Using a router to make dowels

azk404 · 5 Mar 2021

Hello,

Is it a ok idea to use a 6mm straight router bit to make dowel holes rather than a doweling jig? I guess I would need to be very careful in marking up the holes but if the router was also on a track I feel like this might be quite good.

Any tips if so?

Thanks
A

C64 · 5 Mar 2021

You can get 6mm dowel router bits from Wealden or Festool which are spiral. Is this for creating rows of shelf pin holes? Perhaps take a look at Festool LR 32 and DIY versions.

TheUnicorn · 5 Mar 2021

I've never tried making dowel holes with a router, so feel free to discount my responce, but I would stick with a dowel jig, £10 should get you something usable. My reasoning is this, a drill is designed for moving straight forward (ie making a hole) a router is designed for moving side to side (making an edge or a groove), so unless you eradicate all side to side movement you will get a slightly oval hole. To eradicate all side to side movement you'd need to construct a jig, get everything clamped etc, at which point you might as well have bought a dowel jig.

pidgeonpost · 6 Mar 2021

I've used a 6mm router bit for dowel holes many times in my router (mounted on a Woodrat). The bit itself looks (but may not be) very similar to the slot drills used in milling machines.
I've also used a good sharp 'lip and spur' drill bit.

azk404 · 10 Mar 2021

Sorry didn’t get a chance to reply.

No it was going to be to create dowels to join panels at angles but looking at it this might be tricky so £30 dowel rig I found online looks a lot simpler actually.

The woodrat looks great but at £500 it’s a bit of an investment.

I should really just get a biscuit joiner to be honest which will probably save a load of time