Wood Glue
Wooden Dowels in 3 different sizes (quanitites in parenthesis): 1/4 in (1), 5/16 in (1), 3/8 in (2)
One pre-milled Table Leg 28" (mine was: 28" Early American Table Leg)
One pre-milled Finial (mine was: Mediaum Craft Finial)
End Caps (for the ends of the dowels to make them decorative/hold the ornaments on - so they won't slip off the dowel)
Hand Drill
Drill Bits in the following sizes: 1/4, 5/18, 3/8
Saw
Bottom Piece for the stand (mine was cut from a larger board and measures 7 1/4" by 7 1/4"
Sandpaper
Measuring Tool/Square
Wood Stain
Hammer (optional)
Vice (usful - but not necessary)
*I got all my wood products at Lowe's and the total was around $35
Pictures of my Supplies:
End pieces for the dowels
Table Leg - Early American 28"
Bottom "stand" piece - 7 1/4" by 7 1/4"
Dowels in sizes 1/4", 5/16" and 3/8"STEP ONE:
Taking your drill, but in the 1/4" bit (or one that will match the finial top screw) And Drill into what will be the top of the tree and attach the finial. (You can add a bit of wood glue on the end of the table leg if you want to ensure a firm attachment) Once completed set aside.
STEP TWO:
Cut your dowels with a small hand saw into the following lengths based on radius of dowels:
1/4" dowels: cut four into 5 1/2 inch lengths
5/16" dowels: cut four into 8 1/2 inch lengths
3/8" dowels: cut four into 11 1/2 inch lengths
Using your square/ruler make hash marks down the dowels at the appropriate lengths and then saw using your hand saw.
STEP THREE:
Using sandpaper - sand the ends of the dowels smooth
STEP FOUR:
Drill holes for the dowels. Each level of dowels will look like a "+" when you look from the top of the finial down. Make sure that when you are drilling the holes the various levels of + are staggered so that they aren't all on top of one other down the tree "trunk".
I put the 1/4 " dowels at the top, 5/16" dowels in the middle and the 3/8" dowels on the bottom.
*Here is where a vice would be handy if you have one!
Make sure that you go straight through the table leg and don't curve as you are drilling. All axis of the + should be perpindicular to each other. I have 7 inches in between the levels for my tree - just measure it and find the best locations for the levels of dowels for your tree.
STEP FIVE:
Once the holes have been drilled attach the base to the tree trunk
STEP SIX:
Drill small counter-sink holes into the decorative buttons or whatever you are putting on the end of the dowels of the tree. Don't drill through them, just enough to make an indention for the dowel to fit. Again I drilled four for each size of the dowel diameter.
STEP SEVEN:
Assemble your tree by using the wood glue to glue the dowels into their holes and the decorative end piece to the end of the dowels.
*Once finished with this step you should have an unstained finished dowel tree!
STEP EIGHT:
Stain it with wood stain, let dry, then add ornaments!
Now that's one fine looking dowel tree! ~~Congratulations~~ on your fine craftsmanship!
