Joining wood with wooden fasteners avoids the problems with
nails and screws, such as
- Wood rot, of which even a minor amount compromises joint strength
- Metal corrosion and rust
- Dangerous "Nail Pops" or "Shiners"
- Splitting of the grain.
Peg Construction traditionally involves the difficult task
of driving a pin dowel into a pilot hole that is just as tight
at the top as it is at the bottom. Not only do you have to
use a hammer from the very beginning, but it only gets tougher
the deeper you get.
The Miller Dowel is inserted 75% by hand because of the relationship
of the dowel shape to its pilot hole. You get better holding
strength, and it is easier to tap in!
Another advantage of having the dowel inserted so far through
the top board is that the pilot hole does not have a chance
to misalign. The hole for a traditional dowel must be perfectly
matched up so the dowel can enter the second piece of wood
without problems.
The Miller Dowel is already well into the second piece of
wood before you even reach for your hammer!
The Miller Dowel has exceptional holding strength because
the shoulder between the widest and second widest sections
gets lodged in the top board. This produces a capping effect
like the head on a screw or a nail.
Our dowel has excellent adhesion as glue remains all along
the Miller Dowel’s length, settling under each shoulder,
instead of being forced down to the bottom of the hole or
sheared off at the top.
Many woodworkers appreciate the decorative appearance of the
pegged or “Shaker” look. Since our dowels can
be stained prior to insertion, it simple to enhance the contrast
for both light and dark woods.
Why use plugs to cover countersunk screws? Using plugs involves
drilling a pilot hole, screwing in a fastener, then gluing
and inserting the plug. Why not just skip a step by using
a Miller Dowel? Plus, you won't worry about the plugs falling
out and disappearing.
Our fit remains tight. Unlike nails or screws, wooden dowels
are naturally flexible and dampen vibration. There is no compression
of the surrounding wood, which would loosen the fit.
The original intent for our product was to be a safety fastener.
Injuries and damages caused by exposed nail/screw heads are
prevented by using Miller Dowels.
Miller Dowels introduce a new joinery technique that can
be used instead of difficult, expensive, and/or very time
consuming methods like blind dowels, biscuits, pocket screws,
or mortise and tenon.
There is one timesaving assembly technique that is made possible
by Miller Dowels. A Chicago woodworker developed this as an
alternative to the mortise and tenon joinery in his furniture
design.
- In this method, pieces of wood to be joined are simply
glued and aligned. Once cured, the glue eliminates the need
for a brace.
- Pilot holes are then drilled, and the dowels can then
be inserted for structural support.
- Not only does this method guarantee perfectly flush joinery,
but it takes 25% of the time!
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