This project was built and designed by Tyler from DIYTyler. It’s a practical dowel-making jig that lets woodworkers create custom-sized dowels right in their own shop using scrap wood and simple tools.
Perfect for joinery, furniture building, and small crafts, this jig gives you control over the size, material, and quantity of dowels—all without needing to run to the store or settle for poor quality. Tyler’s version produces clean 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch dowels with accuracy and repeatability.
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Why a Dowel Maker is Worth Having
Dowels are a staple in woodworking, whether you’re building furniture, reinforcing joints, or making wooden accessories. Store-bought dowels can be inconsistent in diameter, limited in wood species, and expensive over time.
By making your own, you get complete control over the fit and appearance of your joinery. You can also repurpose scrap material—ideal for those who like to reduce waste and save money while building.
A Simple Yet Effective Jig Design
Tyler’s jig focuses on accuracy without complexity. It’s designed to be clamped or secured to your work surface and features a series of carefully drilled holes that shape square or rough stock into smooth, round dowels.
There are two key parts: the main cutting hole, which defines the dowel size, and the relief holes, which help reduce friction and guide the cut for better results.
Drilling the Main Cutting Holes
To get started, Tyler marks his metal stock for hole placement. Accuracy in this step is essential to ensure the dowels turn out the right diameter and move through the jig cleanly.
He first drills pilot holes with a smaller bit to guide the larger bits used for shaping. These pilot holes keep the bit from wandering and help produce clean, centered cutting holes for the dowels to pass through.
Using a drill press helps maintain straight and controlled drilling, especially in harder metals or tougher scrap stock.
Adding Relief Holes
Relief holes are placed on either side of the main cutting hole. These secondary holes don’t go all the way through—instead, they’re shallow enough to reduce resistance and keep wood fibers from binding up during cutting.
Positioning them correctly helps guide the material and allows for smoother motion through the jig. It’s a subtle detail that makes a big difference, especially when working with hardwoods.
Assembly and Testing
Once all the holes are drilled, the jig is ready for use. It’s secured to a surface and tested with a piece of square stock, which is pushed through the cutting hole using a drill or manual pressure.
Starting with softwoods like pine helps you get the hang of it before trying oak or maple. The result should be a clean, round dowel with minimal tear-out—ready to be used in any number of woodworking applications.
Sanding for a Smooth Finish
After each dowel is shaped, light sanding may be needed to remove any minor ridges or fibers. This ensures a smooth surface and helps the dowel seat cleanly in drilled holes without damaging surrounding wood.
Tyler shows how a quick pass with fine-grit sandpaper brings the dowels to a professional finish, making them suitable for both structural and decorative use.
Customization Options
The jig can be modified for different dowel sizes by drilling additional holes in varying diameters. This allows you to create everything from thin pins for trim to larger dowels for furniture or joinery.
Another benefit is being able to choose your wood type—matching the grain and species of your project for strength and consistency. Store-bought dowels rarely offer that kind of flexibility.
Benefits of Making Your Own Dowels
There’s a strong case for having this jig in your workshop. It saves time, cuts costs, and gives you full control over one of the most useful components in woodworking.
Beyond that, it’s a great way to build confidence with tools like drill presses, understand jig mechanics, and experiment with different materials. Projects like this help woodworkers sharpen their skills while producing something genuinely useful.
A Valuable Tool for Any Woodshop
Tyler’s dowel maker is a simple project, but it fills a real need in the shop. It’s the kind of jig that gets used again and again, especially for builders who work with dowel joinery or prefer traditional techniques.
It also reflects Tyler’s usual approach—clean, efficient builds that solve everyday shop problems. With just a few tools and a bit of time, this jig pays for itself in saved trips to the hardware store and better project results.
Please support Tyler by visiting his website here: diytyler.com