Dowel's Mini-x Joinery Kit - Birch

The Miller Dowel is a great option for wood joinery. The included specialized drill bit creates a perfect hole for the stepped dowels. These dowels come in many different wood species and are a nice decorative touch to your wood projects. They can also strengthen wood joints especially butt joints.

Already purchased the larger version for thicker woods. Had a project using 3/4” lumber so thought I would use. Made a plywood box for 3 shelves. Used these to secure hanging this on wall. Drill,glue, and hammer them home. Easy.

Have not used it yet. No substitute for conventional joinery, put relatively structural, and should have some real life use.

This is the first time I used the Mini-x but not the first time I've used Miller Dowels. I use the 2x size a lot. Most recently to built the base and then attach the top for two large dining tables I made from solid quarter sawn oak. They just work so well and add such beauty to a piece of furniture. I used the Mini-x for drawers in cabinets I am building for my kitchen remodel.

These work well and are an excellent option for me with some of the woodworking I do. I like how they fit in the holes that the bit drills and the way they look. I am not having problems with keeping the holes 'square' so much because I am leaving them a little proud and then cutting them off and sanding them down. I got the small ones and will get the other ones as needs arise. They are not cheap (compared to regular dowels) and they are quick to use so I'll balance that with my needs.

The key is drilling straight. If you drill straight and your pieces are clamped when you're drilling, these are amazing. The first few that I tried fit loose and I was discouraged until I realized that my clamps were slipping and it was boring the hole too wide. They fit snug. Easy to use. Love them. One of the pics shows them before sanding and the other is after. They sanded down easily. I don't have a Japanese pull saw or I would have used that.

Got this kit just to see what they were all about. Very impressed. Need to order some more. Yes, they are kind of expensive, but being able to clamp your pieces together, drill through both and then drive the dowel in and have everything perfectly aligned is really handy, unlike pocket screws that seem to go all over the place the minute you screw them in. And I like not having metal fasteners in things.

I love these, very sharp bit and great dowel-system for connecting wood together. Highly recommend these.