September 5, 20169 yr Guys, I need a doweling jig. Seems to be many to choose from. Any recommendations? Rick Sexton Edited November 25, 20178 yr by Ron Dudelston tags added
September 5, 20169 yr I use this one from Woodcraft. It's the economy model. They have others with replaceable inserts. The only down side I've found so far is the limitation on the maximum size of material. Edited September 5, 20169 yr by lew
September 5, 20169 yr I'm w/ Lew but w/ the replaceable inserts... http://www.woodcraft.com/product/124315/premium-doweling-jig.aspx JessEm builds quite a rig if you are going to do a lot doweling...
September 5, 20169 yr I don't do a lot of dowel joints because they are inherently weak, but when I do I adapt this. (and it keeps it from being a "uni-tasker") http://www.rockler.com/3-8-beadlock-basic-starter-kit And it's cheaper than most doweling jigs.
September 6, 20169 yr Author Thanks, guys. You're the best. Didn't plan to use dowels but have a special need for a baby/youth bed for grandchild coming in the spring. Rick Sexton
September 6, 20169 yr 2 minutes ago, Rick S said: Thanks, guys. You're the best. Didn't plan to use dowels but have a special need for a baby/youth bed for grandchild coming in the spring. Rick Sexton move to the head of the class and do M&T's instead...
September 6, 20169 yr Rick, DO NOT buy the H-F version that look like the ones Stick & Lew show. It (mine) is not repeatable to center. I've disassembled/reassembled several times to no avail. I finally figured out a method to fool it by shimming but don't use it that often. My $.02 VOE.
September 6, 20169 yr Sure you wouldn't want that one time doweling jig that Woodpecker's offered back in the spring? Seem like it was a mere $600 or so.
May 13, 20188 yr On 9/7/2016 at 7:04 AM, Stick486 said: look to the JessEm Jig... http://jessem.com/DOWELLING_JIG.html Doesn't work. Herb
May 13, 20188 yr On 9/5/2016 at 11:20 AM, kmealy said: I don't do a lot of dowel joints because they are inherently weak, but when I do I adapt this. (and it keeps it from being a "uni-tasker") http://www.rockler.com/3-8-beadlock-basic-starter-kit And it's cheaper than most doweling jigs. I have that system too, Keith and really like it. It is more of a floating tenon than a dowel. Herb
May 13, 20188 yr IIRC, ( If I Remember Correctly...for John ) the Beadlock jig can be used for just one hole, also. Been a long time since I used mine.
May 13, 20188 yr 2 hours ago, Gene Howe said: IIRC, ( If I Remember Correctly...for John ) the Beadlock jig can be used for just one hole, also. Been a long time since I used mine. Yes you are right or 2 holes separated. If you want to get fancy, https://www.dowelmax.com/mitered-wood-joints/ Herb Edited May 13, 20188 yr by Dadio
May 15, 20188 yr On 5/13/2018 at 9:54 AM, Gene Howe said: IIRC, ( If I Remember Correctly...for John ) the Beadlock jig can be used for just one hole, also. Been a long time since I used mine. Yes, depending upon the diameter of the dowel and which model you have you can one or several holes over about 1.5-2" I even used it to make mortises for a floating tenon on a broken chair rail a while ago. The premium model has a second set of templates that allows you to chisel out the waste for floating or integral tenons. I call it "the poor man's domino." I (re-)watched a video on the Milescraft doweling jig. It looks interesting and simple (and inexpensive), but just watching the video, I could see a lot of wobble when the hole was being drilled. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milescraft-Joint-Mate-13190003/300534139?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|G|0|G-BASE-PLA-AllProducts|&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5-TXBRCHARIsANLixNwkmAPWETDIkY5DHl0ui3KL4eDg6trWafEqfC2iG1QNz2oWUjf9cgoaAnNiEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CNiOqoe3htsCFc7dwAodA1AHFA Edited May 15, 20188 yr by kmealy
May 15, 20188 yr 2 hours ago, kmealy said: Yes, depending upon the diameter of the dowel and which model you have you can one or several holes over about 1.5-2" I even used it to make mortises for a floating tenon on a broken chair rail a while ago. The premium model has a second set of templates that allows you to chisel out the waste for floating or integral tenons. I call it "the poor man's domino." I (re-)watched a video on the Milescraft doweling jig. It looks interesting and simple (and inexpensive), but just watching the video, I could see a lot of wobble when the hole was being drilled. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milescraft-Joint-Mate-13190003/300534139?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|G|0|G-BASE-PLA-AllProducts|&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5-TXBRCHARIsANLixNwkmAPWETDIkY5DHl0ui3KL4eDg6trWafEqfC2iG1QNz2oWUjf9cgoaAnNiEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CNiOqoe3htsCFc7dwAodA1AHFA That is pretty slick, first time to see that. Might be a good jig if a fella was doing a lot of cabinets or tops. A lot to remember, but after doing a few might like it. I have been using the biscuit joiner for so long it is a no brainer for me. I used dowels before that with the jig I clamped along the edge of the board. Didn't do corners with dowels. Herb
May 15, 20188 yr Re: the Beadlock jig. Like so many gadgets I "just had to have", after using it a few times, it went back in the box and in a drawer. If I gathered up all the useless (to me) crap I've accumulated, I could have a 3 day yard sale.
May 16, 20188 yr On 5/15/2018 at 8:48 AM, Gene Howe said: Re: the Beadlock jig. Like so many gadgets I "just had to have", after using it a few times, it went back in the box and in a drawer. If I gathered up all the useless (to me) crap I've accumulated, I could have a 3 day yard sale. Well, I got both models with all the guides at a very reasonable price (free). I use it once in a while when I felt I needed some extra strength that other methods dis not have. I have used it on some take-apart projects, like bed rails (not the ones that hold the mattress, but guard rails on bunk beds).
May 17, 20188 yr On 9/5/2016 at 11:40 AM, lew said: I use this one from Woodcraft. It's the economy model. They have others with replaceable inserts. The only down side I've found so far is the limitation on the maximum size of material. ...and that since it is self-centering, the boards must be an absolute same thickness.
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