10 Best Dowel Jig Kit Reviewed

Iit is not easy finding the right array of tools to use, especially since wood is quite malleable.

Most people out there might think that making things out of wood can be achieved without great effort, but the process usually demands a lot more and calls for a mighty arsenal apparatus, as well as a bit of knowledge in the field.

Linking up two wooden planks for your cabinets or cupboard drawers through the help of finely-shaped dowels (or dowel joints) is one of the most prevalent ways of making a simple structure.

The dowel jig is the most common tool used that will make driving these dowels into their designated holes easier. If one can have a dowel jig of high quality, even relatively inexperienced woodworkers can bring about complex joints quickly and effortlessly.

Be that as it may, the market is swarming with products, and selecting the finest dowel jig for a specific task can give rise to a challenge.

Before presenting the top picks for dowel jigs, we might as well learn the necessary things before purchasing one.

What is the best doweling jig kit?

The answer to this depends on the tool fit for a task you are planning to do. If you plan to make a few holes in the wood, then a simple doweling tool is fine. 

Here are some of the best products we can find in the market and their features to help you choose a doweling jig.

Our top recommended picks

 Wolfcraft 3751405 dowel pro doweling jig kit

Wolfcraft doweling jig kit has a design that stands out from the rest of the dowel jig models. It is simple and can even manage to dowel edge-to-edge, T-joints, and edge-to-corner positions.

Best Features:

• Compact design
•  Easy to use
• No measuring and marking required
• Comes with hardened steel bushings
•  Allows you to make edge-to-edge, edge-to-corner, and T-joints
• Comes with a 5-year warranty
• Made out of casting aluminum
• Can handle planks and other pieces of wood that are anywhere from 1/2” to 1-1/4” thick

Dowl-it 1000 self-centering doweling jig

Dowel-it model 1000 is a model that has not really changed and retained its original design ever since it was first built in 1949. It is made with aluminum, while the central block is constructed from hardened steel.

It is reliable that no loose parts can be displaced.

Best Features:

• Self-centering dowelling jig
• Allows you to drill six different hole sizes: 3/16”, 1/4”, 5/16”, 3/8”, 7/16”, and the biggest one, 1/2”
• The Center block with the holes is made out of high-quality steel
• The slides are made out of durable aluminum
• Maximum 2” capacity

Woodstock D4116 doweling jig

This model allows you to work with smaller, or rather ‘thinner,’ pieces of wood. You can ensure the durability and longevity of its bushings as it is made of hardened steel.

However, it is not advisable for doweling with greater than 2 inches.

Best Features:

•  The small working area of only 2 inches
• Automatically centers itself on the object of drilling
• Five different hole sizes: 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, 7/16″, and 1/2″
• Six steel bushings made of hardened steel: 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″ (two of each size)

Milescraft 1311 JointPro – Professional Doweling Jig

Made of hardened steel bushings for longevity and reliability, the Milescraft JointPro is a doweling jig with a somewhat unorthodox build compared to most of the company’s product.

If you are a newbie, this is a great option as it comes with an instruction manual.

Best Features:

•  Clamp both boards simultaneously 
• Drill up to six matching holes per setup for stronger joints
• Can clamp down two boards simultaneously

Premium doweling jig from Task

The Premium Doweling Jig from the Task company is compact, sturdy, and at the same time, reliable.

It is constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum with a steel coating for rust and corrosion resistance.

Best Features:

• Made out of aircraft-grade aluminum
• Self-centering feature
• Reinforced the drill guide centers
• Allows you to drill five different hole sizes ranging from 2 inches to 2-7/16 of an inch.
• Includes 2 each size bushing 1/4, 5/16, and 3/8
• Has a steel plating that prevents corrosion

Jessem model 08350 dowelling jig master kit

This model is from a company named JessEm. It is highly durable as its included accessory guiding parts are constructed through aluminum and anodized after.

This is a well-rounded set of tools that are best used for small, dowel-friendly holes.

Best Features:

• With a maximum edge-to-center distance of 3.5.”
• Anodized aluminum parts for durability and comes with a built-in alignment shot.
• Allows you to drill three different hole sizes: 1/4”, 3/8”, and 1/2”
• Has five drilling guides of 3/8” that have been precision-manufactured on a CNC machine and made out of aluminum, as well as the specialized drill bits of the same diameter
•  Has a stop collar and an indexing pin

Eagle America 445-7600 wide professional capacity self-centering dowel jig

This model has a simple-to-use and easy Dowling and a clamping contraption to help you drill high-precision holes in wood. It is constructed from aluminum which is then anodized for improved durability, while the guides are from hardened steel.

Best Features:

• Self-centering capacity
• It can easily take care of planks ranging from 1/4 inch to 6-inches in thickness.
• Five different frill holes: 1/4”, 5/16”, 3/8”, as well as two fixed holes measuring 7/16” and 1/2”

Grizzly G1874 improved dowel jig.

If you are usually working with wooden planks for furniture use, this is the best choice for you.  Grizzly G1874 Improved Dowel Jig is compact, sturdy, and has a specialized system for stability and alignment.

 It has hardened steel bushings and can clump even on irregularly shaped surfaces.

Best Features:       

• Self-centered features
• Automatically centers itself on round, square or irregular shapes handles
• Can perform with the thinner pieces of wood, up to 2 inches in width
• Five different hole sizes: 1/4”, 5/16”, 3/8”, 7/16”, and 1/2″ in diameter

Dowl It 2500 dowel self-centering jig, 2-inch capacity with 4 tapped holes

This is another model Dowl-It company, with reinforced aluminum clamp on the sides to minimize moving while in use.

Best Features:

•  Four tapped holes to accept replaceable bushings
• Self-centering
• Has 6 removable bushings
• bushings and the jig center constructed from  hardened steel
• The clamping sides are made out of reinforced aluminum
• 2-inch width clearance

Self-Centering Dowelling Jig, 6/8/10mm Wood Dowel Hole Drilling Guide Positioner Locator Tool

If you are looking for a dowel that can work with wooden boards from 17 to 50 mm, this is the best model for you. This l comes from a company named Walfront, and it has the weirdest-looking doweling contraption.

It is constructed from aluminum alloy 6061, which underwent anodic oxidation for longevity.

Best Features:

• With three sizes for bushings- 6, 8, and 10 mm
• Precise drilling with an inbuilt measuring scale

Classifications of dowel jigs

It would be extremely beneficial for us to know the classifications of dowel jigs, so we will know what to purchase based on our experience with the tool. Here are the classifications of dowel jigs:

Basic

Basic dowel jigs are designed for beginners. The built of the said dowel jig is for those who want to have DIY activities.

However, these tools come with fewer features only, and durability is not guaranteed because most of them are not built firmly.

Intermediate

Intermediate dowel jigs can be used by both beginners and professional users. The price of these jigs is reasonable, and their functional abilities are of the required standard.

You can make use of the tools for almost all of your needs regardless of the experience that you have in carpentry.

Advanced

This type of dowel jig is advisable for professional use only. They come with first-rate features and durability.

Most of the advanced jigs are made of metallic body construction that has options to link up different types of woods.

Factors to consider before purchasing a dowelling jig kit

Aside from knowing the classifications of dowel jigs, we also need to know other factors that can affect our decision in purchasing. These factors are as follows:

Purpose

This should be the first factor you must consider when buying a doweling jig kit. You need to ask yourself first what the intended purpose of the dowel jig is.

With this question beforehand, you will be able to save and invest in a particular model that will be perfect for your woodworking needs because jigs have different drilling capacities and bushing sizes.

Bushing material

Dowel bushings, commonly called hollow ground dowels or spring alignment dowels, are used to locate components in conjunction with bolts that move through the inside of the dowel after it has been connected.

Most dowel bushings are made out of regular steel. For next-level dowelling tasks, a stronger set of bushings is required.

One example is bushings that are reinforced with steel which are ideal for creating holes in different pieces of wood that are tougher than regular plywood.

Accuracy and self-centeredness

This factor is probably the most vital factor we need to consider because this determines the success of your dowelling contraption. If your bushings are smaller, too large, and not set at the right angle, there could be higher chances of you ruining your work.

That is why we need to remember that the doweling jig needs to be fairly accurate. Meanwhile, self-centeredness is connected to accuracy.

Always look for models with ‘self-centering’ features because this aids the holes to be automatically centered in the wood when it is attached to it.

Weight

Another factor you must consider is how heavy or light your dowel jig is. Make sure to purchase one that can be handled comfortably while you are working to avoid getting tired easily, increase productivity, and make your doweling experience enjoyable.

Clamping Capacity

The clamp is a vital part of your doweling jig. Make sure that it is steady and firm so that it will not slip away whenever you use it.

Flexibility

When choosing a doweling jig, it would be better if you opt for those with a higher number of bushing and different hole sizes.

Having various hole sizes means it would be easier for you to adjoin various kinds of wood compared to having only one size, which can make your options limited.

Convenience

It is highly advisable to purchase the most advanced version of a dowel jig kit because it would be easier to figure out how they work. An average doweling jig kit is difficult to understand, especially for beginners.

Affordability

Based on the material used for the dowel bushings, the self-centering capability, and the number of holes you can utilize, the price can range from 20 to 70 dollars or perhaps slightly more than that.

Points to remember

Now that we know the highly recommended products in the market, we need to remember these important points before checking out your chosen dowel jig kit:

Your doweling jig kit will always depend on the purpose that you will use it on. No need to spend too much money if you only need to make a couple of holes in wood.

A doweling jig kit is essential if your line of work is with wood, like making furniture with a number of joints and if you do not want to use too many nails and screws.

Although it takes practice, using a doweling jig is quite straightforward. You just have to align the jig with the wood at an angle at that you wish to make holes.

Then you clamp down the jig to the piece of wood you’re working on so that it doesn’t move while you’re drilling. Then, take a drill and make the holes. And then you are done.

When joining wood pieces, just mark the points where you want to make the joints. Then drill in the positions and assemble the joints with the preset parts.

You can also use glues for quicker and sturdy linking between the pieces.

Self-centering features are really important if you want to have finer results.

It is highly recommended by the experts in the field to have at least five to six bushings. The higher the number, the more types of drilling you can perform.

FAQs

To sum it all up

There are many doweling jig kits present in the market, and it might be confusing for us what to choose. Regardless if you are knowledgeable in the ancient art of woodworking or are a complete beginner, a doweling jig can save you a lot of effort in the long run.

Just make sure that before purchasing one, examine it carefully.

Last update on 2023-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API