STEP 3: JOINING TWO WORKPIECE EDGES TOGETHER

Install the drill bit you're planning to use in the chuck.

Tighten it securely with your geared drill chuck key.

Lay the two workpieces that you're planning to dowel together on top of one another with the two edges that will be adjoining flush with one another.

Using a square, draw vertical lines on the two adjoining edges, at each location where you will be placing a dowel.

Then, position the two boards on your table surface with their good sides down and the two adjoining, marked edges together. Draw and "X" on the back side of each board.

Position your first workpiece on the worktable surface (with its good side face down) and the edge you're planning to drill into protudes about 1/4" or so beyond the table's edge.

Next, slide your rip fence up to the back edge or your workpiece to serve as a back-up and lock it securely to the worktable.

Slide your worktable toward the headstock until the tip of your drill bit is about an inch away from the edge of your workpiece and lock your headstock and table carriage into position.

Align your bit's tip with one of your vertical lines and move your worktable up or down until the tip of the bit is half the distance of your boards' thickness (an approximation is acceptable).

Remember, in step #3 above you drew "X"s on the boards' surfaces. Only by being certain that the same (goodgood) side surfaces will be in perfect alignment when they are glued together.

Loosen the quill lock handle on the front side of the headstock...

... and the quill feed stop handle on the back side of the headstock.

Now, move your bit toward the workpiece until its cutting edges (not the point) are touching the edge of your workpiece.

Lock your bit into position by tightening the quill lock handle on the front side of the headstock.

Rotate the quill lock dial to the hole depth you want... and lock this setting by tightening the quill feed stop handle on the back side of the headstock. This will limit bit travel to this depth.

Note: Adjust the quill stop mechanism to bore your holes to half the length of the dowels you're using, plus about 1/32" to 1/16"

Now, release the quill lock handle on the front side of the headstock.

Turn on the machine, adjust to the appropriate speed recommended for your bit size and type and material you're drilling.

CLICK HERE for a chart of recommended speeds.