How to Use a Wooden Dowel Rod

Cut a dowel rod into several, 2-to-3-inch pieces with a saw and miter box or buy specially made small dowel joints. Find a drill bit slightly wider than the dial rod. Drill holes half the length of the dial rod in the end of two pieces of wood you want joined. Fill the holes of one piece with glue, and stick the ends of the dowel rods in them. Then fill the holes on the other piece with glue and slide them on the other end of the dial rods. Wipe away the excess glue and stick them in a vice to hold them together until the glue dries. The two pieces of wood will now be seamlessly joined.

Find a dowel rod slightly wider than a hole you mistakenly drilled in a piece of wood that cannot be replaced, such as in a kitchen cabinet or in furniture. Hammer it into the hole then knock off the excess. Stain the visible ends of it the same color as the surrounding wood and the mistake hole will become invisible.

Attach hooks to a wall in a straight line then lay a thick dowel rod across them, or nail a dowel rod between two walls for an instant coat rack or closet.

Cut a circle out of plywood and place it over a flower pot. Stick a dowel rod through the hole and attach all three pieces together using paint or glue. Paint 12 lines around the circle's circumference to make a sundial.