Install Wood Dowel Joints

This will help to explain how to install a dowel wood joint. This wood joint is easy to install if you have the right tools and equipment. Dowels can be used to glue supports to legs, tops to legs/supports and many others. Follow the steps below and you will install dowel joints in no time.

Steps

1. Have the tools and necessary equipment (look in Things You Will Need). Once you start gluing you will not have time to find it all before the glue dries.
2. Mark out where you are going to install the dowels. If you have the dowel jig you can open it up to fit your piece of material and secure in a vice or clamps. If you don’t have the jig secure the material in a vice.
3. Get a drill bit of the right size. It should be of equal diameter or slightly smaller than the dowel.
4. Mark off how deep you would like to have the dowel go.
   • No more than two thirds of the dowel should be in the wood for a strong joint.
   • The easiest way to get holes of the right depth is to wrap a piece of tape onto the drill bit with the lower edge of the tape at the depth required. Wrap the tape into a flag shape so that the chips are cleared and the surface is exposed exactly when the drill is at the right depth.
5. Drill the holes.
6. Cut your dowels to the right length. If the dowels are a tight fit you may have to sand them down so they can fit properly without a lot of force.
7. Apply glue to the dowels and the hole.
8. Install the dowels.
9. Glue the boards together.

Tips

• Try to keep to your desired depth but it is OK to drill a bit deeper
• The easiest way to install dowels is with the dowel jig. This will cost some money but is worth it if you are planning to do install a large amount of dowels.

Things You'll Need

• Drill
• Dowel Jig (if possible)
• Drill Bit (size of your dowels)
• Wood Dowels
• Sandpaper
• Pliers(in case dowel gets stuck)
• Vise(if you do not have access to a vise clamps will work fine)

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• Use a Glue Gun
• Use a Wood Lathe
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