Review And Guide For The Best Dowel Jig On The Market (2022 Updated)

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If you’re a woodworker who is looking to make a wooden joint that is both stable and durable, then you have come to the right place, because we’re going to talk about the benefits of dowel joints.

Along with that, we will also review the best dowel jigs on the market, because you surely won’t like making this joint type manually.

Although there are different designs of dowel joints, all of them are quite simple when it comes to how they work, essentially dowels are just small wooden pins that are inserted in-between wood so that their connection is reinforced.

This joint can also serve as an alternative to screws or nails since they work in a similar way. These wooden pins just need to be coated with glue and then fixated in a small hole that fits the dowel size.

Some of these dowels even come pre-made at some stores which make your woodworking project even easier, but sometimes you will need a custom size which will require a quality dowel jig.

They may seem simple in construction but it isn’t really simple to make them by hand, especially if you’re just a beginner, but no worries, there is always time to learn.

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Top 3 Recommendations

Best Dowel Jig On The Market: Our Top 9 Choices

We understand how hard it is to find the right equipment for your woodworking project, most tools will be quite expensive and some may not be the thing you’re looking for.

That’s why we’re willing to make an honest and objective review which will help you avoid any situation in which you could waste money.

A lot of time is invested to researching the best product and the same amount is spent on looking for third party opinions from woodworkers who sometimes have decades of experience on their hands.

Letting you hear both our and their voice is essential for you since it assures everyone that the product that gets reviewed is well tested by people worldwide.

And below are the top 9 options we found.

Milescraft 1309 DowelJigKit

For our first product, we give you the best one that we could find on the market, the Milescraft 1309 DowelJigKit.

Precision is out of utmost importance when it comes to creating dowel joints. To produce a stable and steady joint, each perpendicular hole needs to align with the pins perfectly, which is where this product comes into play.

Metal bushings that come with this set allow for accurate alignment when you’re drilling each time.

The steel dowel is centred and provides precise marking of dowel holes to ensure stability between the boards. Also, it comes with everything you need in the package - from dowel pins and bits to complete doweling jig set.

Moreover, for accurate positioning when you’re starting a hole, you’ll get three broad point drill bits that come in three different sizes.

It has an adjustable guide fence that adjusts to the board’s depth so that each hole is perfectly precise.

This kit will enable you to both repair and build your furniture since it’s easy to use and assemble just by following simple instructions.

And for the price you’ll be getting it, it’s safe to say that it’s the best purchase you’ll ever make as a woodworker.

All in all, it’s flawless and should be yours!

Pros
  • Adjustable guide fence
  • Metal bushings
  • Quality steel dowel
  • Additional accessories and brad point drill bits
Cons
  • /

Milescraft 1319 JointMate

When it comes to our runner-up, it’s another product from the reliable Milescraft manufacturer that you’ll surely enjoy. We give you the Milescraft 1319 JointMate.

If you’re hurrying to fix or build something with your own hands, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy it.

Even though it’s handheld, the sheer build, and construction of this product will enable you to create stable dowel joints with ease.

First off, the set-up is incredibly easy, and there are no visible mechanical fasteners. Once you’re ready, you’ll see the magic work itself with this dowel jig.

Fast and accurate doweling corners will be no problem for you since the adjustable fence and the self-centering jig enable you to carefully join together wooden boards and crates with proper alignment and accuracy.

Similar to our previous product, metal bushings help ensure the alignment in each drill, and it works with different lumber types in thickness.

However, it is a bit large, so you might encounter some problems when you’re trying to create narrow joints since the boards might hit the jig in the process. Aside from this, it’s as good as it gets!

Pros
  • Accuracy
  • Adjustable guide fence
  • Self-centering jig
Cons
  • Difficulty creating narrow joints

Wolfcraft 3751405 Dowel Pro

Next in line is a compelling budget pick that satisfies all the customers. We present to you the Wolfcraft 3751405 Dowel Pro.

When it comes to innovation and producing powerful building tools, Wolfcraft is the hallmark of greatness. For more than 70 years, they’ve been working towards perfection, and this product is here to show just that.

First off, the material used to create this device, cast aluminium alloy, is quite durable and enables this product to have a long life.

It has nine holes that are pre-aligned, and with the hardened steel bushing, they offer precise hole marking with no troubles.

Next to having compact design and easy-to-use features, this model is capable of creating the standard T-joints, edge-to-edge, and edge-to-corner joints - the trademarks of every quality dowel jig out there.

In terms of stability, this dowel jig is quite straightforward.

A secure clamp is easy to place on the wooden block, and it secures it without any jerks or unexpected movements. The guide fence makes your life easier without having to worry about marking holes.

Except for the fact that depending on the thickness of the board, dowels won’t be adjusted automatically; this is a great product that you should invest in!

Pros
  • Cast aluminium
  • Multiple joint productions
  • Stability
  • Straightforward
Cons
  • Self-centering depends on the thickness of the boards.

Dowl-it 1000 Self-centering Doweling Jig - Reliable

Creating dowel joints has been a thing for a lot of years, and, naturally, there have been tools to help woodworkers finish that job faster. Well, this tool is an upgraded version of the earlier one, dating all the way back to 1949.

So, let’s see what the Dowl-it 1000 Dowel Jig Is all about.

If you’re looking for variety, this dowel jig got you equipped.

It has six different drilling holes, ranging from the smallest 3/16-inch to the standard ½-inch one. The entire thing is made of solid and hardened steel, while the sides holding the work are made from an aluminum alloy.

Most people generally go for this model because it’s practical and easy to use, which is why they’re generally used in school workshops and such. It’s quite sturdy when secured to a table and doesn’t get that loose in time.

The capacity of this doweling jig is two inches for round and square stock. Also, it’s super affordable and perfect for the money it goes for, in terms of quality.

The thing we don’t like is actually the sharp edges behind the handle. You should pay attention to that before you put your fingers everywhere around.

Aside from that, it’s simple, practical, and easy to use.

Pros
  • A reliable model
  • Affordable
  • Easy to use
  • 2-inch capacity
Cons
  • Sharp edges

Eagle America 445-7600 Self-Centering Dowel Jig

If you’re searching for a professional-grade dowel jig that will undoubtedly do the job, you can stop the search now because you’ve found it. We showcase you the Eagle America 445-7600 Self-Centering Dowel Jig.

Upon looking at this product for the first time, you might feel slightly appalled by its price, but it’s worth the trouble. Even though you’ll need to invest more than you would typically for a dowel jig, this will pay off.

First off, the thickness of the wooden block and plates is no concern with this product. It can handle material from ¼ inch to 6 inches with no troubles.

The entire process of manufacturing joints is relatively easy thanks to its hardened steel guides and self-centering properties.

The construction of this device is quite durable as well.

The anodized aluminium body is known for its corrosion-resistant properties that go well with any tools in the woodworking world, especially dowel jigs.

However, some customers have noted that the ‘self-centering’ is not entirely accurate if you plan on working with smaller workpieces.

It has an error of approximately 1/32 of an inch, which might be a problem for you, but in general, it shouldn’t pose a threat with home DIY projects.

Pros
  • Quality build
  • Anodized aluminium
  • Hardened steel guides
Cons
  • 1/32 of an inch accuracy error.

JoyTube Self Centering Doweling Jig - Convenient

Up next is another quality self-centering jig whose quality should be just enough to get you to buy it. So, here’s the JoyTube Self Centering Doweling Jig.

The reason we put in ‘convenient’ as the salient feature of this doweling jig is due to the fact that it is practically effortless to use it.

Thanks to the self-centering properties and superb positioning, your work will be as accurate as possible. This doweling jig leaves no gaps, and the drill hole leaves no extra debris when the job is done.

Furthermore, the design of this jig is such that it’s not too bulky to get in the way of your work, but it’s just enough to support classic drilling sizes.

The dimensions are 4-¾ inches in length and 2-½ inches in height, with a total 4-inch width when it’s fully extended.

Similar to most doweling jigs, it’s also made from solid steel, and it’s precision-hardened for a longer lifespan.

Thanks to the aluminum alloy that’s added on the sides, corrosion won’t present a problem, and you’ll do okay even if you forget to clean it once in a while.

You can drill six different holes with this dowel jig - ¼, ⅜, 5/16, 7/16, and ½-inch holes. The resulting holes are smooth with no damages or burns, thanks to the solid jig.

It’s slightly expensive in comparison with the previous jigs, which is why we’ve rated it a bit lower.

It’s worthy of being on this list, and you should definitely check it out.

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Convenient
  • Clean holes
  • Six different sizes
Cons
  • Price

Task Premium Doweling Jig

Are you not afraid to put some extra bucks into your purchase? If not, we give you a fantastic product for the money Task Premium Doweling Jig.

Since woodworking can be quite a delicate job and requires the most enduring tools, it’s vital that they are constructed out of quality materials.

This doweling jig has steel plates that are excellent in corrosion, and next to this, it has aircraft-grade aluminum.

It is self-centering, meaning there is no need for you to mark the holes and trust your guts - this dowel jig does it for you.

It has a sturdy clamp that keeps the jig in place, thus ensuring that your work will be safe and steady.

It has shown that clamps can give out with certain types of wood, but it shouldn’t pose a problem overall. However, keep in mind that the guide centers are hardened and will provide accurate results.

All in all, it’s worth investing and giving it a show, as it undoubtedly belongs on the best dowel jigs list!

Pros
  • Aircraft-grade aluminium
  • Steel plates offer anti-corrosive properties
  • Strong clamp
  • Self-centering
Cons
  • Clamps can give out with certain types of wood.

POWERTEC 71498 Dowel Jig with Cobalt M-35 Drill Bit

Take a look at our Amazon’s Choice product that will leave you breathless. It’s the POWERTEC 71498 Dowel Jig with Cobalt M-35 Drill Bit.

Firstly, you should know that its drill guide is capable of producing dowel holes from ½ inch to 1 inch with absolute precision - something we all need as woodworkers.

The neat little addition is the M-35 Cobalt drill bit or high-speed steel alloy commonly used in woodworking as a cutting tool material.

It is significantly superior to high-carbon steel and has a hardness of 60 on the Rockwell scale. It comes in quite handy when talking about abrasion resistance.

The drill guide itself is constructed from hardened steel, thus giving this product additional building power. Along with this robust build, this product is capable of producing accurate results, precise holes, and an easy job.

However, make sure to put it together carefully and to follow the instructions since some customers have noted that it can be inaccurate with even two axes of misalignment.

If you master this, you’ll be making joints in no time.

Pros
  • M-35 Cobalt
  • Quality
  • Hardened steel
  • Abrasion resistance
Cons
  • Accuracy

Woodstock D4116 Dowel Jig

For our final product, we give you the Woodstock D4116 Dowel Jig, a great and reliable product.

This Amazon’s Choice product is quite efficient in achieving anything you need for your woodworking purposes.

It can handle workpieces that are up to two inches thick, which is more than average compared to other dowel jigs on the market.

It has six hardened steel bushings that help you achieve maximum accuracy while creating joints. Also, this will enable you to drill two parallel dowel holes with ever adjusting the jig itself.

It is, however, a bit off-center, meaning that it will require your help to keep it perfectly aligned with the drill markings. However, the error is not that large, and if you’re a hobbyist, you’ll undoubtedly appreciate it.

But, if you’re looking for professional-grade dowel jigs, you should look for some other products on our list.

Keep in mind that this dowel jig is undoubtedly worth the trouble and will last you a long time, thanks to its quality build.

Also, a 1-year warranty is included in this purchase, which will protect you in case the product malfunctions.

Pros
  • Workpieces up to two inches thick
  • Six steel bushings
  • Drill multiple holes without adjusting the jig
Cons
  • Not self-centered

Why You Should Get A Dowel Jig?

The question here isn’t just why you should get a dowel jig which will help you with making dowel joints, you also need to know why you should pick a dowel jig in the first place.

Buying the best dowel jig there is won’t do it, you need to be knowledgeable about the product and joint type first so that you can even recommend your friends within the hobby the same dowel joint.

Some of the most common wood joint types seem to be dovetails, dowels, biscuits and pocket holes.

All of them have their own specific positive and negative sides, but a lot of woodworkers, including us, think that dowels provide you the best deal.

Here are some of the main reasons why you should buy a dowel jig.

1. Superior Strength

top dowel jig

The easiest way to connect two pieces of wood together is to simply clamp them together and fill the parts that touch each other with glue. Whilst this may be the easiest way to do it, it really isn’t the most stable way.

There really isn’t anything in this joint that can reinforce to connection, there are no screws used and no wooden parts.

Dowel joints are superior in this aspect because they use additional wooden pins that come in different shapes. These pins are then inserted in-between the joint which makes it able to withstand a lot more pressure than usual, without breaking with ease.

Multiple tests were made by various companies, and wooden joints like dowels and tenon joints came on top due to how strong they are.

You can even further reinforce the dowel joints by adding more rows of dowels or by adding more wooden pins. This was even stronger than mortise and tenon joints and it didn’t require any difficult work.

But for the maximum strength possible we do recommend that you make the dowel joint with the best dowel jig because it will be far more precise than when done manually.


2. Precise Alignment

best dowel jig for cabinet making

Since the holes that are made within the stock wooden piece are really tight and compact, it allows the small but numerous pins to be aligned properly without allowing anything to move around or slip.

This makes the whole construction firm since the pins are guaranteed to not be able to move.

Because of this aspect. 

Dowel joints are mostly used for woodworking projects that make furniture which have multiple frames.

Some of the most common objects that use the dowel joint are cabinets and shelves, if they need to support a heavy weight then they surely need an accurately made construction that is stable.

In order to make the most out of this positive aspect of dowel joints, you will need a respectable dowel jig that can do the job.

If you’re making holes or even the wooden pins themselves, you will notice that, if done by hand, these parts will mostly end up being inaccurate when compared to the original pin and hole.

This makes it necessary to buy a jig which can offer persistent accurate results that can be copied over on multiple projects.


3. Budget Friendly And Aesthetically Pleasing Joints

Jigs for woodworking are really tough to find, this goes especially for well-made ones.

Sometimes if you’re looking to buy a jig for a joint like the pocket hole one, you will encounter prices that can be astronomically high.

Of course, every joint has a jig that can do the job while still being placed in multiple price categories.

best self centering dowel jig

But from all the listed products we have found, dowel jigs seem to be the most cost-efficient ones yet. Most of the good ones will cost less than $50, and if you want something more which a professional would want, you still won’t be spending more than $100.

The case wasn’t the same for most wooden joint types, some were extremely expensive, costing you more than a few hundred dollars while offering the same stability that a cheap dowel joint would provide.

You will also notice that when making dowel joints with a good jig, you will see that they don’t show any nails since they don’t have any.

Even better, the wooden pins that are used to provide a stable connection can’t even be seen once you fully assemble your project.

How We Chose And Tested?

best dowel jig for the money

In order to find and review the best dowel jig on the market, we had to spend a lot of time on researching exactly what makes that product the best one.

We initially made a list comprising out of the top five dowel jigs currently available, these jigs were reputable enough to be mentioned and talked about on various woodworking internet forums.

After the list was made we wanted not only to see the bare specifications of each jig, we also wanted to know what other people thought about them.

Most of these people were woodworkers who knew what they were doing; some of them not only had years’ experience within the hobby but with the listed dowel jigs as well.

When we formed our own opinion on the models in our, we combined our pros and cons with other woodworkers and chose the two best ones which were reviewed in this article.

We also wanted to see how efficient they really were once you use them, and searching videos with detailed explanations weren’t hard to find.

What Factors Should Look When Looking for Best Dowel Jig?

What should you look forward to once you order the best dowel jig? Is there anything else that will make your woodworking project even better?

It is important to know these things because in the end, you will buy this type of jig for a reason, is it the cheaper price? The improved stability?

Whatever it is, here are some of the most common aspects that you should enjoy once you get your dowel jig

1. Simplicity

the best dowel jig

We did mention that the wooden pins of the dowel joint are really simple in design, but besides that, you will also enjoy the simplicity when it comes to using a jig to make this wooden joint.

If you have previously made dowel joints with your own hand, then with a jig you won’t have to spend hours and hours on finishing your projects anymore.


2. Accuracy

Not only that the whole process will be a lot more accurate due to it being automatic, you will also find consistent results.

This is important since you will be making multiple holes and wooden pins when making your project, this goes especially for furniture projects.

And you won’t have to mark everything down and calculate measurements since the jig eliminates all of that.


3. Far Better Stability

In the end, you will also notice that it is a lot more stable to work on your project since you will have clamps you will be able to tightly connect the jig with the piece of wood, which makes the results even more accurate.

Nothing will move anymore since it’s going to be held really tight, you won’t have to worry about accidentally pushing anything anymore.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are dowel jigs?

Essentially, dowel jigs are tools used to create dowel joints, which are one of the most common joints used in manufacturing boxes, drawers, and practically anything that requires you to join two boards.

Dowel jigs have holes that fit the most common sizes of drill bits, and once the holes are made, woodworkers fit the dowels inside and glue everything together.


Do I need a jig for dowels?

what is the best dowel jig

Technically, you don’t, but they’ll make your life much easier.

You can use a measuring tool or a board to align with your project board and mark the exact spots for the holes with a pencil.

However, if you’re working on a smaller project and you need absolute precision, a dowel jig will be a better choice, without a doubt.


Are dowels stronger than screws?

Absolutely yes. Since you’ll be gluing the entire thing together, the resulting joinery is much stronger and durable than the screw one.

Of course, some people prefer using screws as they believe that the bond will last longer than the glue, but screws are subjected to rust, which is why you should consider dowels as your primary choice.

Conclusion

Browsing through countless online pages will answer the question, "What is the best dowel jig out there?"

However, if you’re looking for the best mix of quality and price, we’ve got you covered with the Milescraft 1309 DowelJigKit.

Compared to other products, the build, and accuracy that this dowel jig offers will get you places, whether you’re a professional or novice woodworker.

This doweling jig is incredible in terms of repairing and building new furniture from scratch. Don’t wait and let someone else buy this fantastic product instead of you.

Sale
Milescraft 1309 DowelJigKit - Complete Doweling Kit with Dowel Pins and Bits*
  • The Miles craft Joint Mate allows for quick and accurately doweled corner, edge or surface joints
  • Metal bushings included to ensure accurate alignment When drilling for perfectly positioned dowels every time
  • Steel dowel/Tenon centers for durable and accurate location marking of dowel holes or in second board being joined
  • Fluted hardwood dowel pins with chamfered ends Add strength and endurance to your joined surfaces (Includes 3 different sizes)
  • Brad point drill bits included in 3 different sizes (1/4", 5/16", 3/8")

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