1/4" x 12" Wood Dowel

3/16" x 12" Birch Wood Dowel: Wood Dowel for Crafting and Model Building

A 3/16-inch diameter by 12-inch length birch wood dowel, kiln-dried to reduce warping and cracking, designed for use in crafts, model building, and light-duty structural projects. This unfinished birch dowel offers a smooth, tumble-sanded surface that accepts paint and stain evenly, making it a reliable component for precise, clean finishes in detailed woodworking and craft applications.

Key Features

• Consistent 3/16" diameter (0.1875") ensures uniform fit and appearance in assembly or multi-part projects.
• Kiln-dried birch wood minimizes moisture-related warping or cracking for stable construction.
• Tumble-sanded smooth surface reduces preparation time and allows for uniform paint or stain absorption.
• Visible grain with pale cream to light brown tones provides a natural aesthetic suitable for staining or clear finishing.
• Flat, clean saw-cut ends facilitate secure, straight joinery and ease of installation.
• Moderate strength and flexibility suitable for light structural support, model axles, pegs, and craft framework.
• Good compatibility with PVA, wood, epoxy, or cyanoacrylate glues for strong, lasting bonds.
• Easy machinability allowing cutting, drilling, shaping with common hand or power tools without excessive chipping or tear-out.
• Low splinter risk due to smooth sanding, enhancing safe handling during crafting and assembly.

Specifications

• Diameter: 3/16" (0.1875") [approx. 5/32"] (4.76 mm)
• Length: 12" (30.48 cm)
• Weight: Approximately 0.008 lbs each
• Material: Birch wood, kiln-dried, natural pale cream to light brown color
• Tolerance: ±0.01" (±0.25 mm)
• Finish: Unfinished, tumble-sanded smooth
• Grain Direction: Lengthwise for added strength and bend resistance
• Density: Moderate, denser than softwoods with fine grain texture
• Moisture Content: Kiln-dried for dimensional stability
• End Cut: Clean, flat saw-cut ends
• Warping Resistance: High due to small diameter and kiln-drying
• Splinter Risk: Low
• Suitable Fasteners: Accepts small nails or screws with pre-drilling, low splitting risk
• Paint/Stain Compatibility: Excellent, uniform finish absorption
• Workability: High — suitable for saws, knives, drills, small lathes, rotary tools
• Storage: Store in dry, cool environment away from moisture

Suggested Uses

• Furniture components such as small dowel joinery or decorative pegs
• Model building parts including axles, supports, or miniature scaffolding
• Dollhouse construction pieces and miniature furniture supports
• Craft projects like paintable ornaments, game pieces, or small rolling toys
• Educational tools such as math manipulatives for classroom activities
• Parent-child DIY projects needing lightweight, easy-to-handle wood elements

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will this dowel fit a 3/16-inch hole?
  Yes, the dowel diameter is carefully controlled to 3/16" ±0.01", ensuring compatibility with standard 3/16" holes for snug, secure fits.
• Is the wood surface ready for paint or stain?
  Yes, the dowel is tumble-sanded smooth, providing a surface that readily accepts paint, stain, or sealing finishes with even absorption.
• Can I order these in bulk for classroom or large projects?
  Yes, pack sizes of 25, 100, 400, and bulk quantities are available to support both small-scale crafts and larger educational or professional projects.
• Are these dowels prone to warping or cracking?
  Kiln-drying significantly reduces moisture content, which lowers the risk of warping, cracking, or microbial growth during use or storage.
• What tools can I use to cut or shape this dowel?
  These dowels can be safely cut, drilled, carved, or shaped with common hand tools, rotary tools, and small lathes with minimal chipping or tear-out.
• Is the wood glued easily when assembling projects?
  Yes, this birch dowel accepts PVA glue, wood glue, epoxy, and cyanoacrylate adhesives well, ensuring strong, durable bonds.
• How are dowels packaged for shipping?
  All wood dowels from Craftparts.com are shipped in boxes that meet ASTM D5118 standards, providing secure packaging to prevent damage during transit.
• Does the wood have any coatings or finishes applied?
  No coatings or finishes are applied; the dowel is sold as unfinished raw birch wood to provide flexibility for your choice of finish.
• Can the dowel bend without breaking?
  The 3/16" diameter birch dowel has moderate flexibility but is not suitable for steam bending; it can withstand slight bend stress useful in light structural or craft applications.

This birch wood dowel combines consistency, durability, and finish-readiness to meet the needs of crafters and builders seeking reliable components for detailed, small-scale projects.