fuzzypirate Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Hi - I'm still fairly new to woodworking as a hobby and don't have a router yet. A simple foot stool project I am going to tackle soon calls for using dowel joints. Is it possible to use a drill to make these? Or do I need to get a router? If I must get a router, any suggestions on a good one to start with? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmac Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 A drill would be the preferred tool for making dowel holes. If you need to get anything, it would be a doweling jig of some sort to help you place the holes accurately. But, depending on how the foot stool goes together, you might not even need that. Can you post the plans for your project? It might be easier to make suggestions with a better idea of what you are trying to do. -- Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzypirate Posted October 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Hi Russ - thanks for the input. I have been digging around a bit more and I think you might be right. For this project I think a drill would work. I just got a new CMS and stand, so I am trying to keep any new purchases to a minimum. Here is a link to the plans I am going to follow: http://www.bconnex.net/~zirgo/Wood/KidBench/KidBench.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 Just a drill is fine for that project. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmac Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 For that project, a drill is all you need. For the most part, it looks like you are supposed to clamp or glue the parts together, and then add the dowels after the glue has dried (or with the clamps in place) in order to reinforce the joints. So, in effect, the dowels act sort of like big wooden nails. You don't need any jigs or fixtures to drill the holes because you are drilling through both parts for each joint after they are already glued or clamped together. That way, the holes for the dowels are guaranteed to line up properly without any fiddling around. Looks like fun. Go for it! -- Russ PS: Where did you get the idea that you might need a router for drilling the holes? That's something I have never heard of before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzypirate Posted October 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 Excellent. I am a general DIYer and have tackled retaining walls, planters, moulding and other general house type stuff, but haven't done much in the way of actual furniture type projects, but I am interested in getting more into that side of things. Clearly you can see I am starting off easy. When I googled "how to make a dowel joint" the first page of results were mostly methods for using router bits and jigs to drill them. I kept digging a bit more and saw that, like you said, a drill should work just fine more often than not, especially with the right jig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 They make a plug that has a point on it. The plug goes in the hole you drilled and when you push the boards together it makes a small divit on the other side that is where you drill at. Comes in pretty handy and its cheap at any box store Menards has it for like 3.00. I think marc used one in one of his videos I don’t remember which or I would post the link if anyone knows which video it was please post the link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmcgarry Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 hey the video you're thinking of is his keep-sake box video: http://thewoodwhisperer.com/oh-for-keepsake/ if you skip to 18 mins 10 seconds he starts talking about the "dowel alligner thingamijiggy" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 thanks dmc ya i got a set of them and they have saved my but several times. not as good as a realy good driling jig but they work in some hard pinches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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