No Lathe Honey Dipper

I saw an Instructable about making a honey dipper with a lathe. I learned later there was also another by different maker. I thought about how someone who did not have a lathe might make one and describe my process here.

Materials

• 1/4 inch wooden dowel
• 1/2 inch wooden dowel
• 1 inch wooden dowel
• Wooden ball about 5/8 inch in diameter
• Glue

Tools

• Aluminum angle held in a vise
• Electric drill and bits
• Table saw
• Spring clamp
• Clamp with soft jaws
• Sandpaper

I will use a 1/4 inch dowel for a shaft. I needed a 1/4 inch hole in the center of the 1/2 inch dowel and the 1 inch dowel. I used a spring clamp to hold the larger dowels in the corner of a piece of aluminum angle. I used the sides of the aluminum angle to guide me in keeping the drill cutting down the center as much as possible. I could have used a drill press, but this Instructable is designed to use a minimum of power tools for the sake of those who may not have a drill press as I did not for many years.

I began with a smaller bit to make a pilot hole. Then I increased the size of the bits in steps because I thought that gave me better control.

I set a stop on my table saw so each saw cut would slice off about 3/16 of dowel. I needed five slices from the 1 inch dowel and four from the 1/2 inch dowel.

Stack the slices on a 1/4 inch dowel as shown. I did not glue the slices in the middle because they fit very snugly. I glued the pieces on each end. Look closely and you can see a bit of fresh glue.

In case holes from free hand drilling are not perfectly centered, turn the pieces in place until the edges align with the pieces of the same size next to it.

Push the assembly together and let the glue dry. Smooth the bottom end so no dowel extends beyond the end slice.

I had a round wooden ball left over from another project. I used a clamp with soft rubber jaws to keep the wooden ball from twisting during drilling. I drilled a hole into the center of the ball in steps. Then cut the 1/4 inch dowel to the desired length and glued the ball onto the end of it.

A little piece of wood chipped out during drilling. To hide it, I sanded the ball flat around the hole.

Sand off any wood whiskers with fine sandpaper. I did not finish my honey dipper, but left it natural. In the photo you can see it in use.