Accuracy is paramount when making dowel joints. Mistakes during measurement or drilling can lead to your joint being badly aligned or not connecting properly. In extreme cases, the two pieces of wood may not form a joint at all.
Drill depths need to be measured, measurements need to be precisely made, and the drill bit should always be at precisely 90 degrees to the wood surface.
It’s particularly difficult to be accurate when working by hand as there are too many things that could go wrong. Even with a finely honed mind, you can’t always keep track of everything at once!
Fortunately, there are tools that you can use to minimize the chances of making mistakes and help to guarantee that your work is accurate, such as drill stops and centre points.
