Miller Dowel System

The Miller Dowels are designed to create solid joints in wood.

Both the stepped drill bit (TruFit) and the wooden dowels are well-made. The stepped bit is made from HSS (High Speed Steel) and if taken care of will last a long time while providing superior performance.

Interesting indeed, the Miller Dowel is a dowel system that is used from the outside of the project (a standard dowel is concealed between (inside) two pieces of wood). At first this sounds like a disadvantage, however it most certainly is not — instead it’s a creative alternative that can quickly add character and sophistication to virtually any project.

In a nutshell the Miller Dowel system works like this: A special stepped drill bit is used to make a perfectly sized hole between two boards. Next a Miller Dowel (a special stepped dowel sized exactly for the matched drill bit) is lathered-up with glue and hammered into the hole. A few taps to ensure a snug fit and any remainder is trimmed off with a flush cut saw and then sanded smooth. Quick, easy and painless! (Not to mention you get to use a hammer — which is always fun!)

The Miller Dowel system is a great alternative and a nice tool to have in the shop. It’s simple, fast and easy to use; it’s strong; it’s reasonably priced; and (in our opinion) it’s attractive. Though not the right answer in every situation (of course, nothing is), this system can be used far and wide in the shop to strengthen many types of joints (i.e. butt joints, dado joints, lap joints, etc).

If you favor quick & easy joinery, and don’t mind a decorative circle at each joint (the dowels head) … then the Miller Dowel is a great solution. It’s at a price range anyone can afford, requires nothing more than a standard hand-held drill and hammer, and makes even the most basic joint extremely strong.

Manufactured by Miller Dowel Company, these specialized dowels have a variety of buying options. From single bits to complete starter sets. The average price range I’ve seen has been between $15-$30 — depending on the size and quantity you buy. Buy a starter set online from Miller Dowel Company (link), Amazon (link), Woodcraft (link), or Klingspor’s (link).

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