Drilling a centered and straight hole in a dowel pin can be tricky due to its round shape. An effective method involves using a simple jig setup to hold the dowel securely, preventing it from spinning during the drilling process.
Securely Holding a Dowel for Drilling
One practical approach, as demonstrated in woodworking tips, utilizes a piece of scrap wood with a cut slot, or kerf, in it.
Here's a breakdown of the technique:
- Prepare Scrap Wood: Take a piece of scrap wood and cut a kerf (a narrow slot) into it. This slot should be roughly the size of the dowel pin you intend to drill.
- Position the Dowel: Place the dowel pin into the kerf you just cut in the scrap wood.
- Apply Clamping Pressure: Use a clamp, such as a vice or a woodworking clamp, across the scrap wood. As you apply pressure with the clamp, the kerf in the wood closes up.
- Secure the Dowel: Clamping the scrap wood causes the wood to exert good clamping pressure directly onto the dowel pin. This firm grip is crucial because it holds the dowel securely so it's not going to spin when you start drilling.
- Drill the Hole: With the dowel held firmly in place by the clamped scrap wood, you can now proceed to drill the desired hole into the dowel pin. Ensure you use a drill bit appropriate for the dowel material (wood, plastic, etc.) and the required hole size.
This method provides a simple yet effective jig that centers the dowel and stabilizes it, making it much easier to drill straight holes.
Steps for Drilling a Dowel Using the Kerf Method
Here are the steps summarized for clarity:
- Step 1: Select a piece of scrap wood.
- Step 2: Cut a kerf (slot) into the scrap wood suitable for the dowel size.
- Step 3: Insert the dowel into the kerf.
- Step 4: Apply clamping pressure to the scrap wood across the kerf.
- Step 5: Confirm the dowel is held firmly and cannot spin.
- Step 6: Carefully drill the hole into the dowel.
This technique is particularly useful when a dedicated dowel drilling jig is not available. It ensures the dowel is held parallel to the drilling surface, facilitating a straight hole.
Why Secure Holding is Important
Drilling into a round object like a dowel pin without proper support can lead to several issues:
- Spinning: The dowel can spin with the drill bit, making it impossible to drill.
- Off-Center Holes: The drill bit can wander, resulting in a hole that is not centered.
- Angled Holes: It's difficult to keep the drill bit perpendicular to the dowel surface freehand, leading to angled holes.
- Damage: The dowel or the drill bit can be damaged if the dowel slips.
Using a method like the clamped kerf ensures stability and accuracy.
