Best way to adjust dowel fit in oak?

[Andrewg]

As you say , a Forstner bit is the ideal drill type to drill your angled holes - however they don't come in fractional sizes. However just as in metalwork, precise holes are reamed after drilling, so you want to open out your initial hole just a little. I would be tempted to get a cheap 30mm Blacksmiths bit that has a reduced shank so you can chuck it in a power drill. Then just use it to ream out the holes a bit by hand to get the fit you want.

You say the base is 'green' ie wet - as it dries this wood will shrink making your holes smaller. If your dowels are too snug a fit, then you might get splits, however get ot righ and you will get a tigher fit that will last better than any glue!

Hope that helps

[Max Power]

You say the base is 'green' ie wet - as it dries this wood will shrink making your holes smaller. If your dowels are too snug a fit, then you might get splits, however get ot righ and you will get a tigher fit that will last better than any glue!

Hope that helps

The hole would get looser as it dries not tighter

[Andrewg]

The hole would get looser as it dries not tighter

Well that would be a blow to centuries of greenwood chair making!

See section on Shrink and Swell joints construction here if you are confused.

[alanambrose]

Ah I'm late giving follow-up. I ordered an 11mm drill from RS recently and I was surprised to see they sent me a 7/16 Inch without asking. That didn't matter for the job it had to do though. Anyway that sent me thinking about imperial sizes slightly larger than 30mm. Hey presto, a 1 3/16" from 'The Toolpost' gave a good fit for most of the holes. The dowel must have been a little varying in size (it's been around for a bit) so I had to sand about 30% of the holes.

Thanks for all the great workarounds - v. useful skills for the armoury :)

A coupla snaps below of the completed items:

http://www.anagram.net/nuts/misc/IMG_4578.JPG

http://www.anagram.net/nuts/misc/IMG_4579.JPG