Genius Idea? Game Changing trick for Perfect Dowel Alignment without a Jig

So simple and easy, but oh so accurate. Using ordinary masking tape for lining up the holes for dowels is pretty much fool-proof. I used this method several times after I made this video and with the same results: perfectly lined up dowels.
Now I should mention that the tape locates the centre point precisely, but it's up to you to drill the hole straight. Using a brad-point bit is mandatory and getting a feel for drilling at a 90 degree angle is also very important. However, you can use a block of wood with a hole drilled on the drill press to help guide the drill bit straight, if drilling freehand. Or just drill the holes on a drill press if you have one.
But with that said, the holes don't need to be drilled at the exact angle - they just need to be close and the joint will go together without any problem. The important thing (and why the dowel centre pins failed) is that the holes are in perfectly lined up on both parts, and that's what the tape trick does.
Try it out for yourself!
Line Up Dowels PERFECTLY the Easy Way - Essential Woodworking Knowledge
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[@JohnHeisz]

So simple and easy, but oh so accurate. Using ordinary masking tape for lining up the holes for dowels is pretty much fool-proof. I used this method several times after I made this video and with the same results: perfectly lined up dowels. Now I should mention that the tape locates the centre point precisely, but it's up to you to drill the hole straight. Using a brad-point bit is mandatory and getting a feel for drilling at a 90 degree angle is also very important. However, you can use a block of wood with a hole drilled on the drill press to help guide the drill bit straight, if drilling freehand. Or just drill the holes on a drill press if you have one. But with that said, the holes don't need to be drilled at the exact angle - they just need to be close and the joint will go together without any problem. The important thing (and why the dowel centre pins failed) is that the holes are in perfectly lined up on both parts, and that's what the tape trick does. Try it out for yourself!

[@ClintsHobbiesDIY]

@@snarkybuttcrack Have you tried brad point bits? They helped me with the same type problem.

[@NICEFINENEWROBOT]

Please warn your followers from false avatars using your name and channel logo.

[@jameyfark8877]

​@NICEFINENEWROBOT so I didn't win a major award?

[@NICEFINENEWROBOT]

@@jameyfark8877 What's the issue?

[@charliebucket]

Can you talk about the glue you’re using (and why it’s not the common Titebond)? How well does it last in that tube? Do you puncture the rear seal? Thanks!

[@2121jwill]

What is most impressive to me is how John can free-hand drill the holes straight and to a consistent depth

[@xenidus]

Me muttering under my breath: "oh so he just free hand drills the holes like some kinda lunatic?"

[@garypautard1069]

Please will someone tell me how you manage to drill holes with those wood drills. All my friends who work with wood like me find wood bits are useless at clearing the swarth and usually stop progressing into your workpiece. We always end up throwing them back in the box and use twist drills. I have bought expensive bits and even had the them sharpened- no use - any ideas ?

[@lukeblackford1677]

I got a set of Harbor Freight pilot bits, they’re pretty bad. Dewalt, Irwin or Bosch are pretty good.

[@LewHarriman]

@@garypautard1069 Hmmm.. y'know, I have the same problem. I noted that John's using brad point bits. They look like they might have deeper flutes and some sort of steeper flute angle, which might help clear the swarth. I also admired how he used tiny pin marks... nice and accurate, unlike my clumsy, thick-pointed awl. Those brad points go right into the tiny marks with no hesitation about exact placement. This particular video has convinced me... I'm definitely going to switch out my everyday set of of conventional "either-metal-or-wood" bits and move to to brad points for my woodworking, since I rarely need to drill holes in metal.

[@MrSimonmcc]

*swarf, not swarth.

[@missamo80]

Well I thought the best part of my day today would be easting lunch with friends then watching the Super Bowl but no. I was wrong. It was sipping coffee at 6am and watching one of the simplest and most elegant woodworking tips I've ever seen on KZbin. 🤯

[@YerBrwnDogAteMyRabit]

What's the "Super Bowl..?"...

[@AmazonasBiotop]

​@@YerBrwnDogAteMyRabit Oh did the AI part of the Google search engine crashed again!? 🤣👍

[@YerBrwnDogAteMyRabit]

@@AmazonasBiotop I think it must have. I certainly hope I didn't miss it, it sounds important 🤣

[@pathemep]

@@YerBrwnDogAteMyRabit it's huge open top vessel for fluids, like super big one

[@YerBrwnDogAteMyRabit]

@@pathemep OOOOOHHH!! So I can have a family sized bowl of Fruit Loops cereal or Chunky Sirloin Burger soup!! Awesome, thanks. No need for a swimming pool now!

[@HexenzirkelZuluhed]

The "random" placement also ensures one cannot accidentally join the wrong pieces together.

[@coppulor6500]

good point!

[@disklamer]

Also you don’t have put some ¶ø#>% identifier on every single corner or edge of a box or frame. If it fits, it sits!

[@nikiTricoteuse]

Ah. Thanks for that. I did wonder why someone who obviously knows their way around a set of tools, "couldn't" line them up properly.

[@leonlionheart5927]

I like the "trick" very much but what I don't get it is how you drill the holes in the CORRECT ANGLE to make the dowels fit in BOTH sides of the workpieces? If you know what I mean.

[@reed6514]

​@@leonlionheart5927probably just takes practice

[@stephandelange1776]

Honestly, for a man who's been doing a lot of woodworking in the past 30 some years. Did thousands of dowel holes! Lots were perfect, lots were complete disasters. Even with top-notch jigs. Your idea? Your idea is so ridiculously idiotic that it's absolutely genius! Brilliant! I'll have to try that one on my next build that requires dowels. Thanks. Love your videos!

[@samking4179]

idiotic? have I been using this word wrong my entire life?

[@gsp911]

It's not really his idea, that method has been used for decades.

[@stephandelange1776]

@@gsp911 Do you really and TRULY think that it makes any sort of difference???? Do you have any clue about how many methods and ideas there are when it comes to joinery??? Do you know how many tips & tricks I've shared in my 30 past years of woodworking that weren't mine & still been told how great it was thanks for the tip? It's a simple way of saying the way you did it, was a very good idea that i never thought of. Thanks for the tip, NOT WHO THE HELL CREATED IT or anything ridiculous like that! It's appreciating one's technic that many may not have thought of.

[@gsp911]

@@stephandelange1776 Amen

[@dhrvb]

@@samking4179perhaps it's not HIS invention, but HE show it to them who don't know this trick ! Big difference, no ? I didn't know now I will use it for sure. Thank you for this video.

[@lexboegen]

I’ve been a subscriber to your videos since long before you became a full time KZbinr, and videos like this are why. No BS, and clever original ideas that I don’t find anywhere else. You’re the best!

[@scalpingdaytrader]

The simplicity of this is just stunning, I have a not great dowl jig and honestly this actually looks about as quick, and a lot more accurate, thank you for your fantastic videos

[@jamescole1786]

2/13/23; Green masking tape for Dowell joint perfection...! ..Yes ! Love your method. Will use it next time I need this. Much enjoy watching your channel. Your use of voice over, studio lighting, camera close ups & 'wide'shots are also on pro level. Keep up your good work! A+👍👍👍👏👏🪚🛠⚙️🍺😊

[@bradl7439]

It's not only marking out the hole locations, it's how accurate you are at centre punching and drilling.

[@jeffgagne6439]

Super tip and timing! I’m going to be working on a new project and lining up the dowels and getting tight joints was one of my stumbling blocks. Thank you!

[@patmash]

Hey john, a bit off topic but, it is always a joy watching your videos with ZERO sponsors or ads popping up every few minutes! one of the super rare few.

[@harimuzumdar8269]

Simple and practical for anyone to use. Was very nice and thoughtful of you to demonstrate the process, and for different common joints too, and so reaffirming that it actually works in practice. I do have centering pins, but as you showed, one cannot hold the second workpiece flush with the first because of the pins protruding, and then accuracy depends on aligning the parts with finger feel or other flat surfaces for alignment. Your trick allows flush alignment. With a doweling jig, after drilling on the first workpiece, it can be tricky to figure out the right way to clamp the jig to the second workpiece. Your method works like a no-brainer. Thank you, John!

[@davidslater7917]

Absolutely genius of an idea. Thank you John for sharing it with us. From someone who has consistently struggled with this multi dowel thing

[@philshock3805]

Awesome! Hardest part about this are the drill angles. Amazed you were able to do it freehand ... never would have thought that slight discrepancies are irrelevant.

[@craignichols4634]

It’s insane the amount of knowledge that can be acquired on the internet. I didn’t have anyone to mentor me, so I’ve been soaking up all of these videos. Thanks for sharing all of your wisdom!

[@euartista]

On the miter that you did, even the grain of the wood was almost perfectly aligned. That is a GREAT idea. No jigs, No expensive tools. Thanks for sharing, keep up the awesome work!

[@denisdore643]

Absolutely BRILLIANT, ACCURATE, CHEAP and EASY. Can't wait to try it !

[@murphymmc]

A great solution for those of us who don't dowel often, nice. The grain matched joint was a nice touch as well.

[@lawrencelunsford6028]

Simple, effective, brilliant! Thanks John! :)

[@DB-dj6zk]

This method saved my project. I tried a number of things that semi worked. After refilling the mistakes with dowels and redrilling, I finally got the holes to match up.

[@OutdoorExperience.101]

That's a brilliant idea! Thanks for sharing, John! Keep up the good work! 👍

[@markrbsir]

That is awesome! I love the simple ideas that solve apparently tricky problems. Thank you John!

[@adamcoe]

that's absolutely excellent. no messing with finding the centers, no measuring, no jigs required. certainly if one was doing many of these for a large project, or making multiples of something then perhaps a jig might be quicker overall, but if you're just assembling a handful of joints, that's a really excellent method. thanks!

[@rickgordon8377]

You continuously amaze me with your skill and deductive reasoning,while simple in procedure,it is a VERY BIG IDEA John. There are those in specialty tape mfg. That could ,if awake, make a product. I appreciate all that you demonstrate. Thank You!

[@rafvdp6391]

Every time you think you seen it all, John pulls something like this out of his sleeve. Just brilliant, simple and effective ! Tape manufacturers are gonna make a killing 😅. Great little tutorial John 👌I hope this gets a lot of views it certainly deserves it.

[@Sinrise]

Yeah you know someone is going to come out with tape that has little crosshairs printed along it just for this. "Dowel Alignment Tape"

[@beetleb1801]

Whilst I agree that the tape method is more accurate than the dowel pins, I did notice that your drill angle was off when you did the dowel pin demonstration. Your drill was not aligned to the dowel direction in the wood. So predictably, your joint was off. Having said that, I don't want to take away from this innovative idea. Sure is a great way to do tricky dowelling when a jig wont help. I'll absolutely use this method!

[@vaughngaminghd]

Awesome idea! Cheap, simple, and uses the stuff you already have in the shop… Kudos John!

[@tasmedic]

Best tip I have seen in years! Thanks!

[@hectorgarza5842]

Always the simplest way is the best way! Marvelous, appreciated!

[@makernova8160]

Absolutely brilliant! I will not be forgetting this one. Now I just need to figure out how to integrate dowels into my next project :)

[@busomite]

Brilliant. So simple. Way cheaper than a specialized tool. You’ve done it again, John. Wow!

[@petersmith7003]

👏👏👏👏👏good for people starting out in carpentry who can’t afford these jig dowl tools, so simple

[@pseudomonad]

This man is clearly in the pay of Big Masking Tape.

[@randysaylor700]

Thank you so much for this tip! Just ran into this angled dowel problem and your toe tip was so amazing and worked perfectly! Thanks so much for sharing

[@DEtchells]

Wow, what a *genius* idea! So easy and simple, but so effective! Thanks for the tip!

[@DanaOredson]

This is awesome for lining up the hole positions. The next critical piece is ensuring you drill the holes accurately for the dowels to be aligned. Of course, the dowel pins suffer from the same problem.

[@HonoredMule]

Dowel pins at least cut the problem in half. With one side already drilled, its alignment is guaranteed to be perfect. Make those first holes in the mitered piece, and you're left drilling in a flat, level surface, maximizing your means of drilling those perfectly as well. Add in that you're not using up any consumable, and I'll happily stick with dowel pins.

[@dougggiereid]

It's so simple that it is genius. Thanks for sharing such a brilliant tip. See this is why I drop everything when a notification comes through for one of your videos.

[@JohnHeisz]

Thanks :)

[@jerrystark3587]

As you said, dowel jigs can be used for some applications, but not for all. If you don't have a dowel jig, if you don't want to make a dowel jig, or if the pieces you are joining are irregular, or are of very different sizes, then your approach will work well. I agree with you about using dowel pin markers; they work, after a fashion. Guiding them properly sometimes takes quite a bit of additional setup time and effort. Your approach is far better, which I can say from personal experience. It works like a charm. Great video and great advice! 👍👍

[@monkieie]

This is so simple and amazing. I have a new project ongoing which is a little more intricate and wanted to used dowels instead of pocket holes, but wanted really clean joints. Amazing! Thanks so much for this.

[@JohnClark-tt2bl]

If you're going to be doing lots of the same holes on identical pieces, you can also use a scrap piece of wood. Just put the scrap over the work piece you're drilling into, and drill through the scrap and into your work piece. The scrap is your template now. Just lay it over the next work piece, lined up in the same way, and use the existing holes to drill into the second work piece. Rinse and repeat. You can even keep the template if you think you'll be making more of your project in the future.

[@Tommy_007]

That is also a good idea.

[@umtbozkr2358]

Only a man with experience, craftsmanship and a healthy mind can come up with a simple but effective solution like this. Bravo!

[@inkytu7]

Simply brilliant. Simply! Well done.

[@noi5emaker]

Definitely genius! This is good timing because I’m going to need that technique this week. Thanks for this!

[@dogwoodtales]

Excellent!!! Another problem with those dowel marking thingamajiggers is that I would misplace them lose them under a workbench or something a lot easier than I would lose the role of masking tape.

[@jsaurman]

Don't you just keep them in the same box/tray where you keep your shorty dowels? Plus it's easy to make replacement ones if you saw the head off a nail and cut it down to the appropriate length.

[@ScotiaDroning]

I think the fit would also depend on the angle at which the holes were drilled. I was surprised that your freehand hole angles matched so well that the joint fit tight.

[@windsunh2o]

I believe the alignment of the holes is more important than the hole angles being the same. Wood is slightly flexible and compressible to allow for minor inaccuracies. As long as you're pretty close it should work.

[@Devil-Made]

1:25 the whole idea is perfectly explained and demonstrated in the first 1:25. THANK YOU! I hate resorting to video instructions demonstrating how to complete a task (whatever it may be) because there’s usually a 30 second intro, and brief summary of why the person wants to do that thing, a minute or two explaining what they’re going to be doing in this “short” video, maybe an anecdote or two about their dog, then an ad spot, thanks to our sponsors, a whole 2-3 minutes outlining the safety procedures, what tools you’ll need, where to find them, how much you can expect to pay, another explanatory 2-3 minutes about the underlying theories involved, then FINALLY they begin. 15 minutes later I know how to remove my front fender to access my fog lights. You get straight to the point. The value of efficiency cannot be overstated. Thank you for a great video! I’ve tried this but I never thought to use an awl. Getting the actual holes to line up is too difficult, but using the awl is genius!

[@tomasurbonas5835]

That's freaking genius, yet so simple! Thank you for sharing!

[@jakematic]

Genius idea. I despise center pins, they never work. Have a JessEm dowel jig that works superbly but tape is cheaper :^)

[@KublaKhanONE]

Have literally been scratching my head on how to strengthen a miter joint for a project and you give me this. God bless you.

[@jrgallagher1]

Man, this is amazing. I'm starting my first actual woodworking project - a coffee table with angled mitered legs. I have been struggling to find a way to fixture my doweling jig on the small mitered cross sections. You probably saved me from ruining my pieces and having to start over. Thanks!!

[@pitsnipe5559]

You just alleviated one of my concerns about using dowels. Thanks!

[@user-ju7dx8mu6d]

Very clever, I needed this right now. Thank you.

[@emilcasas2707]

Wow! This is so clever and I believe I may actually be able to do this! Thanks for sharing your expertise and experience!

[@Electric-Bob]

Lining up Holes Perfectly is the Bane of my Existance! Thanks John!!

[@clemmcguinness1087]

John, that is genius and so are you. Thanks for this!

[@Joey.Darkwoods-Studio]

Just what I needed to see for my diy desk project and adding a 2nd tier shelf! Thanks John!!

[@petriepretorius4085]

Thank you for that tip! This will save me hours of hardship! May you blessed for sharing this tip! 😀

[@louislandi938]

Without a doubt, the finest tip (For me) I’ve seen anywhere. I will definitely try this next time I’m in my shop. Only took a few seconds to decide to subscribe. THANK YOU!

[@watcherdude1330]

Hey John. Just have to say that I have watched so many of your videos , learned SO MUCH from you, and I think that this is the most genius idea you’ve ever had. You definitely are as they say smarter than the average bear. You make me proud to be Canadian. Hey Lol. But I SERIOUSLY hope that one of these ideas you come up with will make you a shit load of cash, you deserve it. I say that not as a suck up comment, because you could easily take your knowledge and teach it at a Trades School and make money teaching the future generation how to PROPERLY build. God knows they need all the help they can get . Anyway thanks for all your knowledge.

[@robertpshaw]

Mr Heisz always has something to offer. Thank you.

[@dann8558]

Thanks. First dowel joints I'd made (attaching a bench seat panel to the tops of two side panels) and everything aligned perfectly. Much appreciated.

[@daveparrish8031]

An actual woodworking innovation. This is why John is the king of woodworking.

[@rhyswilliams346]

Unbelievable! I went right out to my shop and tried it! worked perfectly! Thanks John

[@user-un1pq8mi8o]

So simple, thank you! You have solved my challenge !

[@HypoceeYT]

I did a variation on this a few months ago when I had to cosmetically position screw holes for hidden hinges on a bunch of nightmare variable cabinet doors. Marking the holes on sticky-side-out masking tape with release pull tabs allowed me to position the door, press it, pull the tab, and have the holes marked. That part of the project, at least, came out great.

[@pipoviola]

This is simply genius!

[@tanner4828]

Simple is always better. Great work (as always), John.

[@johnthompson3462]

Brilliant as usual. Sometimes, simple is the best solution

[@szcustomwoodworks6401]

Brilliant. Crazy how such a simple solution produces great results like that. I am going to try to remember that next time I do mitered corners.

[@lonniecrook1684]

What a great, simple, and accurate method! Thank you!

[@martinbowers852]

thanks much for the info, i used it today and worked like a dream, i also drilled the holes straight which is a strange thing, thanks again John

[@paulsastroutomo4273]

You are really genius John, Thank you for sharing this great idea

[@hrhbucket4268]

Thank you very much. I need to do exactly this to fix a broken chair. I though of using a dowel but was wondering how to line it up. This solution is perfect, much appreciated.

[@drewlawrence696]

Many thanks. Invaluable info in assisting me making a wood surround for a counter-top coffee-grinds 'knock-box'...TY 👍

[@hsjawanda]

When I saw you do this tape trick the first time, I immediately thought, "Why didn't I think of that!!??" Which makes this a brilliantly simple idea (it is brilliant in it simplicity). Thank you for sharing it!

[@simonr6793]

It's good to know that this old dog can still learn a trick or two, how's the saying go John, upstairs for thinking and downstairs for dancing!!! Thanks John for sharing this one I never know when it's going to come in handy! As always buddy 💯% 👍 🇬🇧.

[@EngineerMikeF]

I commented before, but had to refresh on this great idea. Without question, this is the simplest, cheapest, & ultra high quality dowel systemin the internet. The ONLY issue is drilling orthogonal holes which is simple to manage with a right angle drilling jig if you have terrible free handling it. Huzzah John Heisz!!!

[@bernardkroeger4045]

Apart from the excellent idea and execution , the use of masking tape warrants a mention.Wonderful stuff. I can't live without it. Use a quality tape everywhere. I even use it to tape/ reinforce a band aid brand closure on my hand if injured.

[@Mister_E.]

This is the best new technique I've seen all year!

[@stevenclarke5606]

This a genius idea, I have previously tried to use dowels to fix joints and failed, this is a game changer. Thanks

[@marcelgrenier6916]

I've been following you for years now, and you never stop amazing me.

[@karthiksc47]

Thank you for sharing, super "trick", The word "trick" actually demeans what is a very smart tip. So nice of you to share with the community.

[@ricopaxton]

One of of the best advices for that need! Thx,man!

[@MrJohnnyboyrebel]

John I tried your technique on my project to make some pantry doors taller by joining an 8” section to the bottoms. It worked FANTASTICALLY!

[@bridgetb3480]

I'm putting together a gazebo/arch thing with weird angles, and I used this trick. It works pretty good! I don't have a doweling jig, so I also ran a piece of tape over the edges with the ends matched up, and then sliced it in half with a utility knife so I would make sure I was drilling the right direction.

[@vincentcorpuz1622]

You are a brilliant man John! Thank you for this

[@futtymad]

Seriously so clever! Brilliant idea and thanks for taking the time and effort to share it!

[@georgearturrocha]

Genius!!! Great job. Simple and perfect!

[@scottparkin4439]

One of those delightfully obvious things that it takes a special mind to make obvious to we more mundane types. Thank you, John. Again.

[@nikiTricoteuse]

Wow. Thanks. Broke a chair leg and was hoping to mend it using a dowel jig. Came here looking for a tutorial and l think you just saved me 40 bucks. Just hope l can get the broken leg pieces far enough apart to not have to disassemble the whole chair.

[@stevewilliams589]

Thanks for this excellent tip. It will be used and shared.

[@Ralphs-House]

I like this! Will be my go-to method from now on. Thank you John.

[@robertoortega1801]

Amazingly simple. Super Precise!!!! Thank you!!!!

[@jw4321]

Love it. Once in a while a very simple but effective idea comes along that is very useful. This is one of those ideas. Thanks

[@claudeelliott3993]

Clever idea and one that actually works!! Congratulations.

[@deniglavan7462]

Tired this yesterday, works like a charm! Thank you very much 🤩

[@sparrowhawk81]

Thank you so much for this video. I've been torn between saving up for a pricier dowel jig (I don't make much money and don't want to use a cheap one) and trying to make my own. I'm gonna try this on my next project.

[@gnusndn301]

Excellent idea man ! I've done working for many many years. My problem would be in the actual drilling of the holes being square in both planes. In my case one would think a guy could freehand it after all these years, but I'm not that great at drilling holes 90° my eyes are off, in my older days. No matter what that's an excellent idea ! Thank you very much.

[@ClintsHobbiesDIY]

You the man John. Thanks for making life better.

[@lorismarciano9269]

Absolute genius. Thank you for sharing as always