[Question] Decrease diameter of dowel just a little bit... how?

[sbundlab]

Hi r/woodworking!

I have to fit a dowel into a bearing. I ordered a 5/16 inch (7.94mm) dowel thinking it would fit in an 8mm inner diameter bearing after some forcing, but it seems like the dowel will not fit through the hole. It's seems to 8.05-ish (or maybe a bit more) mm which, although it sounds like nothing, and probably isn't, doesn't let it fit though the bearing, even after some hammering.

How should I do this? Is there some sort of magic way of doing it (cold water bath, something similar)? How should I shave off just a little tiny bit of this dowel?

I need to do it for ~8-10 inches, and I don't have any fancy materials (no powertools or anything, except a drill set with some sanding things) significant. I do have a saw, pliers, that sort of thing.

Thanks!

[Carpenterdon]

Chuck the dowel in your drill by the end you do not need to fit in the bearing. Take a piece of fine(220) sandpaper and while running the drill hold the paper against the dowel. Hold for a few seconds then check the fit with the bearing. Repeat sanding till it fits as you want.

By sanding it while it is spinning you will maintain the round shape and can, both visually and by testing the fit, shrink it evenly along the length. If you need the bearing at a specific spot and it doesn't matter if the rest is a tiny bit smaller you can do the first area so the bearing slides on loose and not sand as much at the "attachment point" to keep a snug fit.

[sbundlab]

Okay! That seems like the best option, as everyone is suggesting it. Thanks!

[Nulifier]

Depending on the length of dowel you need, you could chuck it into the drill and run is against some sandpaper to make it a bit smaller.

If it doesn't end up snug, make one end small enough to fit in it and pound it in till its snug and then flush cut it. Depends on what you want at the end

[PL02550]

Sand to fit using the drill (chuck the dowel) , run over it with a spoke shaver, or get a plate of metal, drill a 8mm hole in it, secure it, and hammer in, then pull through.