I use dowels often when tuning small to tiny turnings. Many times these dowels crush or come apart.  I turn my own dowels when using a colorful wood. I saw where I could get bamboo dowels in standard sizes and ordered a few to see how would turn.

When I received them I was amazed at how light and strong they are. I  turned one down into a sewing aid for my wife.

 

Here is what I found out. 

     1. Even tho they are advertised as being in standard sizes, they are metric. Holes must be bored with metric bits.

     2. Even tho it is very hard to see, many turning come off in tiny needles. Ask me how I know.  ouch.

    3. Even tho it is super hard, it absorbs finish like a soft wood.

    4. I will use it, but only as support for small turnings and then turn the bamboo down to a point on the ends of the ornaments.

     

 

 

 

Thanks for the information, Ron!