dowel joinery

Dowels are stronger than dominoes, biscuits, and pocket-hole screws, so that's outstanding.

It's true that dominoes are faster than dowels, but unless you're pushing high quantities through your shop, it might not be that big of a deal to you, especially given the huge cost difference.

general advice

• hole placement must be very precise, and the holes must be drilled perfectly perpendicular, otherwise the joint will not slide together
• suggested places to use dowel joinery

dowel jigs

Ones that I'm considering buying:

• inexpensive — Rockler's simpler dowel jigs, which come in ¼", ⅜", and ½" sizes [video]
• mid-range — Milescraft 1311
  • It's an upgraded version of the Wolfcraft Dowel Jig, which is mentioned on a large percentage of the "best dowel jig" articles out there
• high-end — Jessem Model 08350 — very expensive, but it produces very precise and repeatable hole patterns, it has impressive reviews, and its strength must rival dominoes
  • Its precision and complicated hole patterns arise from its quantized sliding piece — it can be adjusted in increments of ⅛".
  • I also hear a lot of people praising the DowelMax jig, but the fact that it can't be adjusted in increments of ⅛ seems like it might be a slight limitation?
• high-end — Dowelmax
  • It gets a lot of positive press.

dowel centering pins

• how to use dowel centering pins
• dowel pins are often only available up to ½", but the Sloan Dowel Center Marker/Center Finder lets you make your own center-pins out of many sizes, up to 1"
  • and there are other center-finder tools for even larger dowels, if you want to really go overboard