Rather than spend extra money on fluted dowels, this simple jig (and some drywall screws) allows you to cut them yourself at home
With this jig, I can buy plain dowel rods and flute them myself. To make one, take a block of 1-1⁄2″-thick scrap that measures 3-1⁄2″ square. Cut it into an octagon shape and bore a 3/8″- or 1/2″-diameter hole through the center (depending on the dowels you plan to use with the jig). Then drill a 1/8″-diameter hole, centered on each of the flats, going through to the dowel hole. Drive a 1-5⁄8″ drywall screw into each hole until just the tips of the screws protrude into the dowel hole. That’s it! Pounding a dowel through the hole cuts eight flutes in a single pass. Use a length of spare dowel to drive the end the rest of the way through. Then, give the dowel a little twist and cut eight more flutes with another pass.
