Great list Robin. I'd add the dowel cousin, plug, to the tips. If you've used a screw but want to jazz it up, mini-dowels, or plugs can be a great option.
I've learned all these tips the hard way over the past month. I just completed two projects where I used exposed dowels and not just plugs. The one thing I did different was use a forstner bit to start, but only to let the cutters score the top fibers, then I switched to the brad point bit.
one more tip, if your dowel is going to be showing end grain with any color variation then make sure you orient it in the same direction as the face grain / other dowels / or at least intentionally in some way that makes sense
I was planning to do a series of builds using exposed dowel joint as they are easy and esthetically pleasing. Then I saw a UA-cam video of some guy testing joints and strangely he found dowel joints to be extremely weak. H claimed spliced miter joints are the strongest. Then comments said that his test were not accurate because he applied angular pressure instead of compression pressure…. Bla bla bla. Now I don’t know what to use.
It's also good to keep in mind the application. One join might be strong than the other, but both could work fine in that scenario. If you're making small boxes most joins will work great. In an upcoming video I show a test piece for these boxes and how the glued long grain breaks off onto the end grain, so even without dowels you still have a strong join!
Good video Robin. I was just thinking, if you used fluted dowels wouldn’t the cross section of the fluted dowels look unpleasant? Just picturing the wrinkling effect around the dowel. I am not sure as I have never tried it. But I would worry about something like that. A solid dowel might help avoid this?
Thanks mate. It's funny you say that. You're right, but I've been thinking about tinting the wood to make it a feature. If you added black oxide powder to the wood glue, then used a fluted dowel, you might end up with an interesting detail. But yeah, that's why I used solid dowels for the boxes, it's a more traditional look
Great list Robin. I'd add the dowel cousin, plug, to the tips. If you've used a screw but want to jazz it up, mini-dowels, or plugs can be a great option.
Thanks mate
I've learned all these tips the hard way over the past month. I just completed two projects where I used exposed dowels and not just plugs. The one thing I did different was use a forstner bit to start, but only to let the cutters score the top fibers, then I switched to the brad point bit.
That's a good tip, thanks man
one more tip, if your dowel is going to be showing end grain with any color variation then make sure you orient it in the same direction as the face grain / other dowels / or at least intentionally in some way that makes sense
Great tips Robin, thanks for sharing. All the best.
Thanks for a great video Robin, and great to see you back on UA-cam! Your best point imo, is about knowing the hero in your piece. Great Advice.
Thanks mate
*Promosm*
Awesome tips Robin. So concise and exactly the info I needed.
Thanks! ☺️
Great little video! Thanks!
I was planning to do a series of builds using exposed dowel joint as they are easy and esthetically pleasing. Then I saw a UA-cam video of some guy testing joints and strangely he found dowel joints to be extremely weak. H claimed spliced miter joints are the strongest. Then comments said that his test were not accurate because he applied angular pressure instead of compression pressure…. Bla bla bla. Now I don’t know what to use.
It's also good to keep in mind the application. One join might be strong than the other, but both could work fine in that scenario. If you're making small boxes most joins will work great. In an upcoming video I show a test piece for these boxes and how the glued long grain breaks off onto the end grain, so even without dowels you still have a strong join!
Good video Robin. I was just thinking, if you used fluted dowels wouldn’t the cross section of the fluted dowels look unpleasant? Just picturing the wrinkling effect around the dowel. I am not sure as I have never tried it. But I would worry about something like that. A solid dowel might help avoid this?
Thanks mate. It's funny you say that. You're right, but I've been thinking about tinting the wood to make it a feature. If you added black oxide powder to the wood glue, then used a fluted dowel, you might end up with an interesting detail. But yeah, that's why I used solid dowels for the boxes, it's a more traditional look
@@RobinLewisMakes that’s why I love watching your channel. Lots of outside the box thinking (pun intended).
Very informative ! Thanks Robin😊
Glad it was helpful, thanks!
Solid work
Thanks