On Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:52:22 +0000, Rod
wrote:

Andy Burns wrote:
john wrote:

My application is to use a very short length of dowell to replace an
AAA or AA battery

If you can't buy dowel that is the right size, get the next size up, cut
it a couple of inches longer than you want, Assuming you don't have
access to a lathe, stick it in the chuck of a drill, and use a strip of
sandpaper to thin it down.

Or get some the next size down. Roll paper round it until it has grown
to the diameter required. (Use glue between layers for super job; a bit
of sticky tape at the end for a lash up.)

No need even for a drill. :-)

Or papier mache