Has anyone used a Veritas dowel cutter for shafts?

[fish n chicks]

For the price, they sound like a great tool. And then I can make shafts of many species, instead of relying on what is available. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with them, and if they'd care to share their thoughts. Here's a link to the tool:

 http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,180,42288,52401&p=52401


I'm sure I can configure a jig to hold the shaft as it gets cut to make things easier. If the tool is worth it.

[Pat B]

I've not tried one but I know a few folks that have. They all seemed to be satisfied with the results.
  I have a set of ash arows that were made with one of these dowel makers that I am using this year. I had another friend put a full taper on them but the original shafts were good when I got them. They were a little rough but a good sanding fixed that.

[AKmud]

I bought one and have whittled out a couple dozen shafts so far.  It works really well with pine (all I have tried at this point), not sure how it will handle the harder woods.  

A word of advice, when you get to where the drill is hitting the cutter, unchuck the drill and chuck it up on the other end and continue to pull it through (reverse the drill...) the same direction.  I tried just pulling the shaft out and flipping it over at first but it didn't work well.  The result was the last 4-5 inches was offset slightly from the rest of the shaft.

[AKmud]

Also, faster is better.  Spin the wood with a higher speed drill.  If you go slow, it ends up chipping more than cutting.  I had a few shafts break when I was going slow.  My 14v Dewalt drill on the highest speed seems to work well.

[Jeremy]

For me, it works well for maple, cherry and poplar.  I get tear out when using oak and ash.

[Dmaxshawn]

Make sure you have plenty of outfeed tubes for the new shaft to go into so there's not much wabble if your doing longer pieces.  That way there's less work straightening later on.  

Hope this helps.  

Shawn

[fish n chicks]

Are you kidding Shawn? This all helped! I'm pretty convinced it's worth it at this point and I'm pulling the trigger. Hopefully there will be some woodies made by yours truly this winter.

Thanks again guys and any more tips would be totally appreciated.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Hey guys, what size do you use? 3/8 or 7/16

[Dmaxshawn]

If you go to veritas website they used to have a combo deal and one could purchase a arrow cutters set.

Shawn

[chuprinko]

I also have had good success with the Veritas cutter. I have made some nice shooters for me and my son with the 3/8th. A high speed corded drill work MUCH better than a cordless drill. I have used either logs or boards of poplar and maple. Cut to 3/8 x 3/8" and at least 4" longer than you need. This gives you 2" extra to push and pull through the cutter. I have my arrow feed through a piece of innertube to limit the outfeed wobble.  Then just sand to taper to finish.
Good luck!
Neil

[Jeff Smith]

I cut mine 1/2 by 1/2 and put in a socket , run it through with an 18 volt cordless with no problem. Tried all kinds of wood with no problems so far. You can put a small wedge under the blade to change the angle a bit too. 3/8 in most woods spine out pretty heavy but you can sand the middle a little to lower it. It,s worth the money, spend a little more and get the suare socket that goes with it.
Jeff

[Brently]

I have had good results with the 3/8 cutter on all types of wood.  I use a 3/8 deep 1/2 drive socket and just cut a section off of a 3/8 allen wrench and put the allen wrench piece in a hi speed drill, the faster you turn the shaft the smoother it cuts.  I use a piece of pvc pipe for the shaft to run through so it won't wobble.