Sometimes when I need dowels I can't get, I will drill a hole in 1/8"
or so metal the size of the needed dowel. Then cut a square stick a
few feet long, slightly larger than the hole in the metal. Whittle one
end so you can chuck it in a drill, whittle the other end so it will
fit in the hole, fire up the drill and slowly push the stick through
the hole. Another swell thing to do with a drill and which doesn't have
a thing to do with this topic is to fold a piece of wire in half, clamp
one end in a vice and the other in a drill, pull it taut and turn on
the drill. You end up with a straight piece of spiraled wire which you
may or may not have a use for. Sam