Expert: Jamie Yocono - 3/19/2009

Question
I need a curtain rod that is at least 155 inches long... and that's the problem,
they don't make them that long.  I was wondering how to connect wooden
dowels together to make this rod?  I thought about drilling a hole into each
and screwing them together, or do I need to do this in combination with
using a wood glue too?  Or, do you have another idea?  I will also be adding a
finial to each of the completed ends.

Thanks for your assistance,
Kathy

Answer
Kathy,

Your idea about screwing them together is a good one, but a little difficult to accomplish.  Also, using wood glue won't add a lot of strength, as it will be gluing end grain to end grain, and that sort of bond isn't very strong. End grain sucks up the glue like a sponge, and starves the joint of any real gluing action.

I have another suggestion, and although it's going to take a little work, I think it's a much better solution.

Years ago, I needed a 120" dowel, and couldn't find one. So I took a 2 x 4 and ripped (cut with the grain) it down to one and a half inches square. After I had that square long piece, I rounded off all the corners with a round-over bit on my router, and thus turned it into a huge, long dowel. Now technically, the only way to turn it into a "perfect" cylinder was to use a 3/4" round-over bit, that would make it a perfect circle looking at it's end. But I just used what I had, so it wasn't a perfect rod. But it was fine.

I suggest you buy a 14 foot 2 x 4, and take it to a local cabinet shop. Ask them to rip it down, and then round the corners off. It can't take more than 15 minutes, total.  In this economy, I would think someone would be more than willing to make $20 or whatever to do this. If you can't get a cabinet shop to do it, try your local high school woodshop class. Bring doughnuts, that bribe always works!

Good luck,

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com