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Top 10 Best Dowel Jigs - Professionally Reviewed
So, I heard you’re on the hunt for the best dowel jigs on the market?
Well – good news – you’ve stopped at the right place!
If you’re like me – pocket screws and biscuits are only going to take you so far. The truth is, dowel jigs easily take the cake when it comes to strength, durability, and accuracy.
Since there are so many dowel jigs available, finding the right dowel jig is not always easy. Unless, that is, you know which dowel jigs are truly the best of the best.
In this buying guide, you will learn all about the top ten best dowel jigs. All of these dowel jigs offer durability, convenience, precision, and ease.
No matter which of these dowel jigs you choose, your woodworking projects will be taken to the next level!
For those lazy readers out there, here is our number one pick for ease of use, durability, and value:
Editor's Choice
Woodstock D4116 Doweling Jig
- Extremely sturdy (made of steel)
- Centering marks can be viewed through window to make perfect alignments
- Great value
- Handles stock up to 2-inches thick
- Drill-hole sizes: 1/2-Inch, 7/16-Inch, 3/8-Inch, 5/16-Inch and 1/4-Inch
1. Woodstock D4116 Doweling Jig
The Woodstock D4116 Doweling Jig is, unlike the previous product, just a dowel jig. But, despite offering fewer features and components than the previous product, this is a fantastic dowel jig that offers convenience, versatility, and efficiency.
Everything this dowel jig is made of is made of either aluminum or steel. Both of those materials are quite durable, which ensures that this dowel jig will last you a long time, without any significant issues.
To make the entire woodworking experience so much easier, this dowel jig offers several key features.
Right away, the first key feature you will notice is this dowel jigs size; it’s small and compact. Moving this dowel jig around, and storing it when it is not being used, is an easy task.
With this dowel jig, you have access to six bushings. You can use these bushings at any given time, making it easy for you to drill multiple holes on the same piece of wood, without the need for you to adjust your dowel jig or the wood you are working on.
The third, and final, key feature to note is that this is a self-centering dowel jig. No matter where you are drilling, this dowel jig will center those holes, keeping them perfectly aligned. Manually centering and aligning different drill holes can be quite tedious, so this self-centering feature is very useful.
For most people – from hobbyists, to professionals – the Woodstock D4116 Doweling Jig will be perfect. But, if there is a flaw, it’s that this dowel jig is slightly more expensive than many others, due to the quality that it offers.
2. Milescraft 1309 Dowel Jig Kit
The Milescraft 1309 Dowel Jig Kit is, just as the name implies, a dowel jig kit. Since this product is a dowel jig kit, you get more than just a dowel jig: dowel pins, dowel bits, and metal bushings.
Every single component that is included in this kit is extremely durable. No matter how often you use the dowel jig, or the components that work alongside the dowel jig, you will be able to continue doing so for many years. To go along with that, there’s no need for you to worry about accidentally bending or breaking the dowel jig, due to its strength and durability.
When you purchase this dowel jig kit, you will also receive access to videos that Milescraft has produced. All of these videos give you the information you need to use this dowel jig, in an easy and effective manner, for any woodworking project. That way, even if you aren’t too familiar with woodworking, you have nothing to worry about.
Even though this dowel jig, and all of its assorted components, are quite good, there is one small problem. Sometimes, this dowel jig will not stay still. You can be pressing it directly against the board, with incredible strength, and the torque of your drill will still cause the dowel jig to wobble.
If you can look past that flaw, or aren’t too worried about dealing with a wobbly dowel jig, then the Milescraft 1309 Dowel Jig Kit is a fantastic dowel jig to purchase.
More: Looking for a good set of drill bits? Check out our article discussing the 10 best drill bits on the market!
3. Joywayus Self Centering Dowel Jig
The Joywayus Self Centering Dowel Jig is a professional dowel jig. Since this dowel jig is meant for professionals, the design quality is second-to-none. Just about everything that comprises this dowel jig is made of stainless steel, and every single component is easy-to-use and very effective at performing the task it is meant for.
Making use of this dowel jig allows you to work with round and square-shaped workpieces, as well as workpieces with more unusual shapes. All of these workpieces can be given holes of varying sizes. At any given time, you can create two parallel holes in your workpiece, without needing to move the dowel jig.
To enhance the woodworking process, this dowel jig automatically centers itself. More often than not, this process is perfect, allowing you to create perfectly aligned holes. But, every now and then, the centering process is a little wonky, and you may need to adjust. This is, in the end, the only notable flaw that the Joywayus Self Centering Dowel Jig offers.
4. Rockler Dowl-It 1000
The Rockler Dowl-It 1000 is a simple, but very effective, dowel jig. As a result of the simplicity this dowel jig offers, setting it up and using it is very easy, making this dowel jig perfect for beginners.
Just about every component this dowel jig uses is made of either stainless steel or aluminum. Due to the strength of these materials, this dowel jig can last for a long time, without any issues. Along with that, unlike many other dowel jigs, this dowel jig does not rely on any loose components. You never have to worry about losing a crucial component that this dowel jig relies on.
While you are using this dowel jig, you have access to six different drill hole sizes and a self-centering mechanism. All of those drill hole sizes make it easy for you to create drill holes that are the proper size for whatever woodworking task you are trying to accomplish. The self-centering mechanism ensures that every drill hole you make is properly aligned, without you having to manually center this dowel jig.
Even though the self-centering mechanism works very well, more often than not, errors can still take place. Sometimes, the self-centering mechanism won’t center itself properly, forcing you to center it manually. These instances are rare, though, and noticing them, and reacting accordly, isn’t too difficult.
5. Jessem Dowelling Jig Master Kit
The Jessem Doweling Jig Master Kit is a very elaborate kit that comes with everything you need to use a dowel jig properly. All of the tools and components this dowel jig kit includes are made of aluminum. Due to being made of aluminum, along with the quality of the design, these tools and components will last you a long time.
While the high-quality design this dowel jig kit offers is one of its most notable features, what really sets this dowel jig kit apart from others is the versatility and convenience that it offers. All of the features this kit offers make it easy for you to accomplish your woodworking projects in the manner that you prefer.
Some of the more notable features this kit offers include built-in alignment slots, dowel holes that can be configured for your exact needs, and three individual dowel hole sets that let you make dowel holes the exact size you need. Making use of these features is easy, due to the simplicity and clarity of the design, and all of these features make the woodworking process a lot easier.
The main flaw of this dowel jig can be found in the drill bits that Jessem has included. None of these drill bits is especially well-designed and, because of this, they often work slowly and produce slightly uneven holes. Purchasing your own drill bits is recommended.
6. Waricaca Dowel Jig
The Waricaca Dowel Jig is a versatile and effective dowel jig. But, unlike some of the other dowel jigs in this guide, you won’t find a self-centering feature. Rather, you will need to perform any centering task manually which, for some, may be a major inconvenience.
Even though this dowel jig lacks such a major feature, it more than makes up for that by offering a plethora of other features that are all fantastic.
One of the most notable features is the aluminum alloy material this dowel jig is made of. Aluminum alloy is a lightweight material, which makes it easy for you to move this dowel jig around. But, along with that, aluminum alloy is resistant to corrosion, which greatly enhances the lifespan of this dowel jig.
With this dowel jig, you can work with three bushing sizes, as well as three drilling sizes. The variety of sizes gives you a great deal of versatility, enabling you to accomplish a variety of woodworking tasks with ease.
The six bushings included with this dowel jig are reliable and easy-to-use. Attaching these bushings is easy, which is great for beginners, and they are quite durable, so you won’t have to replace them for quite some time.
7. Ruitool Dowel Jig
The Ruitool Dowel Jig is an elaborate dowel jig that comes with three drill bits and sixty dowel pins. Since those components are included, you won’t need to go out and buy them separately, saving you some time and energy.
Unlike many other dowel jigs, this dowel jig is made entirely out of plastic. Plastic is not the most reliable material, which means this dowel jig is more susceptible to wear-and-tear than dowel jigs made of metal. Plastic is also not known for its longevity, so you will not be able to use this dowel jig for more than a few years. This is the most notable flaw this dowel jig offers and, if you are looking for durability and reliability above all else, may be a dealbreaker.
If you can look past that key design feature, this dowel jig offers tremendous ease-of-use and a ton of versatility.
The simple and clean design of this dowel jig makes setting it up and using it very easy. Due to the smaller size of the dowel jig, moving it around, and using it on workpieces of varying sizes is always a pleasant experience.
As mentioned earlier, this dowel jig comes with three drill bits and sixty dowel pins. Three drill bits is not that many, but sixty dowel pins is a lot. Having all of these dowel jigs on hand lets you create many different joints. This, when combined with the versatile design, makes this dowel jig an ideal choice for many woodworking tasks.
8. Task Premium Doweling Jig
The Task Premium Doweling Jig is a, just as the name implies, premium-quality dowel jig that offers complete reliability.
Every main component this dowel jig relies on is made of aluminum that has been graded for aircrafts. Steel plates cover the main components, offering a second-layer of durability, while also ensuring that this dowel jig is corrosion-resistant.
Due to the slightly large size of this dowel jig, you can work with workpieces of varying shapes and sizes. No matter your workpiece, though, the self-centering mechanism will align with the exact center of the piece. For drilling round pieces of wood, this is very useful, and makes the woodworking process much easier.
All of the components this dowel jig comes with are included in a carrying case. The layout of this carrying case makes it easy to keep every important component safe and secure. Taking this dowel jig with you, despite its slightly large size, is easy with the carrying case. If you are a professional, and go from worksite to worksite, having this carrying case will make your life a lot easier.
The six bushings this dowel jig offers are useful. But, at the same time, they’re also somewhat fragile, and not always ideal for the woodworking task at hand. This is the only notable flaw the dowel jig offers and, as far as flaws go, it is not difficult to solve.
9. WALFRONT Self Centering Dowelling Jig
The WALFRONT Self Centering Dowelling Jig is easily one of the smallest and lightest dowel jigs on the market.
For sheer portability, this is the best dowel jig you can find. But, along with that, the small size of this dowel jig allows for plenty of flexibility, making it easy for you to use this dowel jig on just about any workpiece.
For you to use this dowel jig on those workpieces, you will, more likely than not, be relying on one of the nine bushings it comes with. All of these bushings work well, while also being reliable and durable. Due to the design of this dowel jig, you can use these bushings three-at-a-time, allowing you to create three drill holes, at any given time, on large pieces of wood.
Every component this dowel jig relies on is made of either anodized aluminum or hardened steel. Those are two of the strongest metals available, and these protect the dowel jig from wear-and-tear of all sorts.
The only genuine flaw this dowel jig possesses is the clamp it comes with. It is not very durable, nor is it very secure. To use this dowel jig properly, purchasing a better clamp is advisable.
10. SINOCMP Universal Doweling Jig
The SINOCMP Universal Doweling Jig is a special doweling jig that offers a very unique feature: dual-action functionality. Dual-action functionality is a feature that lets you work on two pieces of wood at the exact same time. For large woodworking projects, this feature is incredibly useful.
Beyond the novelty of dual-action functionality, this dowel jig offers a few excellent features that make any woodworking task much easier.
The first of these features is the ability to create three drill holes at one time. For big woodworking projects, this feature, when combined with dual-action functionality, makes most tasks a lot easier.
The second feature to note is the fact that this dowel jig is designed to work with wood pieces of varying levels of thickness. You can work with thick pieces of wood, and you can work with thin pieces of wood.
No matter the wood you are working with, you are free to create T-shaped joints, L-shaped joints, and edge joints. Making these joints is easy, giving you more freedom to shape your workpiece the way you want to shape it.
In the end, there is only one major flaw this dowel jig possesses: no self-centering feature. To center this dowel jig, you must do so manually. For some, this will be a major inconvenience and, as such, should be noted.
If there is a main flaw this dowel jig offers, that would have to be its lack of a self-centering feature. No matter your workpiece, you will need to center this dowel jig manually. For some, this will be a major inconvenience, while also making it far more likely for errors to occur.
Conclusion
The ten dowel jigs that you just learned about are the very best that money can buy. No matter your needs, one of these dowel jigs will offer exactly what you are looking for.
Just make sure you know your needs and, with those needs in mind as you read this guide, you will have no problems finding the dowel jig that is perfect for you.
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