{"product_id":"light-hardwood-dowel-rod-18mm-x-18mm-x-2400mm","title":"Light Hardwood Dowel Rod 18mm x 18mm x 2400mm","description":"\u003cp\u003eLight hardwood dowel rod 18mm x 18mm x 2400mm is a smooth, round-profile timber rod suited to furniture making, dowel joinery and general woodworking. Machined to a consistent diameter, it arrives ready for sanding and finishing to your specification.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eProperty\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaterial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLight hardwood\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProfile\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRound dowel rod\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNominal Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e18mm x 18mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLength\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2400mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFinish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSmooth machined, ready for sanding and decoration\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat it's used for\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDowel joinery in cabinet making and furniture construction, used with wood glue to create strong, concealed joints\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCurtain poles and lightweight hanging rails in domestic interiors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCraft and hobby projects including model making, tool handles and decorative beading work\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStrengthening butt joints in flatpack repair, shelving and general DIY assembly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFitting and handling\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eStore dowel rods flat and off the ground in a dry indoor space before use, allowing them to acclimatise to the room temperature and humidity for at least 24 hours to reduce any risk of movement after fitting. Cut to length with a fine-tooth saw for a clean edge, and apply a small amount of PVA wood glue into the receiving hole before tapping the dowel home with a mallet. Once dry, the rod can be sanded flush and finished with paint, oil or varnish to match the surrounding timber.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the difference between a light hardwood dowel and a softwood dowel rod?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLight hardwood dowels are denser and harder-wearing than softwood equivalents, which makes them less likely to compress or split under load when used in joinery. They are a better choice where the joint will bear weight or repeated stress, such as in chair construction or shelving.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use an 18mm dowel rod as a curtain pole?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes, an 18mm diameter dowel rod is a common choice for lightweight curtain poles over shorter spans, typically up to around 1.2 metres between supports. For longer spans or heavier fabric, use additional brackets to prevent sagging over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need to sand this dowel rod before painting or varnishing?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe rod is supplied with a smooth machined finish, but a light sand with 120 to 180 grit paper before applying any finish will help the paint or varnish bond properly and give a cleaner result.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrowse the full range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/oak-mouldings\"\u003eoak mouldings and timber profiles\u003c\/a\u003e at Nottage Timber Merchants. We supply trade and retail customers across Bridgend and South Wales, with next-day delivery available to the local area on stocked lines.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the difference between a light hardwood dowel and a softwood dowel rod?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Light hardwood dowels are denser and harder-wearing than softwood equivalents, which makes them less likely to compress or split under load when used in joinery. They are a better choice where the joint will bear weight or repeated stress, such as in chair construction or shelving.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can I use an 18mm dowel rod as a curtain pole?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, an 18mm diameter dowel rod is a common choice for lightweight curtain poles over shorter spans, typically up to around 1.2 metres between supports. For longer spans or heavier fabric, use additional brackets to prevent sagging over time.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do I need to sand this dowel rod before painting or varnishing?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The rod is supplied with a smooth machined finish, but a light sand with 120 to 180 grit paper before applying any finish will help the paint or varnish bond properly and give a cleaner result.\"}}]}\u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"Nottage Timber Merchants","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52567976411473,"sku":"CHES0035","price":6.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0994\/1467\/1697\/files\/rtm825__31764.1701339695.1280.1280.jpg?v=1765235307","url":"https:\/\/www.timberonline.co.uk\/products\/light-hardwood-dowel-rod-18mm-x-18mm-x-2400mm","provider":"Nottage Timber Merchants","version":"1.0","type":"link"}