Photo Index - Jos Poitras & Sons Ltd. - Dowel making machine

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Jos Poitras & Sons Ltd.
Islet, QC, Canada

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Other
Machine Size:	Up to 1 1/4"
Submitted By:	Art Shaw

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Dowel making machine
Date of Manufacturer:	1960s?
Serial Number:
Last Updated	7/19/2007 10:12:30 AM

Comments:

I let this machine go by at an auction in the late 70s, although it appealed to me even at that time. Twenty years later I equipped myself to make chairs, and needed a dowel maker to make rungs for the chairs. So I called up the guy that bought it at the auction and he agreed to sell it to me. What I got was the machine and a box full of cutters. I made the board it is mounted on and rigged up the motor and switch so that it can be stored on the floor leaning against the end of the bench, and lifted onto a table when I need it. That way it doesn't take up much real estate. It has interchangeable cutters that go on the front of the hollow arbor, and a guide bushing that goes on the back. It requires square stock to begin with, which is held from turning by the adjustable jaws on the front. The knob on the side opens or closes the jaws, which stay centered on the cutter. It is fed by hand, with the square rod passing through the cutter, down the hollow arbor and out the other end. But you have to stop feeding before the square end disappears through the jaws, and pull the dowel back out the same way it went in. I think General Machinery still makes this machine and the cutters for it. There are also rounding cutters for the end of the various sizes of dowel, to round the end like a broom handle.

Photo 1:

Comments: Front of the machine showing guide jaws and adjusting knob, and a dowel. Note the square end left on the dowel.
Source: Photo by Art Shaw

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Photo 2:

Comments: The back of the machine with the drive belt and the dowel guide bushing
Source: Photo by Art Shaw

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Photo 3:

Comments: Makers name
Source: Photo by Art Shaw

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