What are dowel pins?

Dowel pins are short, cylindrical metal or wooden pins used to temporarily or permanently position two workpieces relative to each other. They are placed in pre-drilled holes and form a bridge between the two parts, ensuring they align precisely during gluing or assembly.

Function of dowel pins

• Positioning — hold two workpieces in the correct position relative to each other
• Reinforcement — provide additional strength to a glued joint
• Repeatability — ensure that components return to the same position during disassembly and reassembly

Dowel pins vs. dowels vs. centre points

Aid	Material	Function
**Dowel pins**	Steel or brass	Positioning and reinforcing joints
**Dowels**	Timber (usually beech)	Permanent timber joint with glue
**Centre points**	Steel with point	Marking drill holes on the opposite workpiece

Applications

• Timber joints — when gluing boards or solid timber
• Metalwork — positioning metal plates for welding or bolting
• Furniture making — aligning table tops, cabinet parts or shelves
• Restoration — joining broken or split timber sections

Using dowel pins

1. Drill holes in the first workpiece at the desired positions
2. Insert the dowel pins into the holes (halfway)
3. Press the second workpiece against the protruding pins
4. Check the alignment and apply glue
5. Clamp the parts together and allow to cure

Common sizes

Diameter	Length	Application
6 mm	30 – 50 mm	Thin boards, mouldings
8 mm	40 – 60 mm	Furniture making, cabinet doors
10 mm	50 – 80 mm	Heavy boards, worktops

Related terms

• Dowel
• Centre point
• Mortise-and-tenon joint
• Wood glue
• Butterfly key
• Dovetail joint