Hi Sean, dowel pins are normally dead to size so probably the best route.

Emgee

This is probably as good as it gets: **LINK**

http://www.silver-steel.co.uk/aboutsilversteel.php

MichaelG.

Good link.

One gotcha used to be that the SS was "tri-lobate" so that out of roundness could not be detected with a mic.

Don't forget the size of your hole will affect the "fit" just as much as the pin, most off the self reamers are H7 or H8 so your SS will be a sliding fit, you really want it a bit tighter for a dowel pin.

I did have a feeling that proper dowel pins were slightly plus on size.

EDIT, seems I remembered correctly they are plus size as per this maker

Edited By JasonB on 18/11/2018 10:19:11

Don't you want a very light press fit on one part, and sliding fit on the part you're going to remove(cylinder head for example)?

The ground stainless steel round bars out of old computer printers make pretty handy dowel pins. Otherwise I just use silver steel and a worn reamer that gives a nice firm fit.

Edited By Hopper on 18/11/2018 12:15:01

In my experience silver steel can be surprisingly variable in diameter, roundness and parallelism. 10mm diameter silver steel for example can be anything from 9.97 to 10.00mm.

Silver steel is not that uniform a product. In find precision ground mild steel bar to be better if you need consistency. Wideley available….