My suggestion is to take a 1.50" hole saw and cut you out a piece of material about 1/4" thick.. Now you have a guide to find the center, set it on the end of the dowel and mark the center.. Another way would be use your lathe and a sqaure blank about 1/4- 1/2" thick turn it down between centers to the diameter of your dowl and then drill the center were your spur drive and live center left a mark, drill the center out and place it on the end of the dowel and mark the center..
Good luck..
