Comments on: Working with Dowel Joints

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 17:12:44 +0000

Super helpful! Who knew there was so much helpful equipment out there? Not me!

By: Paul Christu

Paul Christu — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:39:05 +0000

Very much an amateur; beekeeper, so have to construct various types of boxes, generally using scrap/recovered lumber, OSB, plywood. Most of my doweled joints are butt joints. I glue, clamp square, drill pilot hole through first piece, large enough for screw threads to pass without catching, then continue a small pilot hole into the second piece. Pop a 2-3” deck screw in, use that to compress the joint while glue starts to set (say, 20-30 minutes). Then remove the screws, enlarge the pilot hole to dowel size, drop a little glue in the hole and pound flush with mallet. No jig needed; holes are never misaligned. Process moves along quickly because I’m not using a jig and always drilling in one direction.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 05:05:03 +0000

Do you have a recommendation on dowel spacing? (I’m building a shelf with surface to edge joint and exposed dowels). Not sure how many dowels I need to secure each shelf.
Thanks so much for posting such great work! I am thrilled to find your site.

By: Timisha

Timisha — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 11:39:01 +0000

In reply to Lynda. Thank you Lynda! So glad you enjoyed it.

By: Timisha

Timisha — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 11:37:53 +0000

In reply to lisa ryan. Thank you so much Lisa! It's really not hard once you get into it.