to be driven into the ground, I would use a hatchet. We used to make our own tent stakes back when I was in Scouts. About 4-6 chops with a sharp hatchet and you had a point sufficient enough to drive into the heart of a vampire.
Dave

 

[DaveO]

Or a draw knife would work. A spoke shave would work also, but it might be slower.
Dave

 

[toolferone]

Doesn't anybody carry a pocket knife any more? :roll:

I am naked8-O without one. That and a small tape measure and my watch, and I am good to go.

 

[sapwood]

Hey, I was in the Boy Scouts (Tenderfoot :lol and the Marines (grunt) , but I was looking for a more "elegant" solution. Besides, it's a FIL Day's gift and I would like the 4' x1" hardwood dowel that accompanies it to look sharp! (Especially since he has about 50bd ft of 1" thick eastern red cedar he may give me :eusa_pray)

Actually, I dimly remember reading somewhere about doing this on a TS or router . . . but so many of my memories have dimmed :crybaby2:

Sapwood

 

[Gofor]

A bench grinder works in a pinch. Depends on how smooth a wheel you have on it. A drum sander in a drill press will also do the job. Set the drum just above the DP table and hold the dowel at a 45degree angle from vert and rotate it into the drum surface. (Hope that makes sense!)

Go

 

[McRabbet]

Roger,

Fastest way is with a stationary belt/disk sander -- clamp a block of wood on the table at about 30º from the disk face -- Use a 50 to 80 grit disk. Turn the dowel as you press it into the spinning disk. If you don't have a stationary belt/disk sander but you do have a belt sander, install the coarse belt and clamp the sander inverted in your bench vise. Lock it on and eye-ball the dowel angle at 30º into the turning belt and rotate to make the point.

Rob

 

[walnutjerry]

I don't have a lathe, but figure there has to another method for putting a reasonably sharp point on the end of a 1" hardwood dowel, so it can be driven into the ground easily. You know, like a pencil sharpener!

Sander takes too long. Can it be done with a TS, BS, DP, router (not in table), jigsaw, handplane, biscuit jointer ??? ???? ???

Curious,
Sapwood

Hire a beaver????????????????? Jerry

 

[Joe Scharle]

 

[SteveColes]

Doesn't anybody carry a pocket knife any more? :roll:

Yeah, but security at the 'canes game keeps taking them way:BangHead:

 

[sapwood]

Thanks for all the suggestions pointed out :icon_thum
I look forward to experimenting with them. . . well most of them. ;-)

Bladeburner, I don't think I have the uh, cajones, to hold onto a dowel that's inching toward my TS blade :mrgreen:

Yep, Mike I always carrying my trusty Swiss Army pocket knife.

'course I mainly use it for removing splinters and dental hygiene :lol:

Sapwood