The creation of pre-glued dowel pins has helped fixer-uppers around the country. These white birch pins provide plenty of help when it comes to home projects. Though not made for external use, these pins can replace traditional dowel pins and wood glue that come with your carpentry projects.
Unlike regular dowel pins, the pre-glued pins are coated with water-activated glue that provides as much strength as traditional wood glues. You do not have to struggle with over-filled borings or excessive glue everywhere. A small amount of water placed inside the boring is all it takes. Depending on the kind of material you are using, you may have to increase the wetness of the boring. Using hardwood or plywood will require additional water in the hole.
The easiest way to insert the pre-glued dowel pins is with automatic insertion equipment. Normally, you would fill the device with glue with traditional pins. With the pre-glued pins, replace the glue with water. Take certain precautions to ensure the chamber is clear of any glue residue before you fill it with water. A good cleaning with hot water should do the trick. If you plan to insert the pins manually, make sure you never dip or soak the pins with water because the glue could lose its strength. Use a spray bottle or plant mister to wet the hole.
As good as these pre-glued pins sound, there are certain situations when it is better to use traditional pins. When working on a project you have created from scratch, you have more control over how accurate your borings will be. Sometimes, when pieces to a widely manufactured product are created on an assembly line, the borings can be made unevenly. Pre-glued pins cannot fill in those imperfections because they have a limited amount of glue. In this case, it may be better to use traditional pins with glue. Though you could place additional glue on the pre-glued pins, the water in the boring might take away from the adhesiveness of the additional glue.
By Tamara C. Jude