How to Cut a Hole for a One Inch Dowel

Drilling holes for dowels is a fairly common operation in carpentry as well as in some hobbies. It's fairly easy for smaller dowels, the holes for which you can drill with any electric drill. Large dowels are more difficult. They typically have a diameter greater than 1/2 inches. A further possible complication involves the nature of the material in which you are attempting to make the hole. Wood is easy enough, but masonry or metal can be a challenge. The proper tool for all of these applications is an appropriately sized hole saw. You can attach hole saws to almost any electric drill and use them to cut clean-edged holes with diameters up to several inches.

Electric Drill
1/8-inch drill bit
1-inch hole saw
Hole saw Arbor

Instructions

- 1
  Mark the center where you will drill the hole for the dowel. Insert the 1/8-inch drill bit into the chuck of the electric drill. Drill a 1/8-inch hole straight down into the material, making sure that you center the drill on the mark. Remove the 1/8-inch bit from the drill.
- 2
  Insert the hole saw arbor into the chuck of the electric drill. Slide the hole saw over the arbor and tighten the chuck until it is secure. The drill bit in the arbor should project past the tips of the hole saw's teeth by about 3/8 inch. This won't be an issue unless you are using an adjustable arbor, as hole-saw kits with fixed arbors will always include the right-sized arbors.
- 3
  Start the drill going slowly and slide the tip of the bit into the 1/8-inch hole. Use this hole to guide the hole saw straight into the material. Apply steady pressure and increase the speed of the drill. If you are making a hole in wood, back the hole saw out from time to time to clear sawdust from the cut. When the saw breaks through, back it completely out of the material you are cutting before letting go of the trigger.

The Size of Standard Drill Bits

Corner Connection Carpentry Tools

Carpentry