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22/02/2010, 16:59 Araucaria Joined on 02/02/2009 Auvergne Posts 166 Wooden dowels/pegs I have just disassembled an old walnut armoire (c. 1900 I'd guess) - to move it. It wouldn't go through the doors or windows assembled. It was held together with eight wooden dowels or pegs. They are - or were - about 7.5cm long and about 7 or 8mm diameter. Are these stock items sold in Mr Bricolage (or equivalent), or should I just make my own? If so, any suggestions about the wood to use? I wonder if it should be a good hard wood for strength, or something like pine for a degree of compressibility in the hole. The dowels were in pretty poor condition and are not really re-usable. I am still amazed at the way the whole thing just slots together and then becomes a nice solid piece of furniture after hammering in just these eight pegs, four at each corner at the front, and four at each corner at the back. Citroen H - State of the Ark Motoring http://denchilds.blogspot.com/    Report

22/02/2010, 17:14 Chancer Joined on 16/07/2006 Picardie, Sussex Posts 4,706 Re: Wooden dowels/pegs I have dismantled and transported a few of these and if it was French then it is possibly a lot older than you think. These were the original flat pack furniture and the dowels will date it to be earlier than the introduction of metal brackets to hold it together sometime in the 19th century. I am pretty sure that the dowels are oak and that is what I used to make a few replacements, they are pretty easy to make with a plane but to save your fingers its best to knock up a small wooden fixture that resembles a vee block with a stop pate on one end, the dowels only need to be somewhere near round, I bet yours are threepenny bit shaped, if they are round machined stock then the armoire is later than we think. Funnily enough I am at the moment fitting a new bottom to my armoire which is right beside the PC although mine dates from between the wars and still has its shipping note on the back from a Paris Atelier. Cost me €5 in a brocante.    Report

22/02/2010, 17:29 Araucaria Joined on 02/02/2009 Auvergne Posts 166 Re: Wooden dowels/pegs Thanks Chancer, oak it is then. And you are right, the originals (which look as if they aren't even the same wood, from the colour anyway) are clearly handmade, and as you say threepenny-bit shaped. That rather dates both of us, doesn't it? It's solid walnut, no veneer anywhere, and it might be a bit older than 100 years. The previous owner of our house left it behind (about the only thing he did leave) because he couldn't get it out and didn't know how to take it apart. Citroen H - State of the Ark Motoring http://denchilds.blogspot.com/    Report

23/02/2010, 7:47 andyh4 Joined on 15/06/2005 Cologne and Ardèche Posts 1,298 Re: Wooden dowels/pegs Alternatively you can get beech dowels in the sheds 6mm 8mm 10mm - and 16mm to my knowledge.  Most of these are going to be shorter than what you have quoted. And as an alternative 2m lengths of dowel which you can cut to suit are available in the profiles section from time to time. Andy    Report

23/02/2010, 8:07 Théière Joined on 28/07/2008 London and 37 Guerchois Posts 3,731 Re: Wooden dowels/pegs Whats a three penny bit? User is online Windows 7, it's really rather good    Report

23/02/2010, 9:42 Chancer Joined on 16/07/2006 Picardie, Sussex Posts 4,706 Re: Wooden dowels/pegs Its what my half crown becomes when someone creeps up on me unexpectedly whilst I am working After being frightened for the umpteenth time by my neighbour I tried to explain the threepenny bit / half crown phrase to him, it took a very long time and he was very confused before the penny finally dropped!    Report

23/02/2010, 12:59 Pierre ZFP Joined on 12/11/2004 PdC(62)/Luxembourg Posts 2,999 Re: Wooden dowels/pegs I always thought that threepenny bit was rhyming slang for something else entirely Make tea not war    Report

25/02/2010, 18:13 Jonzjob Joined on 23/08/2004 Nr Carcassonne, 11 Posts 3,884 Re: Wooden dowels/pegs  Théière wrote: Whats a three penny bit? Fick or wot! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threepence_%28British_coin%29 John. Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today, it's called golf. http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f180/Jonzjob/?start=all    Report

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