Wood dowel pins perform duties that other carpentry tools cannot. If you are trying to connect two pieces of wood, you would usually use nails and screws. But they would only work if you are connecting them on top of each other. To connect the wood side by side, you will have to use wooden pins.
These pins work because they provide a snug fit inside the wood. Dowel pins also provide a very strong hold. Its length increases the effectiveness of the hold; the longer the dowel, the better the strength. Wooden pins must be used with wood glue to achieve the hold. Too much glue will create a mess and too little will provide a weak hold. You can find dowel pins in hardware and home improvement stores. They come in various lengths, from 3/16” to 1 ½”. Depending on the manufacturer, you may find smaller or larger sizes. These pins usually come in three different styles: smooth, spiral-grooved, and multi-grooved (looks as if it were fluted). These grooved versions were created to improve glue dispersion, but both can provide excellent bonding and strength.
When using wood dowel pins, it is important to match the correct dowel pin to the correct hole size. The dowel’s diameter should not be more than ½ the thickness of the wood. So, for example, if the wood is 2” thick, the dowel should be 1” maximum. It is important to match them up to ensure the best fit. You do not want a wooden joint to come apart easily because your measurements are off.
By Tamara C. Jude