[boxwoodruler]

Hi CAS,

I will be glad to help you with a breakdown shaft. 1st thing I would say is DO NOT get the Woodcraft connectors. They suck!

You are right. Getting the hole centered, concentric, and true, plumb, square, will be the challenge. A lathe would be best, but there are clever ways around this.

What sort of tools do you have?

 

[boxwoodruler]

Hi CAS,

I see the dowel jig that you found. We may have to resort to this, but I may have another idea. Is it possible to swivel your drill press around, so that you can get a 24" under it? If so, then you could hit the end with a forstner bit to square things up, then, while under the same clamping, drill your hole. You may have to loosen some set screws.

Plan "B" could be that you make your own dowel jig with your drill press.

Do you have any buddies with a lathe?

 

[boxwoodruler]

The apparatus you describe sounds allot like a lathe, my friend. My guess would be that a drill guide block would be just as accurate, and allot less hassle than an elaborate jig.

I can see where this is going, as I have tried it all. Under the best of circumstances, and you get everything to screw together true plumb square, and the finished stick looks perfect while it's assembled, it is extremely likely you will have a disturbing and very unsatisfying "wobble" as it screws together.

Perhaps I could help you out and make the necessary cuts and install the hardware and leave the carving/shaping to you.

 

[boxwoodruler]

I'm not sure about that lathe. You need to attend, as a guest, a few local woodturning meetings. See https://sites.google.com/site/neoklahomawoodturners/

These guys will put you in touch with good used equipment at a good price. You will have a good time as well. Very interesting live demonstrations and such. It's usually just a bunch of old fart guys like me shootn' the breeze about wood stuff.

Once you see an electronic variable speed (EVS) lathe in action, you'll never consider anything else.

If you would like to call, I will be in my shop again at 6:30 Eastern 404.247.2785 Jeff

 

[boxwoodruler]

That looks pretty good buddy, but I notice the drill press table has been swiveled, but if you can do this and get your stock under the drill, it should be an improvement for you.