Buying the right dowel jig for your woodworking projects is important. You want to find one that is easy to use but also has the features that are most important to you.
We’ve researched and taken into consideration what other customers have said in their reviews to create this list of the best dowel jigs on the market. To make it easier, we’ve only included models in this list that are currently in stock and available for purchase.
Why trust us? We review products daily for our devoted readers to help them with their buying decisions. They value our honest and unbiased opinions and we really appreciate them putting their trust in us.
Read on for more information about our top pick.
Table of Contents
Why a Dowel Jig Is Needed
Dowel jigs are great for using larger and smaller parts to complete a project. With a dowel jig, you can make many different types of dowel jigs, including angles, pocket holes, and mortise and tenon joints.
Dowel jigs also help make complex shapes easier to create. For example, if you need to create a hanger that you’d typically have to create with a circular saw, then you can use a dowel jig to create a hole of the proper diameter.
While it may seem counterintuitive to need a dowel jig if you plan on using a router for all your projects, if you use a router, you likely have to adjust your cuts to fit a router table. If you use a router, it’s best to make all your cuts using a dowel jig to prevent damage to your router table and to ensure the proper router kerf.
COMPARISON CHART
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
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1. Milescraft 1309 DowelJigKit
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2. Woodstock D4116 Doweling Jig
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3. Eagle America 445-7600
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4. Wolfcraft 4641404 Doweling Jig
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5. Wolfcraft 3751405 Dowel Pro Doweling Jig Kit
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1. Milescraft 1309 DowelJigKit
Specification
| Drilling Size | 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″ |
| Bushing Size | 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″ |
| Materials | Polyethylene |
| Self-Centering? | Yes |
When you need a really great dowel jig, just purchase one from Milescraft. The 1309 comes with two standard pieces of dowel which you can use for all kinds of projects. This is a complete kit that will get your project started in a flash.
The jig itself is made from the strongest polyethylene. It’s much stronger than you might initially think. We found the steel dowel/tenon centers to be of high quality and were very accurate when drilling.
The DowelJigKit has the ability to adjust the pitch, angle, and cutting depth for the dowel so that it fits your work with minimal waste. The bottom line is that the Milescraft jig Kit is easy to use, and has excellent accuracy and we recommend it for users of any skill level.
WHAT WE LIKE
It’s solid and secures to the workpiece very easily. The user guide is very nice and there are tons of high-quality video tutorials about the product online.
Having a full kit product like this takes the time and worry out of looking around for dowel pins and such. It even comes with its own glue!
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
Of course, there is room for improvement for any product ever created, but we have very little to criticize about the 1309 jig kit. It would be nice if clamps were included to make the kit even more complete. It’s simply not a deal-breaker for us.
PROS
- VERY ACCURATE DRILLING AND SELF-CENTERING
- THE 90 DAY WARRANTY IS QUITE NICE
- CAN BE USED AT ANY SKILL LEVEL
CONS
- COULD USE CLAMPS
- SOME REVIEWERS FIND THAT MAKING HOLES IS A HIT-OR-MISS THING. WE HAD NO SUCH PROBLEMS
2. Woodstock D4116 Doweling Jig – Best Lightweight Dowel Jig
Specification
| Drilling Size | 1/4-Inch, 5/16-Inch, 3/8-Inch, 7/16-Inch, and 1/2-Inch |
| Bushing Size | 1/4-Inch, 5/16-Inch, and 3/8-Inch |
| Materials | Aluminum and Steel |
| Self-Centering? | Yes |
WHAT WE LIKE
At the end of the day, this jig is great for nearly any task. It is very easy to use and has many safety features for beginners. It is simple to use and is accurate to 0.01 inches in most cases.
You can build all types of projects and we found that the Woodstock is very easy to clean up as well, and you can quickly clean up between joints.
It is easy to set up and does not take much time to prepare. The jig is made out of sturdy aluminum which is easy to work with and should last for many years.
The angled top of this jig is smooth and has no sharp edges. The dowels that this jig uses are approximately one inch in length and are ½ inch in diameter.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
The Woodstock D4116 is not very durable at times. The quality aluminum looks good and feels solid, but it can be fragile at times. It can bend out of place. We feel this might be a manufacturing problem.
If you look closely, you can see a small number on the lower surface of the jig. This means the unit was bought on sale. It does not mean it is not a quality product.
PROS
- VERY VERSATILE TOOL
- DEPENDING ON THE UNIT YOU RECEIVE, THE UNIT IS EITHER STURDY OR NOT
- SELF-CENTERS FAIRLY WELL
CONS
- THE HOLES DO NOT ALIGN PERFECTLY
- CONSTRUCTION SEEMS STURDY, BUT THE UNIT CAN BE DAMAGED
3. Eagle America 445-7600 – Best for Beginners
Specification
| Drilling Size | 1/4-Inch, 5/16-Inch, 3/8-Inch, |
| Bushing Size | 1/4-Inch, 5/16-Inch, and 3/8-Inch |
| Materials | Aluminum and Steel |
| Self-Centering? | Yes |
This classic dowel jig is built with an efficient design, high-quality materials, and all the features you would expect in a jig. It works very well for beginners because of its ease of use.
The 445-7600 features strong metal parts and fast clamp force and the manufacturer suggests clamping with 1 to 3/4 inch thick stock.
It’s available with either single-point fixed clamps or by locking in a number of clamps, depending on the piece you are working on.
WHAT WE LIKE
Eagle American makes a pretty good dowel jig. The tool is heavy, so it’s not as light and maneuverable as a dowel jig that uses a metal rod for the handle. The rest of the unit also seems sturdy enough to complete any task.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
This is a “Love it or hate it” type of jig. There don’t seem to be any markings to center the holes. We also found it quite strange that the product is called Eagle America, but the units seem to have a different model number and branding coming from Taiwan.
PROS
- HEAVY ENOUGH TO FEEL HIGH QUALITY
- CAPABLE OF MAKING ACCURATE DRILL HOLES
- VERY GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
CONS
- MANY UNITS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED THAT HAVE OFF-CENTER HOLES
- BRANDING ON UNITS SAYS ‘MLCS’, COMING FROM TAIWAN. THIS SEEMS A BIT MISLEADING
4. Wolfcraft 4641404 Doweling Jig – Best Self-Centering
Specification
| Drilling Size | 1/4-inch, 5/16-inch, and 3/8-inch |
| Bushing Size | 1/4-inch, 5/16-inch, and 3/8-inch |
| Materials | Plastic |
| Self-Centering? | Yes |
This versatile doweling jig provides plenty of workspace, and the channels cut out by the jig are spaced correctly so that cutting them is the same as just clamping the dowel to stock and using a router bit to do the cuts.
The design is similar to most dowel jigs you see these days, but it’s made out of plastic and features the following features that most buyers need.
WHAT WE LIKE
With the 4641404 Doweling Jig, you can make pocket holes and mortise and tenon joints with the smaller parts. This jig is designed to allow for easy setup and takedown.
The arrow handle makes it easy to lift and position the jig, and the new 1″ and 2″ dowel pins have a hardened tip to ensure that your pocket holes and mortise joints are strong.
In addition to their high-quality feel, the materials used in their construction provide a long-lasting platform that will stand up to the serious use of your jig.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
This jig is the most common and works in many situations. It doesn’t come with anything except the unit itself. We would also add that it’s not the strongest of products as it seems fragile at times.
PROS
- WE LIKE THE EASE OF USE
- ACCURATE DRILLING
CONS
- QUALITY FEELS CHEAP
- NOT A “KIT”, SO YOU WILL NEED TO PURCHASE OTHER PARTS IF NEEDED
5. Wolfcraft 3751405 Dowel Pro Doweling Jig Kit – Best for DIY
Specification
| Drilling Size | 1/4-inch, 5/16-inch, and 3/8-inch |
| Bushing Size | 1/4-inch, 5/16-inch, and 3/8-inch |
| Materials | Aluminum and Steel |
| Self-Centering? | No |
The 3751405 is another good option if you’re looking for a quick dowel jig. It has a nice depth and measures only 3 x 4.3 x 12.3 inches.
It comes with aluminum parts that make it easy to mount, attach and remove. The parts are laser-cut in order to fit all the different stocks on your router table. The unit is also sturdy and weighty enough to hold up to the weight of dowels you may use.
To assemble it, you need only to place the pieces on the router table or clamps and connect them with hex keys. It also has some wooden dowel pins and a few extra features to get you started.
WHAT WE LIKE
The pieces in the kit are all that is needed for this jig besides mounting clamps, etc. With multiple pieces to make your project, this kit is perfect for you to get started and make the project of your dreams.
The pieces and size of dowels in this kit are pretty accurate and they make for great work, whether you are building a set of drawer pulls or assembling a cabinet.
We really like this kit for projects that you can piece together from the pieces in the kit and all of the dowel pins and is a great starter kit that any woodworker will appreciate.
The instructions for the dowel jig are clear and easy to follow. You can complete this project in about 20 minutes.
The machine and woodworking joints are easy to install on this jig. We liked that the dowels were soft so that they slid right on the jig.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
The dowel jig box did not come with tools or clamps. This is not a self-centering device but as long as you are careful you should still be able to line up the dowel pinholes.
PROS
- COMES WITH ENOUGH PARTS FOR GETTING YOUR PROJECT STARTED
- CAN HANDLE MATERIALS FROM ½ – 1 ¼ INCH THICK
- EASY TO UNDERSTAND INSTRUCTIONS
CONS
- THE STOP COLLARS ARE LOW QUALITY
- IT’S NOT SELF-CENTERING BUT WILL DRILL THE HOLES ACCURATELY IF YOU TAKE CARE
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this article about the best dowel jig. Our top recommendation easily goes to the MILESCRAFT 1309 DOWELJIGKIT.
The 1309 has all of the right qualities such as durability, accuracy, and materials to keep you more than satisfied when making your projects. We truly think you’ll be just as impressed with this dowel jig.
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I am a woodworker with over 21 years of experience crafting everything from furniture to ornamental pieces. I take pride in my ability to bring out the beauty of the wood I work with, creating unique and lasting objects. My passion for woodworking has been a life-long pursuit and I strive to push myself further and further with each new project. I am dedicated to the craft and take great satisfaction in the final product that I create.Read More.
