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Self Centering Doweling Jig

Item #
49221
Rating:
94% of 100
(89)

Features:

  • Maximum 2" capacity with boring sizes: 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16" and 1/2"
  • Plated to prevent rust
(1) Self Centering Doweling Jig
More Information
Brand Rockler
Weight 2.4000
Dowl-It Drill Guide
Powered by TurnTo
4.7 / 5.0
89 Reviews
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Star
72
13
0
4
0
Straightforward, works well and easy to use
This tool facilitated the joining task. It was straight forward and easy to us. Its simplicity was a very nice surprise.

Additionally, it is very nice quality ... something that can be used for years to come. Nice addition to my shop.
June 9, 2020
Purchased
 4 months ago
Woodworking Experience:
Intermediate
Great product !!!!!!
Works great self centers Perfect easy to use ,doesn’t mar or dent wood at all must have for doweling
April 7, 2020
Purchased
 3 months ago
Woodworking Experience:
Intermediate
Definitely worth the money.
It is very easy to use. There are marks for each size and they are labeled as well. I have not used the less expensive models but this one works well. I would definitely recommend it.
February 18, 2020
Woodworking Experience:
Intermediate
Worked perfectly for first time user
Worked perfectly. I built a 7’ x 4’ table with 2x6s. It turned out perfectly using this piece of gear.
February 14, 2020
Purchased
 5 months ago
Woodworking Experience:
Beginner
Great Product
This doweling jig is worth the money. You pay more but you get more. The quality of the jig is self evident. Easy to use and set up.
January 28, 2020
Purchased
 6 months ago
Woodworking Experience:
Advanced
The best way to drill straight into an edge
This device, which was designed to drill centered, straight, dowel holes into board edges of various thicknesses, is unchanged from 1949. It works extremely well.
December 1, 2019
Purchased
 7 months ago
Woodworking Experience:
Advanced
Wonderful jig!
This jig does everything they say it does and more! I was able to complete my project with ease. I didn’t even begin to use this jog to its full potential.
October 26, 2019
Purchased
 9 months ago
Woodworking Experience:
Beginner
Self Centering Dowling Jig
The jig works as expected. It is a very solid tool and perfectly centers the hole on the end of a rail/stile. The alignment marks for each hole size are easy to see for alignment of the desired hole center line. I chose this 2" model as I needed to drill holes in 1.5" patio railing, rails.
August 6, 2019
Purchased
 11 months ago
Great product. Very happy with this purchase
Definitely a great product. I'm using it now to hold miters of picture frames together during glue ups
July 31, 2019
Purchased
 11 months ago
Woodworking Experience:
Intermediate
It's easy to use and gets the job done.
July 24, 2019
Purchased
 1 year ago
Woodworking Experience:
Intermediate
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Start typing your question and we'll check if it was already asked and answered. Learn More
Browse 17 questions Browse 17 questions and 90 answers
Why did you choose this?
Rockler Store
Because it’ll do 2 inch thick wood and you’ll make good tools
Mark M on Jun 30, 2020
Used a friends today. Seems to be a good product. Looking forward to adding it to my collection of quality tools.
Roy R on May 29, 2020
Because it’ll do 2 inch thick wood and you’ll make good tools
Mark M on Jun 30, 2020
To center dowels
Grant L on Jun 20, 2020
Used a friends today. Seems to be a good product. Looking forward to adding it to my collection of quality tools.
Roy R on May 29, 2020
I like doing small projects at home and needed these items
Dave W on Apr 7, 2020
Floating shelf installation
tim b on Mar 27, 2020
To help clean out mortise joints
Joseph Z on Mar 7, 2020
I need it
Harold L on Jan 18, 2020
because it is self-centering
Kellen W on Dec 27, 2019
makes centering of dowel simple
Louise H on Jun 9, 2019
The only solution to novice and professional furniture builders!<br /><br />Nothing else like it on the market!
Matthew L on May 15, 2019
After 25 years of using the same doweling jig mine finally worn out and time to get a new one.
John A on Apr 30, 2019
Building a desk for my Daughter and will need to use a bunch of wooden dowel pins. I needed a way to drill the holes precisely and this seemed to be the best way to go about that. Will update when the desk is done.
Robert P on Feb 23, 2019
I like the self centering feature
Timothy A T on Feb 6, 2019
Good internet reviews. Have ordered from Rockler in the past and have been happy with the products. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Mel
Mel H on Jan 3, 2019
best for my application
Salvatore V on Dec 24, 2018
quilt rack project
steven f on Dec 12, 2018
gift
austin w on Dec 12, 2018
never had
robert u on Nov 18, 2018
Plan on making a floating shelf for spectrum digital boxes
John L on Jul 28, 2018
The quality appears to be far superior to others on the market.
DARRELL A on Jul 1, 2018
I bought on that was made in China.A total mess as nothing lines up.So I am hoping this will be a better product,precision made.
Joseph H on Jun 12, 2018
I've heard nothing but good things about this doweling jig, and I really need to step up my doweling game!
Michael H on May 6, 2018
Quality and application
THOMAS M on May 5, 2018
drilling for hidden shelf support.
Ken L on Apr 14, 2018
cabinet making
James H on Mar 30, 2018
i picked this based on Rocklers reputation and the positive reviews.
John Y on Feb 21, 2018
I used this jig that a friend had and I really felt more comfortable that it was done right.
Wayman H on Feb 14, 2018
never can center dowels without a good jig, this should help alot
Karen H on Feb 14, 2018
Need it to install Balusters
Stephen B on Feb 11, 2018
you tube think it was George Vondriska
Mark L on Feb 8, 2018
I need it for my rustic furniture builds/
Greg on Feb 8, 2018
Other shoppers liked this item & it fits my needs.
Thomas S on Feb 7, 2018
I needed it
Doc K on Feb 1, 2018
A friend has one I borrowed and I loved it
Harry V on Jan 29, 2018
bECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT IS SELF CENTERING AND THE FACT THAT IT HANDLES 1/2' DOWELS WHICH MINE DOES NOT. THE VIDEO WAS REALLY INFORMATIVE TOO.
D L on Jan 16, 2018
This will replace a failed plastic centering tool.
Alan T on Dec 16, 2017
My son borrowed his friends jig to do a project and really liked it, so thought it would be a great Christmas gift.
Donna S on Nov 26, 2017
I am building a 10 ft x 11 ft x 90 inch high pergola and I needed a way to center 1/2 inch dowels on the ends of the diagonal corner braces.
Jerry M on Aug 29, 2017
Reviews say it is the best one.
Mike B on Jun 26, 2017
i need to drill some straight holes and this should do the trick
Todd V on Jun 6, 2017
Exactly what I was looking for...
Joe T on May 3, 2017
Drill straight, centered holes
Michael N on Feb 17, 2017
For floating shelves
Jessica G on Feb 12, 2017
Will help improve the accuracy of centered holes for using dowls
Donna L on Jan 30, 2017
needed to build floating shelves
Julian C on Jan 28, 2017
ALWAYS WANTED ONE
RON WHIT on Jan 9, 2017
I use this for joining boards for box construction.
Joseph S on Jan 5, 2017
recommended on WWGoA for joining raw edge slabs.
MICHAEL K on Nov 23, 2016
looking for a better dowel jig
William C on Oct 11, 2016
SAME AS ABOVE
John F on Aug 28, 2016
To center dowels
Grant L on Jun 20, 2020
I like doing small projects at home and needed these items
Dave W on Apr 7, 2020
how do you make the jig holes centered?
A shopper on Jul 8, 2015
BEST ANSWER: After tightening the vise, the holes will already be centered along the thickness of the board. If you want to center it along another dimension as well, then you will have to measure and mark the center yourself on the side of the board and then use the markings on the side of the jig to line up the hole you want with your marker.
Can you make it so it doesn't self-center so you can offset the holes a fixed amount? I often put dowels not in the center but in a specific offset from an edge.
Scott R on Apr 15, 2015
BEST ANSWER: Yes, you easily could. Just put - like a 1/4" piece of wood on one side of the piece you're putting the dowel in. That would offset the dowel hole position. You could adjust the amount of offset by the thickness of the "shim" you added into the fixture. I just started using this doweling jig and love it, very well made and accurate. Hope this helps. Roger L.
is there marking pins with it. the metal point things you put in hole you drilled to mark the other part?
george a on Jan 2, 2017
BEST ANSWER: No, there are no marking pins with the jig: it's just the jig itself. Hope this answers your question.

Jerry
what is included with item # 49221?
Big Fish on Feb 6, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Just the jig, no dowl pins
Does it come with bushings?
robert o on Apr 20, 2020
BEST ANSWER: No threaded bushings like the double barrel unit.. It has multi sized drill holes in block already, only one hole can be done at a time.
Did the dowel pins and glue come with the doweling jig?
Steve on Feb 17, 2016
BEST ANSWER: No dowel pins or glue, just the jig and an accurate tool it is.
What keeps the centre block with the holes in the centre of the stock ?.I bought another brand and I have to place shims on either side of the centre block.
Joseph H on Dec 4, 2017
BEST ANSWER: As the name says - "self centering". The center block is attached to adjustment screw and centered between either side. As the screw is turned to open / close the jig, the center block remains in place as the two side blocks close (toward the center block) or retract (away from the center block) in equal increments. (No shims required.)
How do you line up the jig so that holes on both pieces perfectly match? Drill a hole on each piece and use a pin to line up?
Alvin P S on May 7, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I drilled the wholes in my table base. Placed dowel centering pins that Rockler sells. They are pointy. Place table top on base. Lined up my measurements. Tap the top with mallet marking wood. Placed the jig on the the surface to help keep my drill straight. Worked really well. Perfect alignment every time
What is the minimum wood thickness this jig can do? I have a project that is 7/16" stock.
Steve L on Feb 20, 2016
BEST ANSWER: It closes down to just a little under 3/8" so 7/16 should hold tight enough but you can always sandwich the material between two pieces of equal thickness lumber. It just makes marking the alignment a little clumsy but it's certainly do-able. I've used one of these clamps professionally for over twenty years and have done that a few times.
Will this product clamp around rounded pieces of wood?
Nick B on Oct 6, 2019
BEST ANSWER: This product was design to clamp to the flat sides of the wood. So far, I have only used it as intended. I imagine it will be difficult to clamp it to a round surface in such a way that the hole is drilled perfectly in the center, and the narrower the round stock is, the more difficult it will be to keep the tool at a perfect 90 degree angle to the part being drilled.
I bought one of these dowel jigs and although I have used it for okay results I have one complaint. The aluminum clamp edge does not line up with the tool steel drill guide. I think these components should line up flush on the edge. It makes it tricky to get repeatable results. Drilling on the edge of a board you can square up the edge with a piece of square material no problem, but when you go to drill the end of a board the tool steel ( black inner part ) is your reference edge but it is a good 16th of an inch difference from the aluminum clamp edge ! making your dowel holes off slightly and one does have to kind of 'eye ball' it to get good results. How do I line up the pieces properly with 2 different edges on the dowel jig? Can you give any instructions ?
Jaysee on Jun 15, 2018
BEST ANSWER: I have bought a couple of these jigs and I am not sure if this is answering your question correctly as I might not understand what you are saying but I did get one that had the guide off center as the holes were not dead center on the jig. I mentioned it to Rockler and they sent me a new one with the Holes lined up correctly. If this doesn't answer it correctly as to your issue, there are thin guidelines on the side of the jig that I use to line up the holes to be drilled and I make a perpendicular line from the hole area I want drilled and line it up with the guides line. Other way to line up, is to site down the hole with a small flash light to see if you are dead nuts on where you are expected to be drilling. Hope this helps!
Is there a metric version of this item?
Kevin W on Jan 28, 2018
BEST ANSWER: IT IS METRIC OR SAE ALL AT THE SAME TIME. ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
How deep on the stock does the jig reach?
JonCatskill on Sep 10, 2017
BEST ANSWER: The depth will be determined by length of your drill bit.The width is 2 1/4”.
need to drill a 4mm hole in posts for wire .do you have small metric drill sizes ?
jonno on Jul 10, 2017
BEST ANSWER: We don't carry a metric dowel jig, sorry
Can miter dowelling be performed with this jig as for picture frame or trim work?
Frank H on Apr 28, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Yes, all that matters is that you line it up accurately and that the stock has parallel sides. There are probably better tools (or jigs) than this for that operation though. I've had mine for 3 years and never used it.
does anyone know where i can get a 3d solidworks model of this component?
Christopher F on Mar 27, 2017
BEST ANSWER: No
Prop 65 Warning WARNING Cancer and Reproductive Harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/product
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