Dowelling Jig. Recommendations?

[Paul O in Paris]

I'm thinking of buying (or making) one and would appreciate any recommendations, experiences or plans? Lee Valley carries two models. Anyone got one or tried them both?
Thanks in advance.......Paul

[Harry in Sutton]

Paul,
I think you'll be better off with biscuits.
Harry

[Gerry Wittenberg, Agassiz]

Yup, like Harry, I went with biscuits. Sold my Dowel Crafter at a garage sale and haven't looked back. Norm used one for a stop on a miter saw table.

Gerry

[Paul O in Paris]

I will be using it for repairing, rather than making, furniture. I have a customer with a table that has the leaf from another table so that the pins and holes don't line up, and another with a self assemble bookcase in which the dowell holes were not drilled at the factory.
Regards.....Paul

[Harry in Sutton]

Hi Paul,
I used to use dowel centres, still have them. These are little plugs whith a flangs and centre punch on one side. After drilling a hole in one part you insert the plug and by aligning the parts and pressing them together it will place a centre punch mark on the opposite part to be drilled. Different sizes will accommodate different size dowels. They come in pairs.
Greetings, Harry

[Al in Toronto]

I've used the dowel centres successfully as well. Just make sure you have enough of them so you only have to align and press the pieces together once or the first holes may not line up when you do the next set of holes.....learned that the hard way.

Al in Toronto