These are a set of dowel makers. One is 1/4" diameter and the other is 3/8" diameter.
There are numerous ways to make dowels but these are very handy.

I had already made the 3/8" one which is the top one in the photo above. Because it worked so well, I then made the 1/4" one.

I started by making the 1/4" cutter plate. It's made from a chunk of 1/8" thick x 1" wide flat bar from HD x  3-1/2" long.

This view is the input side, the entry. Cutting hole is on center with two mounting holes.

This is the output side, the back

I then took a chunk of Maple, roughly 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" x 8" long and  recessed it to accept the cutter plate. The plate is then screwed into place.

Next I make some stock. I cut my stock on the table saw.  I make is slightly larger then 1/4" at 9/32".  Note: Do not make stock much bigger then what you want the finished dowel to be.

This is my plane stop specifically designed to hold the stock. It is a "V groove" and the tee end fits over your bench or table saw. The 9/32" stock is then laid in the "V Groove". Then the corners are knocked off with my block plane to prepare running it through the cutter plate. You want it basically to look like an octagonal piece. Be careful not to plane too much off.

Here the process begins. I chuck the prepared 9/32" stock in my drill and run it through

This is what it consistently measures at all up and down its length just after running it through the cutting plate. At 0.2495" I think it's pretty good!

This is a "check" using one of the dies out of my self centering doweling jig. It is a very accurate 0.250" diameter.

Thanks for looking!

Feel free to comment, ask questions and "thumbs up👍"  if you like it!

Cheers!
MrRick

Thanks Rick for the detail and especially the pictures; very informative. I need to put this on my round2it project list.

Edited March 26Mar 26 by Grandpadave52

You're welcome @Grandpadave52 !

Very cool set up.

Thanks @aaronc

Interesting build would not mean much to me without pictures.

I don't understand your comment Gerald. Please explain.

The pictures explain most of the process and just the words would not have done the job for me. As for me I have a bunch of dowels from estate sales but rarely use them. Now I have turned some short ones of special wood on the lathe .