Wheel and Dowel Sets

Because wood is a natural product, with a unique structure, it can constantly contract and expand. This is due to the moisture content of wood, which is affected by changes in the surrounding humidity and to a much lesser degree, the surrounding temperature.

For example, wood will expand when the air is more humid and contract when the air is drier. This is a process which cannot be stopped, however techniques can be applied to deal with the movement.

Wood does not move equally in all directions and there is usually very little movement in terms of length. The greatest movement tends to be across the grain and you may find that you have a very tight fit when putting wheels onto the dowel.

We would advise using sandpaper to lightly remove some of the wood from the end of the dowel that you wish to use. To make this as easy as possible, we have included sandpaper in the kit free of charge. Fitting wheels onto dowel, can also be made easier if you chamfer the end of the dowel with one turn of a pencil sharpener.