Wooden dowels and pins have a long history in woodworking, particularly for reinforcing joints and shelves. These simple components offer many benefits for furniture, construction, consumer products, and more. Dowels have broad application for several reasons:

• Versatility
• Little to no need for hardware
• Clean finishes
• Durable joints
• Use as positioning guides
• Added tensile and shear strength for joints with low-density materials

At E.W. Hannas, we provide high-quality wooden dowels in many sizes, along with many other wooden products and components used in applications and industries around the world. We work to provide a consistent inventory of raw wood materials and products from our mills to our customers. Here, we’ll look at the features to consider, including sizing, when choosing dowel products.

The Importance of Selecting the Right Size Dowel

Understanding dowels and their sizing is important for selecting the right material for the job. Dowels are small wooden rods that come in many standard diameters and lengths. They are commonly unfinished, but may have a special texture, such as grooves, added to assist with grip and bonding.

Dowels are also easy to cut to length, which makes them useful for different applications and simple to customize. Generally speaking, it is difficult to reduce a dowel’s diameter; however, they are available in many imperial and metric size increments to suit most project needs.

Sizing is one of the most important considerations when selecting dowels because it is directly relevant to fit, grip, durability, and the effects of expansion and contraction on the workpiece. Some of the specific factors to look at include:

• Diameter. For many applications, a dowel with a diameter around ⅓ to 1/2 of the thickness of the designated wood fitting usually creates a secure fit.
• Bore Dimensions. The bore and dowel diameters should correspond closely.
• Length. A dowel length that leaves a 1/16 in. gap in the boring after it’s inserted is usually adequate to allow for proper glue distribution in the joint.
• Groove Type. Spiral or multi-grooved dowels can offer additional surface area and friction to improve bonding and holding power.
• Adhesive. Standard polyvinyl acetate (PVA) wood glue often works best; however, it’s important to avoid excessive glue so that it stays contained within the bond.

Wooden Dowel Types, Sizes, and Options

There are many types of dowels available, made from different materials, with a range of finishes and textures. The details of the application, the strength required, and the primary function of the dowel will determine which is best. Examples of dowel features include:

Dowels come in many diameters, including these common sizes:

Flexibility with Standard and Metric Sizing

Dowels are available in both imperial and metric sizing for diameter and length. While it’s common to use only imperial or only metric measurements for a project, in practice, it may be preferable to focus on the dimension that provides the best fit and functionality for the application, regardless of the system of measurement.

Metric-sized dowels in particular often come in more, and smaller increments than inch measurements, for more flexibility in finding the right fit. For example, a ¼ in. dowel may be the closest imperial size for a bore, but a slightly larger 6.5 mm dowel might be preferred for a secure hold, even if the rest of the project is measured in inches or feet.

Standard/Imperial Sizes

Many pre-cut wooden dowels have a length of 30mm (13/16″) and a width of 6mm (1/4″) or a length of 40mm (19/16″) and a width of 10mm (3/8″).

When applying these dowels to joints, applications may use drill stops, drill bits, and center points, among other dowelling equipment.

Metric Sizes

In some applications, you might opt for metric dowel sizes for increased precision, with the ability to measure in millimeters instead of fractions of inches. There’s no doubt about what you’ll get with these dowel sizes.

Ultimately, metric sizes are ideal to use if you need more precise manufacturing, are using automation systems and robotics, or are working with imported furniture parts.

Wood Dowels from E.W. Hannas, Sized for Any Application

In many woodworking applications, dowels and pins can reduce or eliminate the need for hardware, strengthen joints, and create a clean and simplified aesthetic. E.W. Hannas offers wooden dowels and pins in a range of sizes, lengths, and types so you can find the best product for your application.

Learn more about us, or request a quote to get started on your next project.