Matching a stretcher to a dowel?

[atgcpaul]

I'm thinking about making a bar stool using larger diameter dowels (let's say 1 1/4") for the legs, but I want the stretchers to match the profile of the dowel where they meet.

I don't have a drill press, though, and I didn't think it was a good idea to cut into the dowel to make a flat area.

Any recommendations on how I can do this?

Thanks
Paul

[Gary G™]

If I was joining the stretcher using M&T, I would try to cope the stretcher to fit the circumference of the leg  with a protruding tenon.
Similar to how legs are cut for attachment to pie crust tables are done (except they use a sliding dovetail).

[AHill]

How are you going to attach the stretchers? Typically, stretchers are tapered and a mortise or a tapered hole is drilled into the leg to accept the tapered end of the stretcher. Then the stretcher is glued into the leg. You can use a hand drill to create the mortise.

[atgcpaul]

How are you going to attach the stretchers?  Typically, stretchers are tapered and a mortise or a tapered hole is drilled into the leg to accept the tapered end of the stretcher.  Then the stretcher is glued into the leg.  You can use a hand drill to create the mortise.

I had a couple ideas in mind.  Use my Domino and permanently glue the stretchers to the legs, or use a couple 3/8" dowels for registration and then secure it with a cross dowel and bolt a la IKEA to have it pack flat when we move again.

[blackhat]

Use a piece of the leg dowel, stick coarse sand paper to it and sand a profile in the end of the stretcher. Alternately, rasp a small flat on the leg where the stretcher will seat.