Make Solid Joints With Dowels
Wooden dowels are used in molding and millwork, such as when adding crown molding or baseboards or installing doors and windows. They allow for edge-to-edge or edge-to-face joints. Woodworkers and cabinet or furniture makers use dowels for a solid joint or to support the weight of shelving. You can also use woodworking dowels in craft projects like picture frames or display boxes. Check out Molding & Millwork How-Tos for DIY projects that help you create custom baseboards, decorative ceilings and more.
Dowel pins are made from dowel rods. A rod is cut into short sections, or pins, which often have rounded ends and grooves or spirals cut into the surface, which allow them to expand to form a solid joint. Lowe's stocks dowel pins in both wood and metal with grooved, spiral or unfinished surfaces.
Many people prefer to measure and cut their own pins or need rods in non-standard diameters for custom projects. Lowe's carries hardwood dowel rods in both round and square shapes in lengths from 12 inches up to 72 inches, as well as in a wide range of diameters, from 3/16 inches to 2 inches used for doweling. Wood isn’t the only material used for dowels. Metal and plastic are also used, although not to the extent as wood.