Customer Reviews and Photos for:
Rockler 3/8'' Dowel Drilling Jig Kit
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Average Rating:
4.2
(43 customer reviews)
$19.99
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1) Submitted by
Jerry Rodgers, from Shelbyville, TN
on 8/27/2011
Customer Rating: 
In my 68 plus years of expierence, I have learned that if something can happen, it will. I try to use all the tools that I have at my disposal to insure things do not just happen. A little extra time will help achieve a more pleasant outcome. Not being able to afford a high dollar line boring machine, this jig is an excellent choice. I do not know what it would do with only one clamp and I do not intend to find out. I do know that with the method I used, I recieved excellent results. A very well made jig appears to be made for years of use.
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2) Submitted by
Rich Engelhardt, from Stow, OHIO
on 7/25/2011
Customer Rating:
Good value for the occasional user. I bought one just to have it around. It worked good, except the clear acrylic slipped around a lot no matter how hard I clamped it. I dabbed some clear shellac Zinsser Seal Coat on the back when it dried,that cured the slipping issue without changing the centering or blocking out the reference lines.
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3) Submitted by
Phil, from Fillmore, CA
on 2/25/2011
Customer Rating:
For what this is, and what it does, I can't imagine a better execution. Simple, accurate, and easy to use.
I just got this last week and promptly made 112 holes for a project I'm working on. This is an extraordinary value and works very well. I recommend using a sharp bradpoint bit - i bought two new ones for just this little project. with a single clamping point, you don't want to fight a dull bit - there's enough leverage you could move off your line if you aren't careful.
As long as you are organized and manage your process, there's no reason you can't have perfect or near perfect results with this jig.
I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
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4) Submitted by
Matt, from Hubbard, OHIO
on 2/16/2011
Customer Rating:
Wonderful little jig and very well made! it makes doweling extremely easy.
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5) Submitted by
Buddy Jent, from Bowling Green, KY
on 1/28/2011
Customer Rating:
Nice little jig that is very well made. I bought it because I needed a dowel jig for one project I am making. I use a quick clamp to attach to the boards and drill the holes. Very fast! If you drill alot of holes the black metal gets warm. One negative-you can not drill to the center of a board.
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6) Submitted by
Terrence McHugh, from Ontario, NY
on 10/20/2010
Customer Rating:
Quick and easy tool. I bought it for face frames and it's going to be used by much more in the future. Very nice. A nice quick no-brainer. After some simple and miner adjustment perfect every time. Nice weight and feel in the hand also.
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7) Submitted by
Paul Davis, from Middletown, OH
on 8/14/2010
Customer Rating:
This is a plain and simple jig. I used it to make the backrest of a loveseat/storage bench that I made for a customer of mine. It was fast and easy to use with excellent results and inexpensive.
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8) Submitted by
Tony Martinez, from Rapid City, SD
on 4/23/2011
Customer Rating:
Only made this one project with it but had to make 80 holes for it. After the first few holes I found out that using a 6" F-Style clamp is the only was to go to hold the jig in place. I read a few people say that the jig would move when they would start drilling. Once I started using a f-style clamp I maybe had 2 or 3 holes move on me but not enough to throw the joints off. Along with a f-style clamp you need a brad point bit and your good to go. This jig works great and is just what I needed for this project and I will be using it for alot more and for the price i will buy another one just for a back up.
Plant stand
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9) Submitted by
Seth Tyson, from Easton, PA
on 4/21/2010
Customer Rating:
This is the easiest and quickest little jig I've used. It is very easy to use and takes a lot of the thinking out of my builds. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick and cost effective way into the world of doweling jigs.
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10) Submitted by
Gregg, from York, PA
on 10/12/2009
Customer Rating:
Worked great, perfect for my project. I had very simple doweling needs (always on an edge or corner) and it worked perfectly.
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11) Submitted by
Ollie , from Milledgeville, GA
on 8/1/2009
Customer Rating:
This tool saved the day, maybe two. I was restoring an ice box and discovered the tenons were rotted away on the rails. Since the stiles had grooves their full length, biscuits were out to the question. Then I found this jig. A little time aligning the styles and rails, a quick alignment mark across the joint and in a matter of minutes, I was gluing up. The only issues I have was the bushing felt slightly worn after about 25 holes and the jig could benefit from some type antislip method incorporated into it. I, too, found that inserting a dowel into the first hole secured and aligned the second hole precisely. All in all, a great product. I suspect I'll use it till it wears out and then I'll get another one.
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12) Submitted by
Mark Becker, from Pacifica, CA
on 8/7/2009
Customer Rating: 
The jig is effective .... If it were designed better: The plastic guide broke after 1 drop. An aluminum guide would have been better. a matte or sand blasted for a better non-slip clamping surface would be appreciated. The centering mark could be viewed through a cut out in the aluminum.
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13) Submitted by
Gregg Gibson, from Lewis Center, OH
on 7/31/2009
Customer Rating:
Quick set up and accuracy is the benefit to this tool. Too bad not available in 1/4".
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14) Submitted by
Dan, from Hudson, IN
on 4/20/2009
Customer Rating:
I had to do a kitchen cabinet remodel and did not have the room for pocket holes or biscuits. The pieces were different thicknesses and this jig was a life saver. Works great! Makes it hard to not get perfect alignment!
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15) Submitted by
Daryn, from Floyds Knobs, IN
on 3/12/2009
Customer Rating:
Made drilling holes for pins in table top and leaves very simple. I had struggled to get them exactly centered till I bought this simple jig. Now it is almost foolproof.
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16) Submitted by
Mark , from Farmington, MI
on 2/9/2009
Customer Rating:
Works great! Makes it hard to not get perfect alignment!
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17) Submitted by
Tom Moynihan
on 1/26/2009
Customer Rating:
Great tool for a geat price !!
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18) Submitted by
Jack Jipping, from Jenison, MI
on 1/7/2009
Customer Rating:
As stated -- very simple and easy -- seems to be quite accurate. Wish it was available in other sizes (1/4", etc.)
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19) Submitted by
Bryan, from Syracuse, UTAH
on 1/4/2009
Customer Rating:
Simple and accurate. Very easy to use and adjust. Used it to drill holes for a file cabinet.
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20) Submitted by
Steve, from Lowell, MA
on 12/31/2008
Customer Rating: 
Yikes! Wish I read Kelly's review. Worked well, but I dropped mine, too... second day of use. The plastic guide snapped right off at the bottom of the jig. There's not even a stub to use on the guide, any more. I tried to clamp it down to the workpiece, but the drill just kept rattling it out of alignment
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21) Submitted by
Gary, from Athens, GA.
on 12/29/2008
Customer Rating:
Simple, acurate, easy to use, and well made. For the money what more can you ask for?
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22) Submitted by
Jim Ewers, from Coldwater, MI
on 12/26/2008
Customer Rating:
A must have for the beginner works great wish it had offset capabilities
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23) Submitted by
Kelly, from Tempe, AZ
on 12/16/2008
Customer Rating:
Great tool - but don't drop it! Very easy to use, and produces perfectly aligned holes. But I only had it for 2 weeks before I dropped it from waist-high and the clear alignment guide snapped off.
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24) Submitted by
Carson DeMille, from Richfield, UT
on 12/4/2008
Customer Rating:
Simple and easy to use. A cheap alternative to the self centering jigs. The only downside is that you have to clamp it yourself, but at [price], you can't go wrong.
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25) Submitted by
Darryl Nicholson, from Norfolk, VA
on 11/15/2008
Customer Rating:
Perfect.
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26) Submitted by
Rob Young, from Lawrence, KS
on 10/21/2008
Customer Rating:
Bought this as an alternative to biscuits for a bookcase face frame. Rails were too narrow for #0 biscuit. Worked quite well for the money. A little bit of tuning up after assembly. Also worked great for attaching the face frame to the carcass.
Pay attention to your clamps and lock the jig with a dowel before drilling the second hole.
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27) Submitted by
James Thomson, from Waterford, NY
on 3/5/2008
Customer Rating:
This is a remarkable little jig for the money and minimal effort required. I used this jig for the first time to build a farmhouse coffee table with 5/4 Pine Stock. I improvised a bit when having to drill into turned table legs. So, I simply traced the board onto the leg, removed the plexiglass guide and clamped the jig with 6" clamps. I recommend using drill stops to insure precise drill depths. The holes are clean, true and surprisingly precise. They accepted fluted dowel pins, which after gluing and clamping, looked like the joints were mortised! Rockler has done it again!
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28) Submitted by
Robert Andreas, from Sidney , OHIO
on 2/25/2008
Customer Rating:
Make sure you clamp it well, as the reviewers suggest.
I just free-handed a couple of joints and could not get a satisfactory one. Tapping in the first dowel sounds like a good tip, I'll try that.
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29) Submitted by
Ted Lundgren, from Cape Coral, FL
on 2/8/2008
Customer Rating:
I needed to add depth to a shelf. The jig made so easy. I was done in 30 minutes and did a second shelf too.
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30) Submitted by
Larry Schwager, from Jerome, ID
on 1/9/2008
I built my grand daughter a doll cradle. The doweling jig was used to make the dowel hole and then I added 3/8" plugs for looks. The unit works very well, and works great the corner or flat surface as in the cradle. Would recommend it to anyone.
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31) Submitted by
Matt F., from Chepachet, RI
on 3/19/2008
Customer Rating:
I had trouble initially with the waste from the drilling finding its way between the jig and the stock and moving it a bit. That was easily fixed with a C-clamp and life goes on. Other than that it worked good and I was pleased to find that it was heavier and sturdier than I had anticipated. I am, however, giving thought to mounting it into a larger fixture with hold downs to make setup even easier.
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32) Submitted by
Mike, from Rosholt, SD
on 1/15/2008
Customer Rating:
Really a great and inexpensive product. A real plus for this particular jig would be to have inserts for 5/16" and 1/4" dowels. Also would be nice to have jig for making a "T" joint. Enjoy the simplicity and low cost of the jigs, keep them coming.
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33) Submitted by
Robert Bowman, from St. Paul, MN
on 12/31/2007
Customer Rating:
Agree with Jim, it can have a tendency slip slightly, if not properly secured. I had to use a couple of clamps to keep it steady. But once the first hole is drilled, lightly tap your dowel into that hole and the jig won't budge for the second. Use this method to create additional holes if you need them. You can't beat it for 10 bucks. I used it to attach the outer top frame and front frame components of an 8-foot long high-Victorian radiator cover.
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34) Submitted by
Sergio
on 12/30/2007
Customer Rating:
Very simple and easy to use, of course, there are better jigs in the market, but way down expensive, this one requires that you know at least the basics of making dowels, but for the price, it makes your work fast and easy.
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35) Submitted by
Jim Broestler, from South Point, OH
on 12/5/2007
Customer Rating:
Very simple and effective jig. Only improvement I would make is a recess in the clamping plate to fit a face clamp to prevent slipping.
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36) Submitted by
Jeff Busby, from Battlefield, MS
on 1/15/2008
Customer Rating:
When I saw the ad for this jig I thought it was exactly what I was looking for. I didn't realize that the clamp was not part of the product. Perhaps a little warning like "clamp not included" would have been helpful. I fixed the problem by affixing a clamp to it. It is a good product and much faster then other doweling jigs that I use. I would recommend it as long as you know what you are getting ahead of time.
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37) Submitted by
Dennis Rich, from Schenectady, NY
on 4/24/2009
Customer Rating:
The tool is almost perfect, it could have bushings to reduce it to 1/4 and make it perfect.
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38) Submitted by
Charles, from Cortlandt Manor, NY
on 2/12/2008
Customer Rating:
This jig is very easy to use and inexpensive. Aligning the holes is trivial. Just mark across the two boards, line up the jig's layout line with the point of yours and drill. The only problems that I had were that it vibrated out of place a bit, and the sawdust from the hole got between the end of the board and the jig, pushing it out a bit.
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39) Submitted by
Roger Paton, from Hedgesville, WV
on 2/10/2008
Customer Rating:
I second Robert Bowman's comments and add these: I used the jig to face frame an entertainment center case. I had to use two clamps to secure it for steadiness to the ends of rails, but it worked fine. Only one clamp worked when drilling into the sides of the rails and I had to adjust the clamp for the second hole. I thought if the black guide base were in the form of a "T" it would be possible to clamp it to rail stock with two clamps. Of course, that would require cutting the rail to length after drilling the holes, but the little bit of waste would be worth the accuracy this would ensure.
All in all, this is a good tool well worth the money. I'll use it a lot.
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40) Submitted by
Corey Schlichter
on 9/14/2011
Customer Rating:
The lines on mine don't match up with the holes, so every assembled joint is off by nearly an eighth inch. I loosened the screws and tried to shift the plastic but there wasn't enough tolerance in the screw holes to get it aligned. I widened the screw holes and was able to get one line centered above a bored hole, but the line over the bored hole doesn't match up. It seems the lines are not matched to the holes in the steel block.
Editor's note: Our customer service team at 800-376-7856 will be able to assist with replacement of defective jig.
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41) Submitted by
Joel Spencer, from Richmond, VA
on 12/19/2012
Customer Rating:
The "good" in this product is that it is straight forward and easy to use. The "bad" is that the sizing is all wrong... The 3/8 dowel jig is designed to center on 3/4" stock and the 1/4 inch jig is designed to center on 1/2" stock. 3/8" dowels are just too big for 3/4" stock and likewise the 1/4" dowels are too big for 1/2" stock. I have shimmed my 1/4 jig so it centers on 3/4" stock and the 3/8 centers on 7/8 stock. The mod to the 3/8 jig is a stretch, but it is better than centering it for 3/4" stock. I suggest that making a version of this jig for 5/16 dowel that centers on 13/16 stock or offer the 1/4 model to center on 3/4" stock. Either of these would be an improvement on the current offerings.
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42) Submitted by
Chris, from Las Vegas, NV
on 5/14/2013
Customer Rating: 
Could use it for a dog house but not for furniture. I thought this might work as sometimes there is not space for a full jig. 1- the plastic part of this jig flexes and the the resulting hole will will measure big and sloppy. 2- the 3/8 dowels just too large for 3/4 stock, it leaves only 3/16 left per side. 3- difficult to clamp as the plastic is beyond slippery. Outcome-clamped it hard enough to crack the plastic then through it in the trash. Save your money.
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43) Submitted by
Charles Wiggins, from Candler, NC
on 5/4/2008
Customer Rating:
Overall, I think this jig is pretty good, but I had lateral alignment issues with the first one they sent. When I used the center line on the jig to cover the line on the work the holes would come out misaligned by about 1/16". To Rockler's credit, when I complained, they shipped another jig right out - but, I have the same problem with it. I have since learned to bias the jig to the left side of the line and things come out perfect.
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