seems like every place i have been to has replaced their birch dowels with poplar or some other "hardwood" from china.

Downes & Reader Hardwood Co., Inc. (http://www.downesandreader.com/)

In Stoughton, was there yesterday with Tagger and he bought a bunch of them

I'm looking for a birch source on the north side of Boston too...

107 Hardwood Dowels, 3/4" x 36" (http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/tls/1584489365.html)

Downes & Reader Hardwood Co., Inc. (http://www.downesandreader.com/)

In Stoughton, was there yesterday with Tagger and he bought a bunch of them

I bought 7/8" x 3' $3.80 a piece.... I always buy 6 ...my season supply of needles plus for $23 + ... I could get away with 3/4" if my centering skills were better ..

107 Hardwood Dowels, 3/4" x 36" (http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/tls/1584489365.html)

wow .. thats a good deal

North Shore
Woodworkers Warehouse Woburn Ma on Montvale Ave. I've bought them up to 1". :uhuh:

here is where i get them

American made hardwood dowel rods, all dowel rods are 36 inches long, and true to size, we offer cherry, walnut, birch, and oak all from Benny's Woodworks and Tools. (http://www.bennyswoodworks.com/dowels.html)

nice link Mike ...Birch dowels good Mike ... I know birch is birch supposedly ,,but I got some lumber yard birch dowels that were punky ... soft turning ..