Miller Dowels Mini-X
When things go wrong in the shop, one of the crutches I lean on are Miller Dowels Mini-X thingies. These are stepped and ribbed dowels that you install with a super-insanely-good stepped drill bit. How to use them: First drill a hole with the bit to reinforce a questionable joint. Then tap in a Mini-X dowel with some glue.
They fit so well that the world seems like a brighter place.
I’ve long used Miller Dowels for a variety of off-label applications, especially knockdown joinery. But as I delved deeper into chairs, I have found that the Mini-X dowels are the perfect repair tool. They can go almost anywhere. The fit is perfect. And they can be easily flushed to look like nothing ever happened.
If you are Miller-curious, buy the Mini-X Dowel Joinery Kit for $35. It includes the drill bit (the most important part) and 100 birch dowels. Put the kit somewhere safe but visible. The next time something goes circling around the toilet bowl, remember this kit. It might save the day.
Chris, I’ve been Miller Dowell curious for many years but I’ve resisted, because there are so many gizmos out there that I’ve purchased and never used. Glad to know you find them useful. I’m going to give them a try. Can you share any specific projects where the Miller Dowell has come to the rescue?
When an arm cracks. When a tenon isn’t tight enough or becomes loose. Anytime I want to reinforce a tenon or an assembly that I am not certain about.
Also, there are just odd times when it is the best solution. Like when joining a backsplat to an arm.
I’ve also been curious about these. What makes them better than a normal dowel?
The fit between the bit and dowel. The stepped dowel is ribbed. There is an interference fit that allows for KD joinery (like affixing shelves below a workbench). And much more!!! (Read the marketing materials)
Chris – Can you shed any light on the KD joinery? Is that information in their marketing materials?
I love and use them often but have never considered them for that purpose.
Just use them without glue. They have a really close interference fit. So I attached the shelf boards in our Holtzapffel bench with them. Drill the hole through the shelf and cleat. Knock the Miller Dowels in. Knock them from the other side to release the joint.
Crazy, I was cleaning the other day and came across a starter set from the 90’s that I have never used- why idk…
Been using them for years! Fixed a cracked saw tote with a Cherry mini. The stepped drill bit is perfect for drilling a hole in a new chisel handle.
These may be perfect for my sculptures, that have various kinds of joinery — mortise and tenon, screws, and several glues. I’ll try them!
You can see examples at my website DrewLangsner.art
These may be perfect for my sculptures, which use many types of joinery — mortise-and-tenon, any type of screw, epoxy and super glue. You can see examples on my website DrewLangsner.art
I first Tom Fidgen use them in one his books. He used them on the saw bench. A lot Japanese Tansu use a tapered nail (kakuri) and tapered drill bit pilots. I’ve always wondered if these would work the same way. I’ve used them to make some rough boxes for the pets around the house and they came out pretty solid. I’ve used them to reinforce less than stellar joinery I’ve cut. They are pretty handy to have around.
Thanks Chris. I looked up the link. They also have dowels in oak, cherry, and walnut so a lot of likely wood species are covered. For $35, it’s on my list for sure.
If you are every looking for topics to blog about, I would love to see one about things like this. What are other inexpensive tools that could be handy. The domino doesn’t fit the bill but you once mentioned using it help a client meet a price point. What other handy tools are there such as the one you blogged about here that could be handy in a pinch? Biscuit jointer, Kreg or Castle for pocket screws? I prefer traditional joinery but am curious as to when other techniques may make sense.
Thanks, I had looked at this system before. They come in three sizes and offer dowels in different wood species, including oak and cherry.
Cheers
I’ve used these a bunch. I did quick repairs on a friend’s kitchen drawers many years ago, and they are still as good as the day I fixed them. In addition to the uses for the dowels, the stepped drill bits are fantastic. They are the single best bit I’ve found for making new handles for chisels and other tools.
Could the largest of these be used in place of some drawboring joints on a workbench? For example to pin down the bench top to the base via its mortise and tenon joint?
cheers, Mike
Probably not a good idea. The steps would get snagged by the offset bores.
Chris,
“The next time something goes circling around the toilet bowl, remember this kit. It might save the day.”
Are you planning a video to instruct us on fixing plugged toilets, using Miller Dowels? I’d buy that.
These are great! I made a little box with them that turned out nicely and was mutch quicker than dovetailing. I used a little rabbet to locate the corners before drilling. This is a good reminder to find some more uses for my set.