Haven't watched all of them, still working my way through, but couldn't agree with you more when you say '' Not a second of my time was ever wasted '' A great bit of luck finding this channel for me. Cheers
Finally Mr M shows us weekend woodworkers how to produce domino style accurate joints at beer money prices 😀 ... This is why I subscribed to the channel
With years of using dowels in the past I never knew that about using the notch on the dowel guide when doing a T joint. Every day is a learning day. Nice work Peter!
I totally agree as a carpenter of 40 years I just purchased one of these handheld jigs. They're not bad for their purpose and not bad for the price for what you get. But all the references and videos that I seen said just to hang on to it which is incorrect you should always clamp down your jig so it does not move because on a 3/4-in piece of plywood or half inch the handle can rock just enough to put your dowel at an angle. Always take the time to clamp down your wood piece and your jigs for accurate craftsmanship. Other words slow down do the prep work first get set up so your finished product comes out flawless That's true craftsmanship even with a simple cheap little jig such as this. Good video.
@@hagechin , of course I use whatever clamps I have including C clamps with some deep throats. Play hits really really far in and you don't have a clamp available of course you always make a jig out of wood normally what I do is I align it up along the side of the jig with long strips running from end to end of the material and then clamp down accordingly. Sometimes you spend more time making a jig to complete the project than you do just working on the project alone lol. Patience is a thing in carpentry especially in cabinet building and fine woodworking such as furniture.
I just bought this exact same jig, and of course it came with no instructions. This video is clear concise and most importantly- informative! Thank you. Subscribed!!
Just bought the jig. Presumed I'd be able to work it out as I am a D&T teacher but having just watched the video I would have missed half the benefits and such clever simple tips that will make it so much more useful. Thanks very much, I'll pass them on to my pupils.
Just bought a dowel jig and it didn’t come with instructions so, so glad to stumble over this vid. Very clear and helpful guidance. Thank You so much for your honest presentation :)
Thank you for revisiting this and giving some pointers. Those of us that have limited budget for the big tools use these all the time. I do admit though the Domino would be much faster, less aggravation, and better immediate results. Not mentioning needing 3 hands... How about a hand to the homeowner builders, makers etc that create product with the simplest of tools.
Peter, I live in the north west of England. I watch all your videos and find them inspirational and inspiring. But this is a first. The other night I was in bed watching one of your videos on an iPad. My wife was trying to get to sleep at my side. At the end of the video she asked “who was that?” I told her and she said the description and information and the way it was presented was excellent! That’s something she never says to me, so thought I’d pass it on. She is right of course. Please keep it up.
Thanks Peter for all of your great videos, I struggled with this one even with clamps as I kept getting sideways movement out by a mm or so. I came across a video by Mardak workshop (how to use a doweling jig step by step). He does not mark the piece up at all instead using a dowel in a prior hole to line up the hole on the adjoining piece with the slots at the back of the jig. It worked a treat as locked everything into place so felt more stable.
Thanks Peter. I too gave up on my cheap dowel jig 20+ years ago, it never gave good results - but I didn't throw it away. I was intrigued, my original jig had instructions that were little more than an advertising slogan "Place jig, drill holes, strong joint". Now that I understand HOW the jig was to be used it actually works!
Just bought this jig, tried to use it today and failed miserably, A waste of £16 as I wound up measuring the old fashioned way. Now I have seen this, it all makes complete sense, I will have another go armed with the knowledge I have gained from this video. It shows you can teach old dogs new tricks I'm 74 . Thank you :)
Well done, I rediscovered the joy of dowels after realizing that the Domino was not in the near future for my use, and biscuits alone were not getting me the alignment I wanted. Tip, I created a depth setting jig with a set of depth setting dowels so all I had to do was slip the drill over the top off the bit, down to the depth dowel, tighten the collet, and I had with the depth for the dowel, perfectly set. Made one depth dowel for each of the common dowel sizes I use. Takes most of the fiddling work out of dong dowels. BTW - I use two Milescraft Doweling Pro's to align and drill two sets of holes all at once. This avoids most the alignment issues some people have with dowels, and makes doing dowels quick and accurate.
This is a good tip. I’m surprised the jigs don’t come with a depth setting line on the fence for each of the dowel sizes. Would be super simple for them to add it. I may just scratch that on myself now. Also that’s a great idea having 2. They are super cheap and keeping one with the fence and one without would keep the work more consistent if you can’t get all of each type of holes done at the same time.
Hi Peter, great tips but you missed one - once you have set up the removable fence like you did in the bonus tip, you can use this on the L joint to drill the face holes by clamping the pieces flat together and sliding the fence over the dowel in the end holes, they will then be aligned in the same way they are for the T joint, and you don't need to mark the position for the holes in the face either, eliminating the problem you mentioned 👍
@@igna924You might figure it out for now, but I will try to explain for those who may watch it in the future. 1) Setup the jig as shown in bonus clip. 2) Drill remaining holes on the face and insert dowels. 3) Take the part out the vice and lay on a table. 4) Take the other part of the joint and place it on the top. 5) Align edges of both parts to make them flush. 6) Now, at the fence part of the jig you should see three slots corresponding with dowel sizes. Slide correct size one on the dowel and press the jig against top and the faces. 7) Your jig should be perfectly aligned and ready to drill a hole.
The main limitation of that style of dowel jig is that the size of the workpieces to be joined have to be three to four times the width of the dowel jig to get a couple of dowels far enough apart. This is the main reason I prefer L or T-shaped dowel jigs that reference off a fence and the side(s) of the jig. A better technique for the L-joint using the dowelmaster style jig is to do what Peter did for the T-joint and use the slots in the end of the jig to reference off dowels installed in the "end-grain" part clamped and aligned to the other piece to be joined when drilling the holes in the face. This is shown in the Dowelmaster video I believe. I have found it useful to _not_ space the dowels an equal distance from each edge. This makes it more obvious when the pieces have been oriented incorrectly and if the difference in spacing is more than the diameter of a dowel gives you a second chance to drill the holes in the correct place by orienting the board correctly to align the dowel jig.
That was really well done, Peter! Every time I watch a video like this one I feel that I'm picking up ideas that will help me increase precision beyond the task at hand - like the brad point bit for alignment.
Thank you so much for that. For those of us who do "woodworking" (I say that loosely) as a hobby using dowels would be the way to go, well for me anyway. These are just the sort of videos I really enjoy.
Oh my god....... Life changing! I've been watching woodworking tutorials on TH-cam since 2 years ago, and I am so surprised that I've only encountered your videos recently.. Thank you SO very much for the amazing explanations! I actually have the dowel tools but never dared to use them. Time to put those dusty tools to good use! Lots of love from Malaysia!
After watching this video I got an identical jig off wish for €3,arrived today,must say it's surprisingly accurate,no festool domino but would be able to but enough of these for every student in my woodwork class for a fraction of the cost of a domino jointer.thanks Peter, excellent detail and demonstration.👍
My dowel kit included the pins that mark the adjacent dowel position. I used the drill point, like you, to locate the jig over that point. I was also trying to use the diagonal pins close to an edge and ended up using another board as an extension to be able to engage the pin that was off the edge of the work piece. I should have used the fence!! Never thought about it at the time. That fence is more useful than I thought. Great tips! Thx. 👍
I used the link above and bought one of these jigs. There are no instructions with it, but none were needed as your video is so well explained. Thank you.
A very timely video. I picked up a load of PAR oak from AJ Ferguson to make a couple of bedside tables this morning and this video has conformed to me that using dowel joints is the way to proceed. Thank you.
I learnt more of this video than i have the last 10 videos. I can actually make a straight dowl line up. Thank you for this video. I have had that tool for a long time and could never make it line up straight. A++++++++
Might I suggest you use a centre punch to make an initial guide for the drill. They help when the dowel jig' 'blinds' locating the holes to be drilled. Works fine on smooth mdf surface but not very good on unfaced chip/particle board. But I have to say I have recently discovered your channel and I find its no nonsense approach refreshing and a good ten minutes time well spent.
I had my dowel jig on order, then found your film, brilliant thank you. When the jig arrives I now had a good idea how to use it, a fantastic film, much appreciated. I’m now also a new subscriber to your channel, perfect, kind regards.
I just bought one of this little jig. I didn’t know I could do such a lot of things with It. Thank you for your clear and nice explanation. Very calm, no loud music, it’s a pleasure watching the video. Best regards from Transilvania-România!
On the back of the video bought a cheap jig and made a great joint first time thabsj to the video Peter. One thing I found was that if you turn the jib on the pegs and use this to set up the collet on the drill bit it appears to work great for 18mm boards and 30mm dowels.
This video made this process effortless! I love learning how to join wood without using fasteners. Gonna get one of these jigs and start practicing this.
Thanks once again, Peter!!! Funnily enough I was looking into dowel joints this week as I have never used them and watched a video on which stress tests were done and I was convinced. Time-consuming & cheaper in comparison to the Festool dominos but it's all a hobby for me.
Have a look at the Wolfcraft's dowelling ruler jig (Wolfcraft 4650), it's a great jig for making furniture, easy to use and quicker than the cheap single-hole jigs whilst remaining quite cheap + it can be used for drilling system 32 holes (altough it's a bit cumbersome)
I have a Wolfcraft jig set and have had it for more than 10 years. Comes with dowels drills etc, AND it's identical to the 'cheap' jig that you used. I have used it maybe five or six times in the 10 years, as I didn;t find it easy to use. Today, watching your video I learn a lot. I think that you can rest assured that I will be using it a lot more in the future. Thank you Peter.
Thanks Peter, another wonderful basics video. I’m just about to L joint on a project. I’ve had a dowel jig for a good number of years but I thought I’d look up a ‘how to video’ just to make sure I wasn’t missing a trick. I naturally went to you video first and was not disappointed to find I’d missed a couple of tricks not just one. The notch on the side is new to me, also not using a Brad point drill bit was good to know about. Please keep up your superb content they make every day a school day. Ken Myerscough, Southport UK 👍
Thanks Peter. I’ve got a Wolfcraft jig but it’s languishing in the toolbox as I bought a Kreg pocket hole jig system. Probably because I hadn’t seen many TH-cam videos on how to use the dowel jig properly. Thanks for the pointers. I’ll have more of an idea now and can reference back if I do a few dowel joints. Many thanks. 👍🏻
Thank Peter. These jigs certainly work I still have a hard wood cabinet I built using the then wolf craft dowel jig. It is the same as the blue one you used. Your points around marking and making sure you keep the jig on the same side when drilling is perfect. I remember makes those mistakes and everything not lining up!
Great timing on this tutorial, Peter. I’ve always used screws, and occasional nail, but recently purchased a very similar doweling jig and haven’t used it yet. Now I have more confidence in using it, thanks to your video, and have to give it a try soon. Love the drill point aligning tip and the centering trick at the end of the video. They will be very handy. Thanks, and yes, please keep the tutorials coming. They are great for us folks that don’t get to do much woodworking of any kind.
I have to say, again, what a great vid this is. I am using it as a reference video for dowel usage. It also really interesting to see what a simple tool in the hands of an experienced woodworker can result in. IMHO this kills the whole «if I had - I could» debate in one fell swoop.
That final tip is awsome! Thanks a lot for the video! By the way, I just bought that same jig in a popular (cheap) store called Action, here in The Netherlands, including a couple of drill bits + stops, a bunch of dowels and a case for storage/transport. I paid around 10 Euros, which is a great deal if you ask me.
Peter thank you so much for this awesome explanation on how to use the dowel jig correctly , i bought a kit over 2 years ago , in frustration i put it away , the original video looked so easy , after seeing your instruction i think i might pull it out again and give it another go , again thank you so much for this great video series
Iv had a dowel jig for many years and never liked it , It never gave good results and thought though tap in pointy pins just seemed to be faster and easier. I knew that all the slots and sticky up bits were there for a reason but as I has never had instruction of seen how to use it . What a light bulb moment. not sure that it will replace my Domino or Lamello but certainly renewed interest.
Hi Roger, I'm making a sink unit for an Apron/Belfast/Farmhouse/Cottage sink 😄😉 and was originally going to use a frame method with pallet wood sides, but eventually thought bollos to that, and now making a cabinet but didn't fancy pocket holing. So having remembered this vid, just reacquainted myself with doweling. Nothing wrong with pocket hole joints, just got fed up and fancied a change and needed a reminder. Thanks for the memory nudge.
Also might get those spikey thingies that fit into the edge dowel hole, and then press into the face or vice versa as I can see myself making a few more cabinets. I'm lucky enough to know a cabinet manufacturer near me who sells ply offcuts 1000×1200 max but will cut to size at respectable prices. Bonus.
Dowel joinery is my primary joinery method for most projects. If you are feeling flush Peter, try the Joint Genie dowel jigs, they are not cheap but made to last, accurate and easy to use.
Thanks sir it's really helpful Just yesterday I bought this dowel but don't know the way of use you explain in a very nice way its helps not only perfect joints also faster then ever
Your jig is looking rather good. No sink marks or bent walls from improper injection molding. I've previously bought a Wolfcraft jig similar to yours and the quality was horrendous. Returned it right away. I am now using a kwb/Bosh dowel jig and it's been quite decent. As simple as a dowel joint is it does require high accuracy.
Peter again so much to learn I too have had one of those jigs in my garage and never really got to grips with it in and out of the drawer never could really fathom it out so complex in its simplicity but your little ideas are so beneficial I can see that little jig will be one of my most used tools thanks to you again oh mine is yellow not that makes a difference but I will be getting some practice with it now I know the secrets thanks again
Haha.snap.i though I was really gonna change things when I bought my yellow one.but couldn't fathom it out.thank you for clearing this up for me.good man.👍
Thanks for a great tutorial! I spent all evening yesterday trying to come up with a jig/way to do this reliably myself. Going to pick one of these up tomorrow as it seems to make it a much easier and more pleasant experience!
I too bough my Wolfcraft jig complete with drills, stops,dowels and even glue 20 yrs ago I've made stools buffets cabinets definitely thinking of buying one of the latest versions, good video Peter👍 .
Thank you so much I’m very new to woodworking and ordered one and had no idea how to use it and thanks to your video I have no problem! Thanks again your video was very helpful and easy to follow along with
@5'11" If the center of the hole to the outside edge of the jig is known, How about making a pencil strike that dimension form you intended hole. Simply align the edge with your target mark?
I swear to god, I had the same idea. It happens to all of us. At some point we all find easier ways for doing certain tasks. The annoying thing is, sometimes it takes years to figure them out.
If the marks are just arbitrary, then why not simply line the edge of the jig up with the mark. The holes will all just be shifted over the distance from the edge to the center of the hole and there is no need to measure the distance each time.
Wonderfully explained and demonstrated Peter, I've had one of those dowel jigs for some years and never got to use it, now i feel confident to try it. Thanks.
I just ordered one :D Two reasons: 1) I want to make some metal-free joints so that cutting through with a saw is not a problem 2) Seems like a useful way to join MDF (something I want to try) Thanks for the very useful demo!
I used a dowel jig to edge joint two MDF panels for a kitchen counter. Used epoxy for the surface rather than skinning a laminate. I have always had good fortune with dowels and will continue to use them, but I will get a domino one day.
Recently got myself an old wolfcraft dowel jig, the one that comes as a set which is similar to your blue one and used it to make a small wall hung cabinet. Some great tips in the video, some I had learned the hard way (the dowel holes not being quite deep enough) and a few I hadn't picked up on. Thanks 👍🏼
Very interesting review, I’ve been using a Dowelmax for years. It doesn’t have the same alignment issues that this jig has but it’s not a cheap piece of kit either but very accurate. I bought it because it offered accuracy at a price I could afford. The main downside is that unlike the Domino you don’t have any wiggle room, in fact it makes a very tight dry joint that’s difficult to take apart prior to gluing. I pop my dowels in the oven for 20 minutes to ensure they slide into the holes easy. Thanks for showing this jointing method . 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks again, Peter. After watching, I may be more willing to use my dowel jig, again. In the past, I've been less than successful getting worthwhile results. My problem seemed to center around jig movement. The torque of my driver was always enough to make the jig jump slightly causing my hole placements to be off enough to drive me crazy. While building a bookcase, I made a jig for the the jig that was to hold the doweling jig and and the lumber in place while I drilled. Even then, my dowel positions were unsatisfactory, and I haven't used it since. You seemed to make the whole thing work with so little effort. So, OK, I'll give it another go.
They really are a wonderful little jig. Here in the US, the equivalent to the Wolfcraft item would be the Milescraft jig. To attach the fence it uses thumbscrews. One tip I will take away from this is to use clamps more. One tip I can share is that - when using the centering pegs for the edge holes - swing the jig to the left not the right. That way the action of the drill bit will help hold the jig tight against the pegs whereas swinging to the tight means the drill can try to pull it out of position,* *might be reverse in the Southern Hemisphere... I’m not sure.
I have the same jig in my garage somewhere for years. I believe mines orange. Like you I had mixed results due to my own errors. Mostly due to not marking my reference surfaces. You think it’s simple to remember. But then you have 6 plus parts and it can quickly get confusing if you don’t keep it organized. 3 minutes planning and marking can save you 20 minutes of reworking or worse, replacing a whole panel.
Howdy, Brother! Excellent demonstration. Your tips concerning the clamping of the jig and using the brad point drill bit for alignment were priceless. Thanks!
![Ultimate Loose Tenon Jig [video 453]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IzKHZe0YCGY/mqdefault.jpg)
I have watched all of your videos and learned so much. Not a second of my time was ever wasted. A genuine thank you!
Thank you! 🙌👍
Haven't watched all of them, still working my way through, but couldn't agree with you more when you say '' Not a second of my time was ever wasted '' A great bit of luck finding this channel for me. Cheers
i couldn't agree anymore to your message
Finally Mr M shows us weekend woodworkers how to produce domino style accurate joints at beer money prices 😀 ... This is why I subscribed to the channel
Thanks Kevin! 👍
Unless you can reference of the edge of your panel or bit of wood it is impossible to use those little jigs accurately.
With years of using dowels in the past I never knew that about using the notch on the dowel guide when doing a T joint. Every day is a learning day. Nice work Peter!
Thanks Ian! 👍👍
I had the exact same "ahhhhhhhhhh ok" moment.
Same, fantastic!
Me too! Feeling very stupid now!!
I totally agree as a carpenter of 40 years I just purchased one of these handheld jigs.
They're not bad for their purpose and not bad for the price for what you get.
But all the references and videos that I seen said just to hang on to it which is incorrect you should always clamp down your jig so it does not move because on a 3/4-in piece of plywood or half inch the handle can rock just enough to put your dowel at an angle.
Always take the time to clamp down your wood piece and your jigs for accurate craftsmanship.
Other words slow down do the prep work first get set up so your finished product comes out flawless That's true craftsmanship even with a simple cheap little jig such as this.
Good video.
@@dansmith8912 Good points. But how would you clamp down the jog with the centre hole with the T joint?
@@hagechin , of course I use whatever clamps I have including C clamps with some deep throats.
Play hits really really far in and you don't have a clamp available of course you always make a jig out of wood normally what I do is I align it up along the side of the jig with long strips running from end to end of the material and then clamp down accordingly.
Sometimes you spend more time making a jig to complete the project than you do just working on the project alone lol.
Patience is a thing in carpentry especially in cabinet building and fine woodworking such as furniture.
At the moment you have a 99.7% approval rate of this video. You've earned it. Thank you.
Thank you! 👍👍
A link for this video should come with every dowel jig, great job PM.
Now *that* would get the viewing numbers up! Thanks! 👍👍
I bought one of those about 20 years ago at a flea market for a dollar. I never did figure out how to use it properly - now I know. Thanks!
Thanks! 🙌👍
droping the drill bit is such an easy tip i cant believe i never thought of it. Thanks!
I just bought this exact same jig, and of course it came with no instructions. This video is clear concise and most importantly- informative! Thank you. Subscribed!!
Thanks, and welcome! 👍
Just bought the jig. Presumed I'd be able to work it out as I am a D&T teacher but having just watched the video I would have missed half the benefits and such clever simple tips that will make it so much more useful. Thanks very much, I'll pass them on to my pupils.
Thank you! 👍
Thanks Peter . I bought the Wolfcraft jig and was having no luck with its use, despite a TH-cam demo video. Now I can see why. Thanks.
Peter, thank you. The clamping tips addressed my concern with trying to handhold the jig and drill the hole at the same time.
Exactly what I was looking for today! Thank you for putting this video together two years ago Peter, it's still providing value!!!
Just bought a dowel jig and it didn’t come with instructions so, so glad to stumble over this vid. Very clear and helpful guidance. Thank You so much for your honest presentation :)
Thank you for revisiting this and giving some pointers. Those of us that have limited budget for the big tools use these all the time. I do admit though the Domino would be much faster, less aggravation, and better immediate results. Not mentioning needing 3 hands... How about a hand to the homeowner builders, makers etc that create product with the simplest of tools.
Absolutely! 🙌🙌👍
There also a lot of satisfaction to be had using the simple tools.
I have been using dowels for jointing for a lifetime, but I still got something out of this Peter. Thanks.
Thanks Norman! 👍
You have a clear gift for offering up clear and easy to understand directions. Thanks for this video.
Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching! 👍
That brad-point bit trick to align the jig to your mark is fantastic. Worth the view.
Thanks! 👍
I'm not sure I've ever done any woodwork (other than a few weeks at school) yet I've watched countless hours of your videos and enjoyed them all.
Glad to hear it, thanks! 👍
Thank you Peter I bought this jig two years ago and never quite figured out how to use it, I have certainly learned a lot today
Thanks Kevin, glad to hear it! 👍
Peter, I live in the north west of England. I watch all your videos and find them inspirational and inspiring. But this is a first. The other night I was in bed watching one of your videos on an iPad. My wife was trying to get to sleep at my side. At the end of the video she asked “who was that?” I told her and she said the description and information and the way it was presented was excellent! That’s something she never says to me, so thought I’d pass it on. She is right of course. Please keep it up.
Thanks Ralph! And Mrs Ralph! 🙌👍
Thanks Peter for all of your great videos, I struggled with this one even with clamps as I kept getting sideways movement out by a mm or so. I came across a video by Mardak workshop (how to use a doweling jig step by step). He does not mark the piece up at all instead using a dowel in a prior hole to line up the hole on the adjoining piece with the slots at the back of the jig. It worked a treat as locked everything into place so felt more stable.
Great video, some new ideas and techniques. Thank you.
Thanks Peter. I too gave up on my cheap dowel jig 20+ years ago, it never gave good results - but I didn't throw it away. I was intrigued, my original jig had instructions that were little more than an advertising slogan "Place jig, drill holes, strong joint". Now that I understand HOW the jig was to be used it actually works!
Thanks Allan! 👍
I have this exact jig and have never used dowels or a jig before. This was perfect. Thank you 🙏🏻
Just bought this jig, tried to use it today and failed miserably, A waste of £16 as I wound up measuring the old fashioned way. Now I have seen this, it all makes complete sense, I will have another go armed with the knowledge I have gained from this video. It shows you can teach old dogs new tricks I'm 74 . Thank you :)
I had that exact experience years back! These jigs aren’t great, but they’re not terrible! 😂👍
Well done, I rediscovered the joy of dowels after realizing that the Domino was not in the near future for my use, and biscuits alone were not getting me the alignment I wanted.
Tip, I created a depth setting jig with a set of depth setting dowels so all I had to do was slip the drill over the top off the bit, down to the depth dowel, tighten the collet, and I had with the depth for the dowel, perfectly set. Made one depth dowel for each of the common dowel sizes I use. Takes most of the fiddling work out of dong dowels. BTW - I use two Milescraft Doweling Pro's to align and drill two sets of holes all at once. This avoids most the alignment issues some people have with dowels, and makes doing dowels quick and accurate.
Great info, thanks! 👍
A depth jig is a great idea. Perfect use for that bit of oak off cut I have lying around.
This is a good tip. I’m surprised the jigs don’t come with a depth setting line on the fence for each of the dowel sizes. Would be super simple for them to add it. I may just scratch that on myself now. Also that’s a great idea having 2. They are super cheap and keeping one with the fence and one without would keep the work more consistent if you can’t get all of each type of holes done at the same time.
The "quick tip" at the end was super excellent!
Glad it helped! 👍
Thank you being new to woodwork and a complete novice I have fought with this jig in the past, now look at it with fresh eyes- now what to build!!!
Ah - what to build is the easy part! 😆 👍
Hi Peter, great tips but you missed one - once you have set up the removable fence like you did in the bonus tip, you can use this on the L joint to drill the face holes by clamping the pieces flat together and sliding the fence over the dowel in the end holes, they will then be aligned in the same way they are for the T joint, and you don't need to mark the position for the holes in the face either, eliminating the problem you mentioned 👍
I really dont understand this.. would anybody rephrase it?
@@igna924You might figure it out for now, but I will try to explain for those who may watch it in the future.
1) Setup the jig as shown in bonus clip.
2) Drill remaining holes on the face and insert dowels.
3) Take the part out the vice and lay on a table.
4) Take the other part of the joint and place it on the top.
5) Align edges of both parts to make them flush.
6) Now, at the fence part of the jig you should see three slots corresponding with dowel sizes. Slide correct size one on the dowel and press the jig against top and the faces.
7) Your jig should be perfectly aligned and ready to drill a hole.
The main limitation of that style of dowel jig is that the size of the workpieces to be joined have to be three to four times the width of the dowel jig to get a couple of dowels far enough apart. This is the main reason I prefer L or T-shaped dowel jigs that reference off a fence and the side(s) of the jig.
A better technique for the L-joint using the dowelmaster style jig is to do what Peter did for the T-joint and use the slots in the end of the jig to reference off dowels installed in the "end-grain" part clamped and aligned to the other piece to be joined when drilling the holes in the face. This is shown in the Dowelmaster video I believe.
I have found it useful to _not_ space the dowels an equal distance from each edge. This makes it more obvious when the pieces have been oriented incorrectly and if the difference in spacing is more than the diameter of a dowel gives you a second chance to drill the holes in the correct place by orienting the board correctly to align the dowel jig.
That last suggestion is a fantastic idea.
Good ( brad) point ( no pun intended) 😊
I can't believe how useful that jig is. Especially the t junction method.
Yes, very! Mighty impressive for a pocket-money jig. 👍
That was really well done, Peter! Every time I watch a video like this one I feel that I'm picking up ideas that will help me increase precision beyond the task at hand - like the brad point bit for alignment.
Thank you! 👍
Thank you so much for that. For those of us who do "woodworking" (I say that loosely) as a hobby using dowels would be the way to go, well for me anyway. These are just the sort of videos I really enjoy.
Thanks! 👍
Oh my god....... Life changing! I've been watching woodworking tutorials on TH-cam since 2 years ago, and I am so surprised that I've only encountered your videos recently.. Thank you SO very much for the amazing explanations! I actually have the dowel tools but never dared to use them. Time to put those dusty tools to good use!
Lots of love from Malaysia!
Thank you! And best wishes from London! 👍
Thanks so much for this video, I think I now know how to use a dowel jig! The using the point of the drill bit to mark is especially useful.
After watching this video I got an identical jig off wish for €3,arrived today,must say it's surprisingly accurate,no festool domino but would be able to but enough of these for every student in my woodwork class for a fraction of the cost of a domino jointer.thanks Peter, excellent detail and demonstration.👍
Thanks! 👍👍
Really one of my favourite video about the Dowelling Jig, you covered everything
My dowel kit included the pins that mark the adjacent dowel position. I used the drill point, like you, to locate the jig over that point.
I was also trying to use the diagonal pins close to an edge and ended up using another board as an extension to be able to engage the pin that was off the edge of the work piece. I should have used the fence!! Never thought about it at the time. That fence is more useful than I thought.
Great tips! Thx. 👍
Thanks! 👍
Yes, I really enjoyed your explanation. It'll make my life a lot easier when it comes to drilling for those pieces to match...
I used the link above and bought one of these jigs. There are no instructions with it, but none were needed as your video is so well explained. Thank you.
Thanks! 👍
A very timely video. I picked up a load of PAR oak from AJ Ferguson to make a couple of bedside tables this morning and this video has conformed to me that using dowel joints is the way to proceed. Thank you.
Excellent! I was just in there this afternoon - they said someone had been in, thanks! 🙌👍👍
Hi Peter, the more the merrier! Every time I watch your videos I learn something new. Keep up the good work thank you
Steve
Thanks Steve! 👍
I learnt more of this video than i have the last 10 videos. I can actually make a straight dowl line up. Thank you for this video. I have had that tool for a long time and could never make it line up straight. A++++++++
Might I suggest you use a centre punch to make an initial guide for the drill. They help when the dowel jig' 'blinds' locating the holes to be drilled. Works fine on smooth mdf surface but not very good on unfaced chip/particle board. But I have to say I have recently discovered your channel and I find its no nonsense approach refreshing and a good ten minutes time well spent.
Thanks, and welcome! 👍👍
I had my dowel jig on order, then found your film, brilliant thank you.
When the jig arrives I now had a good idea how to use it, a fantastic film, much appreciated.
I’m now also a new subscriber to your channel, perfect, kind regards.
I bought one last week, gave up and bought a £80 pocket hole jig 😂 Now I know how it works properly. Thanks Peter 👍
😂 Been there! 👍
I just bought one of this little jig. I didn’t know I could do such a lot of things with It. Thank you for your clear and nice explanation. Very calm, no loud music, it’s a pleasure watching the video. Best regards from Transilvania-România!
Thank you! Best wishes from London! 🙌👍👍
Just the instructional video I needed. Thanks again for adding to your library of how to videos. Brilliant
Thank you! 👍
On the back of the video bought a cheap jig and made a great joint first time thabsj to the video Peter. One thing I found was that if you turn the jib on the pegs and use this to set up the collet on the drill bit it appears to work great for 18mm boards and 30mm dowels.
Thanks Daniel! 👍
This video made this process effortless! I love learning how to join wood without using fasteners. Gonna get one of these jigs and start practicing this.
Thanks once again, Peter!!! Funnily enough I was looking into dowel joints this week as I have never used them and watched a video on which stress tests were done and I was convinced. Time-consuming & cheaper in comparison to the Festool dominos but it's all a hobby for me.
Thanks! Yes, there’s a lot to be said for them! 👍
Have a look at the Wolfcraft's dowelling ruler jig (Wolfcraft 4650), it's a great jig for making furniture, easy to use and quicker than the cheap single-hole jigs whilst remaining quite cheap + it can be used for drilling system 32 holes (altough it's a bit cumbersome)
Great video, thanks, I've just purchased the Wolfcraft jig and I'm looking forward to using it!
Thanks Dad- I mean random guy on the internet
😂
Just stumbled on this one and I'm now going to see the others. Very pleasant and very complete. Thanks.
I have a Wolfcraft jig set and have had it for more than 10 years. Comes with dowels drills etc, AND it's identical to the 'cheap' jig that you used. I have used it maybe five or six times in the 10 years, as I didn;t find it easy to use. Today, watching your video I learn a lot. I think that you can rest assured that I will be using it a lot more in the future. Thank you Peter.
I have been meaning to buy a dowel jig , just a hobbyist, this is a great alternative to the festool .
Thanks Peter, another wonderful basics video. I’m just about to L joint on a project. I’ve had a dowel jig for a good number of years but I thought I’d look up a ‘how to video’ just to make sure I wasn’t missing a trick. I naturally went to you video first and was not disappointed to find I’d missed a couple of tricks not just one. The notch on the side is new to me, also not using a Brad point drill bit was good to know about.
Please keep up your superb content they make every day a school day.
Ken Myerscough, Southport UK 👍
You, are a great teacher, cause you seem to enjoy what you do.... many thanks from Malta
Brilliant videos, love your channel Peter.
Cheers Danny! 🙌👍
Thanks Peter. I’ve got a Wolfcraft jig but it’s languishing in the toolbox as I bought a Kreg pocket hole jig system. Probably because I hadn’t seen many TH-cam videos on how to use the dowel jig properly. Thanks for the pointers. I’ll have more of an idea now and can reference back if I do a few dowel joints. Many thanks. 👍🏻
My kit was delivered this week. Thank you for doing this video. Certainly has helped for when i start making my shelving unit
Fantastic - glad it was helpful! Let me know how you get on 👍
Thank Peter. These jigs certainly work I still have a hard wood cabinet I built using the then wolf craft dowel jig. It is the same as the blue one you used.
Your points around marking and making sure you keep the jig on the same side when drilling is perfect. I remember makes those mistakes and everything not lining up!
Thanks Doug! 👍
Great timing on this tutorial, Peter. I’ve always used screws, and occasional nail, but recently purchased a very similar doweling jig and haven’t used it yet. Now I have more confidence in using it, thanks to your video, and have to give it a try soon. Love the drill point aligning tip and the centering trick at the end of the video. They will be very handy. Thanks, and yes, please keep the tutorials coming. They are great for us folks that don’t get to do much woodworking of any kind.
Thanks! My jig also has slots in the fence that are meant for alignment, but they’re not accurate enough on mine, unfortunately. 🤷♂️👍
I have to say, again, what a great vid this is. I am using it as a reference video for dowel usage.
It also really interesting to see what a simple tool in the hands of an experienced woodworker can result in. IMHO this kills the whole «if I had - I could» debate in one fell swoop.
Thanks Goran! 👍👍
That final tip is awsome! Thanks a lot for the video!
By the way, I just bought that same jig in a popular (cheap) store called Action, here in The Netherlands, including a couple of drill bits + stops, a bunch of dowels and a case for storage/transport. I paid around 10 Euros, which is a great deal if you ask me.
Peter thank you so much for this awesome explanation on how to use the dowel jig correctly , i bought a kit over 2 years ago , in frustration i put it away , the original video looked so easy , after seeing your instruction i think i might pull it out again and give it another go , again thank you so much for this great video series
Thanks, great to hear it helped! 👍
Iv had a dowel jig for many years and never liked it , It never gave good results and thought though tap in pointy pins just seemed to be faster and easier. I knew that all the slots and sticky up bits were there for a reason but as I has never had instruction of seen how to use it . What a light bulb moment. not sure that it will replace my Domino or Lamello but certainly renewed interest.
As a fellow DOmino and Lamello owner, I agree completely! 😂👍
Hi Roger, I'm making a sink unit for an Apron/Belfast/Farmhouse/Cottage sink 😄😉 and was originally going to use a frame method with pallet wood sides, but eventually thought bollos to that, and now making a cabinet but didn't fancy pocket holing. So having remembered this vid, just reacquainted myself with doweling. Nothing wrong with pocket hole joints, just got fed up and fancied a change and needed a reminder. Thanks for the memory nudge.
Also might get those spikey thingies that fit into the edge dowel hole, and then press into the face or vice versa as I can see myself making a few more cabinets. I'm lucky enough to know a cabinet manufacturer near me who sells ply offcuts 1000×1200 max but will cut to size at respectable prices. Bonus.
Just gone and ordered the dowel jig kit, Peter. I needed a cheaper jointing option and you've convinced me, thanks.
Cheers Keith! 👍
Thanks for this video. I bought this jig and did not know how to use it effectively, but I can make great use of it thanks to your teaching.
👍👍
Dowel joinery is my primary joinery method for most projects. If you are feeling flush Peter, try the Joint Genie dowel jigs, they are not cheap but made to last, accurate and easy to use.
Thanks sir it's really helpful
Just yesterday I bought this dowel but don't know the way of use you explain in a very nice way its helps not only perfect joints also faster then ever
Just used the wolfkraft jig at the end of this video. That’s for the Brad point tip to centre the dowel. Worked a treat.
Exactly what I needed to see before deciding which jig to buy. Always helpful and spot on.
Your jig is looking rather good. No sink marks or bent walls from improper injection molding. I've previously bought a Wolfcraft jig similar to yours and the quality was horrendous. Returned it right away. I am now using a kwb/Bosh dowel jig and it's been quite decent. As simple as a dowel joint is it does require high accuracy.
Yes, an unforgiving joint, but strong when done right,👍👍
Peter again so much to learn I too have had one of those jigs in my garage and never really got to grips with it in and out of the drawer never could really fathom it out so complex in its simplicity but your little ideas are so beneficial I can see that little jig will be one of my most used tools thanks to you again oh mine is yellow not that makes a difference but I will be getting some practice with it now I know the secrets thanks again
Thanks! It was a yellow one I threw out years ago, lol! The problem was definitely me though, but the jig! 👍
Haha.snap.i though I was really gonna change things when I bought my yellow one.but couldn't fathom it out.thank you for clearing this up for me.good man.👍
Thanks for a great tutorial!
I spent all evening yesterday trying to come up with a jig/way to do this reliably myself. Going to pick one of these up tomorrow as it seems to make it a much easier and more pleasant experience!
I too bough my Wolfcraft jig complete with drills, stops,dowels and even glue 20 yrs ago I've made stools buffets cabinets definitely thinking of buying one of the latest versions, good video Peter👍 .
Thanks Dave! 👍
Great tips. Such a clever little tool!
Thank you so much I’m very new to woodworking and ordered one and had no idea how to use it and thanks to your video I have no problem! Thanks again your video was very helpful and easy to follow along with
@5'11" If the center of the hole to the outside edge of the jig is known, How about making a pencil strike that dimension form you intended hole. Simply align the edge with your target mark?
I swear to god, I had the same idea. It happens to all of us. At some point we all find easier ways for doing certain tasks. The annoying thing is, sometimes it takes years to figure them out.
If the marks are just arbitrary, then why not simply line the edge of the jig up with the mark. The holes will all just be shifted over the distance from the edge to the center of the hole and there is no need to measure the distance each time.
Wonderfully explained and demonstrated Peter, I've had one of those dowel jigs for some years and never got to use it, now i feel confident to try it. Thanks.
Thanks so much, Peter! Did my first tests tonight using the jig you recommended and happy with the results! 👌 Just need to order some more dowels now!
Nice! 👌🙌💪
I just ordered one :D
Two reasons:
1) I want to make some metal-free joints so that cutting through with a saw is not a problem
2) Seems like a useful way to join MDF (something I want to try)
Thanks for the very useful demo!
Thanks! 👍👍
Really helpful tips, not all of what you have shown are in the instructions, very very helpful, many thanks
Just got this jig, Watched a few videos and this video was the best. I've learned more from this video than all the others together .
Thanks! 👍
I used a dowel jig to edge joint two MDF panels for a kitchen counter. Used epoxy for the surface rather than skinning a laminate. I have always had good fortune with dowels and will continue to use them, but I will get a domino one day.
Sounds good! 👍👍
Recently got myself an old wolfcraft dowel jig, the one that comes as a set which is similar to your blue one and used it to make a small wall hung cabinet. Some great tips in the video, some I had learned the hard way (the dowel holes not being quite deep enough) and a few I hadn't picked up on. Thanks 👍🏼
Thank you! 👍
Very interesting review, I’ve been using a Dowelmax for years. It doesn’t have the same alignment issues that this jig has but it’s not a cheap piece of kit either but very accurate. I bought it because it offered accuracy at a price I could afford. The main downside is that unlike the Domino you don’t have any wiggle room, in fact it makes a very tight dry joint that’s difficult to take apart prior to gluing. I pop my dowels in the oven for 20 minutes to ensure they slide into the holes easy. Thanks for showing this jointing method . 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
👍👍
A pleasure to find & learn great tips to complete accurate joints Thank You
Thanks again, Peter. After watching, I may be more willing to use my dowel jig, again. In the past, I've been less than successful getting worthwhile results. My problem seemed to center around jig movement. The torque of my driver was always enough to make the jig jump slightly causing my hole placements to be off enough to drive me crazy. While building a bookcase, I made a jig for the the jig that was to hold the doweling jig and and the lumber in place while I drilled. Even then, my dowel positions were unsatisfactory, and I haven't used it since. You seemed to make the whole thing work with so little effort. So, OK, I'll give it another go.
Thanks Terry! I know exactly what you mean about the jig movement - I found clamping it down really helped with this. 👍
Thanks a ton. I was given one of these and I had no idea how to use it. Perfect! Many thanks again
They really are a wonderful little jig. Here in the US, the equivalent to the Wolfcraft item would be the Milescraft jig. To attach the fence it uses thumbscrews.
One tip I will take away from this is to use clamps more.
One tip I can share is that - when using the centering pegs for the edge holes - swing the jig to the left not the right. That way the action of the drill bit will help hold the jig tight against the pegs whereas swinging to the tight means the drill can try to pull it out of position,*
*might be reverse in the Southern Hemisphere... I’m not sure.
Thanks Frank. 👍👍
Thanks Peter for these tips. Just what I needed, everytime!
Thank you Peter, very simple & clear explanation.
Blummin' brilliant Peter ... thank you so much. Just bought the jig, using your link.
The bonus tip at the end was great, always measured to death to get it centered.
Thanks! 👍
I have the same jig in my garage somewhere for years. I believe mines orange. Like you I had mixed results due to my own errors. Mostly due to not marking my reference surfaces. You think it’s simple to remember. But then you have 6 plus parts and it can quickly get confusing if you don’t keep it organized. 3 minutes planning and marking can save you 20 minutes of reworking or worse, replacing a whole panel.
Brilliant video, just got a metal dowel jig, cannot wait to try after watching this. You are the best❤️❤️❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Howdy, Brother! Excellent demonstration. Your tips concerning the clamping of the jig and using the brad point drill bit for alignment were priceless. Thanks!
Howdy, Brother! Needed to view your demo again for a refresher. Thanks again and Drive-On, Cowboy!! 🤠