Wooden Dowels & Jointing Biscuits

Create strong joints with wooden dowels and biscuits. Dowels and jointer biscuits have been used by carpenters, woodworkers and joiners for centuries, and are practical, reliable tools. Once in place, they are considerably stronger than nails and create seamless joints.

What Are Biscuits & Dowels Used For?

Their primary function is joining two pieces of wood together. They are often used in carpentry, joinery, furniture assembly, woodworking and construction. If you’ve ever assembled flatpack furniture, you will have used jointers, dowels and biscuits. Dowels are small rods inserted into drilled holes, while wood biscuits are oval-shaped and slide into channels or grooves. Biscuits and dowel rods can be used in hardwood, softwood, plywood and composition boards. At Toolstation, you’ll find a selection of biscuits and dowels available in various sizes to suit your carpentry needs. We stock products from many trusted brands such as Trend and Silverline.

 

Choosing the Right Dowel, Jointing Biscuit or Tenon

Consider these factors when selecting a dowel, jointing biscuit or loose tenon:

• Load & strength requirements - dowels and loose tenons handle shear better
• Alignment vs speed - biscuits are fast and self-aligning
• Material type - solid wood, plywood, MDF, veneered surfaces
• Joint thickness & depth - must leave wood around the joint
• Tooling / equipment - dowel jigs, biscuit joiners, mortisers
• Size & fit - choose correct diameter, length, slot width, and tenon thickness
• Material of dowels / biscuits - hardwood, fluted, composite
• Ease of repair / replacement

FAQs

What is a loose tenon, and when should I use it?

A loose tenon is a removable, shaped tenon (often rectangular) that fits into mortises cut in both wood parts. It offers stronger joint than biscuits, and more flexibility.

What size dowel or biscuit should I use for my wood project?

Choose diameter & length based on material thickness and joint area. For dowels, common sizes are 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm. For biscuits, No. 0, No. 10, No. 20 are common. Always leave enough wood around the join.

How long will a dowel / biscuit / loose tenon joint last?

With good glue, fit, and wood movement allowance, properly made joints last decades. Use proper adhesives, avoid stressing the joint, and control moisture.