WOODWORKING QUIZ for 8 Aug 04

[Ralph Jones]

Good Evening Friends,
When making a piece of furniture that calls for a dowel rather than a tenon, normally you would drill into the two mating pieces and insert a dowel.

Well why not only drill into the one piece and then make a dowel on the mating piece, which would make the joint a stronger one.

How would you go about doing this chore? Really it is easy to do.

Respectfully,

[journeyman Mick]

I suppose you could use a plug cutter to bore into the stock and then cut and chisel away around it. I don't know if I could be bothered though, I've never been fond of dowelling, a lot of mucking around compared to biscuits and if strength is an issue then I'd prefer to use a M & T or a loose tenon.

Mick

[Ralph Jones]

Good Evening Mick,
You are 100% correct as that is the method of doing the job and in a sense you are actually making a round tenon when you do it that way, and it is a stronger joint and the dowel/tenon is part of the piece being inserted into the adjoining part.

Thank you for your support.

Respectfully,