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tahir

Matching dowel to drill bit

I bought some 8mm dowels (woodcraft) but they just feel far too loose in 8mm holes, no pressure necessary they just fall in (and out) of the holes. This seems wrong to me, 7mm holes are too tight

What do I do?
sean

7.5mm holes? Use nails? Glue?
Hairyloon

Are you drilling your 8mm holes precisely or are they oversize because you've wobbled a bit?
Maybe wobble a bit with the 7mm, if you don't have a size in between.
vegplot

Use a smaller drill size.
Sand down the end of the dowels (assuming only the end is inserted in hole).
Mix glue and sawdust to fill the gap - not strong though.
Saw a slot in the end of dowel and insert a wedge.
onemanband

There's probably a proper joinery answer involving measuring, maybe a router or pillar drill, or the correct drill bit, but I'd go with what they said. A bit of trial and error and some glue.
tahir

Are you drilling your 8mm holes precisely or are they oversize because you've wobbled a bit?
Maybe wobble a bit with the 7mm, if you don't have a size in between.


Tried with drill (plenty of wobble) and router and a jig I knocked up to keep everything square very little wobble but obviously too much for this task

Will try a 7.5 bit
mousjoos

Are you using ordinary drill bits or "lip & spur" bits...the latter are for drill holes for dowels
Nick

Are you gluing the dowels in?
tahir

Are you using ordinary drill bits or "lip & spur" bits...the latter are for drill holes for dowels


Hmm, got me there what's the difference?
tahir

Are you gluing the dowels in?

Yep
Nick

Soak the dowels if they're too thin. Hairyloon

Soak the dowels if they're too thin.
That'll only work 'till they dry out.
Could soak them in something like anti-freeze... Confused
Nick

Soak the dowels if they're too thin.
That'll only work 'till they dry out.
Could soak them in something like anti-freeze... Confused

Plenty of glue will work long enough for him to have forgotten who suggested it.
mousjoos

Are you using ordinary drill bits or "lip & spur" bits...the latter are for drill holes for dowels

Hmm, got me there what's the difference?

the centre of lip & spur bits are pointed, so are the leading edges that cut the surface of the timber....ie the outer circumference of the bit defines the hole to be drilled, & the centre being pointed doesn't slip as much as an ordinary HSS bit would

not a very good explanation but Google it for more detail

soaking the dowels doesn't work btw

eta too much glue actually makes joints weaker
mark

it is likely the dowels are in tolerance and the holes are too big..

Obviously you need to use the right bit and ensure it is securely mounted - and straight.
But even then the same bit will drill different sized holes in different materials (chipboard, softwood , hardwood etc) and when drilled in different orientation to grain etc.

Always best to drill practise holes in scrap

are you using pieces cut off dowel rods or ready made dowels that are often champhered to make insertion easier?
dpack

if the fit is good the dowel will need a groove if using glue to allow any excess to escape

i recon half a mil less on the drill compared to the dowel for softwood/composite and same size in hardwoods

a doweling jig will help to line up holes and will also keep them strait and accurately sized

the comments re pointy drills are worth adopting as clean and tidy holes will make for a better fit
dpack

ps if the holes are too tight and the wood is of a splity nature the dowel can pop the wood as the moisture levels change due to the environment vegplot

You can also crimp the end of the dowel using a pair of pliers. This may compress the wood enough to get a good fit into the hole. If the dowel is unfluted it will also be stronger due to the greater glue surface area. tahir

are you using pieces cut off dowel rods or ready made dowels that are often champhered to make insertion easier?

Ready made
tahir

ps if the holes are too tight and the wood is of a splity nature the dowel can pop the wood as the moisture levels change due to the environment

Some of them are into the end grain of ply, too tight obviously causes splits.

Have ordered a 7.5mm hopefully that will work
Bodrighy

If you are only talking about .5mm why not just sand the dowel down?

Pete
tahir

If you are only talking about .5mm why not just sand the dowel down?

Pete

Cos there's a lot of em, I think 80 odd that I need to do and I've moved onto other parts of the job so can wait
Bodrighy

If you are only talking about .5mm why not just sand the dowel down?

Pete

Cos there's a lot of em, I think 80 odd that I need to do and I've moved onto other parts of the job so can wait

Fair enough.

Pete
gregotyn

I haven't read all the replies, but I make my own dowels by hammering, with a mallet, a loosely rounded piece of wood using a coarse surform, through metal with a hole drilled in to the size I want, the sides of the hole acting as the trim for the dowel. This gives me a length of dowelling which I simply cut to length, they are not perfect, but they work and are usually,near enough. If it is a job in the town then you hammer slower and keep checking and only use the best. I always cut it out of otherwise unused offcuts, and so the cost to make what size I want is nil, bar time. Mistress Rose

That is the way peg for rake ends are made in green woodworking Gregotyn. You can buy tubes of various sizes to make them. boisdevie1

Another handy tip. Use a pencil sharpener to shave a bit of the end of the dowel. Makes it easier to get in.
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