Advantages of Wood Dowel Pins
The primary advantage of dowel pins for joining pieces or parts is the bolstering of shear and tensile strength. It is crucial to protect against shear and tensile forces when assembling parts. Shear forces extend the hinge beyond its edge. The hinge would slide out of place without a pin. Tensile forces pull two pieces apart, separating the hinge. While the pin typically goes unseen after assembly, its bond remains dependable.
While steel and aluminum are also common dowel pin materials, wooden dowel pins provide remarkable advantages, such as:
- Wood is a natural insulator, so it will not conduct electricity as easily as metals.
- Wood withstands rising temperatures without losing strength or expanding as a metal material would.
- Unlike metal, wood supports its weight effectively, giving it improved tensile strength. Metal pins may require additional support to account for their weight.
- Modern wood treatments enhance the natural properties of wood to produce durable and long-lasting wooden products.
- Sound dampening qualities and natural aesthetic value make it a preferred material for homes and offices
Wood is also more sustainable and environmentally friendly than virtually all other materials, storing about 50% of its weight in carbon-content for its entire lifespan. It has a lower carbon footprint than other solid materials, using thousands of kilograms less carbon dioxide to produce a comparable amount of material. As a renewable resource, wood emits fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than metals and plastics. Wooden dowel pins are mostly used in woodworking but are also present in a variety of applications.
Ideal Applications for Wood Dowel Pin
Many industries prefer wood dowel pins, with the core of the dowel business going toward woodworking applications. A woodworker using a dowel will take precise measurements to align the holes on either side and ensure the joint’s integrity. They drill several uniform holes using a jig to square the edges joint’s edges. Woodworkers select the correct dowel and may choose fluting or grooving to increase the glue’s efficiency. Finally, the dowels are inserted and compressed as the adhesive dries.
Wood dowel pins offer ideal support for goods ranging from furniture and shelves to multi-tiered wedding cakes. They have been used to make simple game pegs and wheel axles in wooden toys and to hang clothing, tools, and key rings. Gymnastic grip detents also use wooden dowels.
At E.W. Hannas, we manufacture a range of wood dowels for every application.
We Have a Wide Range of Products for Your Need
The following high-quality wood dowel products are available from E.W. Hannas at affordable prices:
- Color-coded dowels
- Pointed dowels
- Slotted dowels
- Stained and finished dowels
- Tenoned dowels
- End-bored dowels
- Engraved or imprinted dowels
- Ladder rungs
- Stakes (sod, plants)
- Cosmetics and healthcare (cotton tip applicators, cuticle sticks, make-up sticks, etc.)
- Craft dowels
- Skewers
- Apple sticks
- Poles
- Mop handles
- Marshmallow sticks
- Pennant sticks
Woodworking Dowels vs. Biscuits
In woodworking, biscuits and wooden dowels are both widely used. Biscuits are the modern choice, making it possible to quickly and accurately align wooden pieces. They marginally increase the joint’s tensile strength and provide a sufficient bond when combined with glue but do not deliver woodworking dowels’ impressive strength on their own.
Woodworking dowels are favorable for high-strength splines and hinges but typically require precise alignment. For woodworking projects that value time over strength, biscuits offer acceptable performance and create a strong bond in conjunction with quality adhesives.
