How big should a dowel hole be?

Diameter: Ideally, the diameter of the dowel should be approximately 1/3 – and never more than 1/2 – of the thickness of the wood being joined. For example, if your product is 1” thick, you should be considering a dowel pin 3/8” in diameter. If your product is 1-1/4” thick, a 7/16” diameter would be more suitable.

How do you measure a dowel hole?

The holes to accommodate the dowels should each be drilled about 1/16 of an inch deeper than 1/2 of the length of the dowel section being used. Dowels 1 1/2-inches long are commonly used, so in this case, you would drill each of your doweling holes to 13/16 of an inch in length.

Should dowel be bigger than hole?

Dowels can run a few thousandths of an inch larger or smaller than their specified diameter, leaving them tight or loose in the mating holes. If loose, drill a 15⁄ 64 ” hole ( 1⁄ 64 ” smaller in diameter) in the scrap. Check the fit of the dowel in this hole. If snug, drill 15⁄ 64 ” holes in the workpiece.

Should there be clearance at the bottom of the dowel hole?

Ideally, that means that the dowel and the hole could be the same diameter. However, in reality, dowel pins are commonly up to 0.0002 inches oversized, which becomes an absolute minimum oversize to ensure a clearance hole (slip fit). Beyond that, you should allow maximum manufacturing variation.

How can I make my dowel tighter?

If your dowel is now too small for its hole, wind cotton or linen thread around the tip of the dowel to make it thicker. Then coat the wood and thread with glue, and reassemble. Another way to fit a shrunken dowel into the hole is with a shim. Shims can be purchased where wood is sold.

How do I make my dowel smaller?

For a 3/8″ dowel I drill a 23/64″ hole thru metal, and then pound the dowels thru the hole to reduce their size a smidgen. Seems to work great, and during glue ups, after applying glue there is a snug fit without needing to pound the dowels into the holes.

How long is a dowel?

Dowel pegs sizes are usually listed in millimetres, but dowel rods may be listed either in millimetres or inches. Dowel rods usually come in widths between 3.175mm (1/8″) and 50.8mm (2″), but they can be as wide as 304.8mm (12″). They are usually between 304.8mm (12″) and 2.4m (9431/64) long.

What is a transitional dowel hole?

Transition fits lie in the middle of interference and clearance fits and are amongst the most commonly used fits. Tolerances of the dowel pin and corresponding holes are set in a way that it may be possible to obtain a clearance or interference fit within the specified tolerance.