Jewellery stand

[Arran]

Hi all,

I've recently decided to go ahead and *ATTEMPT* a project using wood, I am wanting to create a jewellery stand for my girlfriend and as you can tell it's not going to plan, as such. The design I have created is very basic, however unfinished, but seems to be okay. (hammer)

I am using wooden dowel, in 2 different diameters, and a slightly shallow wooden plate (purchased online), my plan is to part insert the wooden dowel into the main beam of dowel at an angle of 70 degrees, and then attach the shorter pieces of dowel onto the latter, at an angle of 50 degrees. I'll have 6 of these in a spiral around the main beam of dowel at different height intervals.

My problem seems to be with actually drilling the holes for the dowel to fit into, the only thing I have to drill/shape them seems to be a dremel drill, which seems to be difficult to achieve the angles which I have set out. #-o Is there any advice anybody can give to help me with this? I imagine there's probably something (a lot) I could be doing different to make this seems less tricky, as a beginner!! Thanks in advance, and also a great active forum you have here

I've attached a couple of pictures to help.

ps. I am also using gorilla glue to set the dowel into place.

 

[marcros]

i would have a think about whether you can set a 20 degree wedge on your workmate, and rest the drill on that to set the angle of the drill

 

[Arran]

i would have a think about whether you can set a 20 degree wedge on your workmate, and rest the drill on that to set the angle of the drill

Ah, so if I create a 20 degree wedge then I'll achieve the remaining 70 degrees of which I need for the angle? Sorry, I'm very new to this so just need a little more time to get it around my head lol

 

[marcros]

yes, that is the theory. the wedge would be where your hand is in the pic.

You could also set the piece at an angle in the vice and drill vertically.

 

[Arran]

Thanks, I like the idea of the wedge as that's easy to visualise, but I'll definitely see which one works best as I've got lots of spare dowel to play about with

 

[marcros]

you may want to start the drill at 90 degrees and then move to the angle. make a starting point with an awl, or a smaller drill, so that it doesnt wander. the dremel isnt ideal, but have a go and see- post some pics of the results.

 

[Arran]

Thanks, that's great advice, just what I was looking for. I'll try to find a drill bit which is similar size of the dowel, as the dremel is far from that. I'll start at 90 like you said and work my towards the angle.

Sadly I can't continue my work until Monday, so I'll post my results in this thread once I have them.

 

[novocaine]

as a slightly different approach to the problem, as all you have is a dremal type tool.

take one of the drum sanders they usually have in the pack of bits and use it to notch the end of your smaller dowel to fit to the larger dowl, then use super glue to attach it. you can tie the dremal to your workbench (or clamp it) and use a wedge to guide the piece on.

it's not going to be taking a massive amount of weight and as long as the notch is close to the right shape it should hold up just fine.

 

[SteveF]

as a slightly different approach to the problem, as all you have is a dremal type tool.

take one of the drum sanders they usually have in the pack of bits and use it to notch the end of your smaller dowel to fit to the larger dowl, then use super glue to attach it. you can tie the dremal to your workbench (or clamp it) and use a wedge to guide the piece on.

it's not going to be taking a massive amount of weight and as long as the notch is close to the right shape it should hold up just fine.

this could also be backed up with a cut panel pin inserted into both parts

Steve

 

[Arran]

Thanks for the input.

I think the reinforcing the wood with pins will be a great idea too and as you say it won't be taking too much weight anyway so should hold fine once set in place.

 

[Arran]

I've managed to get some work done tonight on the stand, mainly just taking on what's been said and putting it into practise before I attempt the real thing but now I have access to a drill (hammer) and it's much better than the dremel, the hole circumference is slightly smaller than the ones on the smaller piece of dowel, however I think that with a little bit of sanding and shaping they will fit in there nicely. I'll be drilling straight down at 90 degrees whilst having the wood set at 30 degrees to the bench, that seems to have given me a good sitting point for the branches. I found that starting slowly with the drill makes the hole a lot more clean rather than having some messy bits sticking out (shown in pics)

I've also got a base now, it's a little large but it's hand made and was very cheap so I can't be complaining about that, I think I'll drill through the base and centre dowel and then put a screw in there to secure it in place, that should be enough?

Enough gibber jabber from me, here are my results so far from the practise run, let me know what you think.

 

[Racers]

What you need is a block of wood shaped to fit the big dowel with a hole drilled at the right angle, that would stop the spelching (bits torn out) and give you the right angle.

Where are you in Nottinghamshire?

Pete

 

[Arran]

Ah, I think get what you mean..so like the big dowel goes through the wood horizontally at the correct angle and then I drilled vertically down?

I'm in Mansfield.

 

[skipdiver]

Ah, I think get what you mean..so like the big dowel goes through the wood horizontally at the correct angle and then I drilled vertically down?

I'm in Mansfield.

Think he means the big dowel and block are vertical and the shaped block has an angled hole in it. Take a piece of timber, say 2"x2" at least and drill a hole right through it from end to end, the same size as the large dowel, then split it down the middle. This will give 2 shaped blocks that fit the primary dowel. Drill an angled hole in the shaped blocks, place them on the big dowel and drill through the hole into the dowel. Move and repeat. Or you could just leave the thing as it is and not split it in two. Slide it into position and drill away at an angle. Either would work.

 

[Arran]

Right, I get what you mean now! I was thinking something along those lines. I'll have a gander and see if I can get that going tomorrow, will post pics (if attempts go correct..).

I think I'll need to trim the shorter dowel as it overhangs the base but I probably over estimated how long it needed to be, base is slightly on the larger size imo, but that's all I have access to.

 

[Racers]

That's it, two holes one at an angle to the other, splitting it and drilling the second hole would make sure it was in the middle of the big dowel.
I am in Sherwood if you need a hand making the jig.

Pete

 

[Arran]

Thank you, I'll try my best and that and let you know how it goes. Thanks for offering to help, if I need some assistance then I'll give you a PM. Cheers.

 

[Arran]

The jig didn't turn out as well as it should have, I think that was due to the fact the wood I was using was pretty soft and flaked away really easily, still tried though! However I did trim down the shorter pieces of dowel and then sanded down the ends in order to make them fit into the drill holes, which worked well and they fit in there tightly with a push. Just need to work on creating clean drill holes and where they'll be on the dowel. #-o

 

[Stanleymonkey]

What type of drill are you using to drill into the wood?

Might be worth buying one or two wood bits - nice centre spike to locate and tend to give cleaner holes than the multipurpose twist drills.

 

[skipdiver]

What type of drill are you using to drill into the wood?

Might be worth buying one or two wood bits - nice centre spike to locate and tend to give cleaner holes than the multipurpose twist drills.

Was thinking the same. Those holes don't look the cleanest cut.