2 in 1 Cross Dowel | Barrel Nut Jig for Detachable Wooden Furniture Joints DIY
Introduction: 2 in 1 Cross Dowel | Barrel Nut Jig for Detachable Wooden Furniture Joints DIY
Hi all!
This Instructable started when I planned to make a bunk bed for my 2 kids.
I wanted the option to disassemble the bed in the future, like the detachable beds you buy on the stores, so I checked the optional detachable joints.
I found that one popular & strong joint between the bed frame to the legs, is done using a Cross Dowel / Barrel Nut, and additional wooden dowel, and decided to go with this option.
In the way that cross dowel works, the wood should have precise drill holes which meets in accurate position.
It's hard to make such perfect holes at home, and specially when you have many of such joints in a bed, so I decided to make a special Jig for it.
In addition, I decided to make the Jig for dual use (2 in 1), and added an option to make an additional wooden dowel connection hole, which is usually required in this cross dowel joint, and some other Bonus.
All steps are described in this Instructable but it's recommended to watch the video as well, for better undestanding of the making process and use.
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Thank you! :)
Supplies
Materials:
* Small wood scap / leftover
* Jumbo screws / anchors or metal pipes
* Wood glue
* Wooden dowels (10mm)
* Strong glue (for metal + wood)
* Cross dowel / barrel nuts + connector bolts (like these or these)
General List of tools I'm using - https://www.itzikdiy.com/tools-list?m=1
Tools in this Instructable:
* Miter Saw
* Hex key
* Measuring tape
* Drill press stand
* Drill driver
* Hammer
* Digital Caliper
* Different drill bits
* Clamps
* Dremel with metal cutting wheel or another metal saw
Step 1: The Bed Plan - Not Final
As I mentioned, I planned to make a bunk bed. I started planning it, but didn't finish it yet.
Meantime, we got a used bed from someone, so I stopped it in the middle, but I'm sure that this Jig will be helpful in the future.
Anyway, as you can see, I marked different places in the plan, which are usually using the cross dowel joint I'm describing in this project, so you can understand it better.
Step 2: The Cross Dowel / Barrel Nut
As you can see, the cross dowel / barrel nut, is a cylindrical shaped nut. 431
This nut should be inserted in a hole drilled in one piece of wood, and the connector bolt should pass through the nut threading in another cross hole.
You'll understand it better on the later steps.
Step 3: Barrel Nut Dimensions
There are Cross dowels / Barrel nuts, with different sizes.
I found only this size in the stores, but it's important to match the Jig holes and dimensions to the specific nuts and bolts you have, and also the wood pieces dimensions you have and you wish to connect.
In my case, the nut diameter is 10mm, height is 14mm.
Step 4: Connector Bolt Dimensions
The connector bolt length is 102mm and diameter of the screw is 6mm. It's important to know it for planning the Jig and holes distances.
Step 5: Where Will I Get Metal Pipes for This Jig???
I made this Jig in the middle of the Coronavirus lockdown and was limited with the materials I have.
Besides that, I know it's not easy to find metal pipes in different sizes which can fit well for different drill bits.
Well, I think I got lucky. I looked in all of my junk boxes and later in my screws organizers to look for metal pipes.
Finally, I saw these Jumbo screws / anchors which I had in different sizes.
I started to open each of them, and checked if the Jumbo metal 'pipe' fits the drill bits I need for this Jig and luckily it wass good enough.
I think it's a good solution for any Jig you make with drill bits, what do you think?
I needed 2 sizes of drill bits and pipes with matching inner diameter:
1. One with diameter of 10mm, for the barrel nut, and the wooden dowel (which both have 10mm diameter)
2. 735