How to Use a Dowel Maker for Bushcraft, Toggles, and Arrow Shafts
A dowel maker is an incredibly useful tool for bushcraft and DIY fieldwork. Grim Workshop’s version is a high carbon tool steel circle with precision-sized holes and a sharp 90-degree internal cutting edge. It’s made to scrape and shape branches, sticks, or small billets of wood into clean, uniform dowels.
You can turn rough sticks into:
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Arrow shafts
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Trap toggles
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Tent pegs (small)
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Gear repair pins
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Cooking spit supports
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Pack frame pegs
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Atlatl darts
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Slingshot handle pins
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Craft components
This guide explains every step: rough shaping, scraping, hammering through holes, progressive sizing, and finishing your dowel for whatever job you need.
→ Hunting and Trapping Cateogry Index
What a Dowel Maker Is
A dowel maker (sometimes called a dowel plate) is:
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A flat piece of steel
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With circular holes of different diameters
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Each hole has a 90-degree cutting edge on one side
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Designed for hammering wood through
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Produces perfectly round dowels as it cuts
The sharp inner edges shave wood cleanly and force the piece into a consistent cylinder.
Why a Dowel Maker Works
The sharp inner edge:
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Scrapes away high spots
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Cuts fibers cleanly
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Prevents tear-out
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Forces the wood into uniform diameter
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Creates perfectly straight wooden rods
Starting with larger holes prevents splitting and reduces effort.
Best Woods for Making Dowels
Hardwoods
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Oak
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Hickory
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Osage
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Maple
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Ash
Best for:
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Arrow shafts
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Triggers
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Heavy toggles
Softwoods
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Pine
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Spruce
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Cedar
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Willow
Best for:
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Light toggles
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Quick lashings
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Camp gadgets
Green vs. Dry Wood
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Green wood scrapes easier and shapes faster
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Dry wood holds shape better and is more stable for arrow shafts
Primary Uses for a Bushcraft Dowel Maker
Arrow Shafts
A dowel maker lets you:
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Size shafts perfectly
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Match arrow diameter
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Produce multiple identical shafts
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Clean up rough saplings
Pairs with:
→ Learn How to Make an Arrow
→ How to Use a Wood Scraper
→ How to Sharpen a Blade
Toggles and Trap Components
Great for:
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Snare toggles
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Trigger bars
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Friction fire toggles
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Backpack strap toggles
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Tent door toggles
Uniform dowels make traps more predictable.
Pairs with:
→ How to make a paiute deadfall
Repair Pins and Connectors
Use dowels for:
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Fixing tools
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Replacing pegs
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Joining wood pieces
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Pack repairs
Handles and Grips
Small dowels can be wrapped with:
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Cordage
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Leather
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Plant fibers
Perfect for:
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Fire tools
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Sewing awl handles
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Small blade handles
How to Use a Dowel Maker (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Choose and Prepare Your Wood
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Select a straight branch
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Remove bark with a blade or scraper
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Trim to a manageable length (8–12 inches is ideal)
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Make sure ends are cut square
Pairs with:
→ Learn How to Make an Arrow
→ How to Use a Wood Scraper
→ How to Sharpen a Blade
Step 2: Rough Shape the Wood (Scraping Phase)
Hold the dowel maker like a scraper.
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Angle the largest hole’s cutting edge against the wood
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Pull toward yourself, shaving off high spots
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Rotate the stick as you scrape
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Continue until the stick nearly fits the largest hole
This saves effort later.
Step 3: Hammer Through the Largest Hole
You want the stick slightly oversized so the tool can cut.
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Place dowel maker on a stump, log, rock, or anvil surface
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Hold wood upright
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Hammer the top end gently
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Drive the wood through the largest hole
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Pull from the other side
You now have a rough dowel.
Step 4: Remove Shavings and Check Straightness
After the first pass:
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Remove any loose fibers
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Sight down the shaft like aiming a bow
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Bend gently to straighten while green wood is flexible
Arrow makers often heat shafts over coals to straighten even better.
Step 5: Move to the Next Smaller Hole
This is where the magic happens.
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Insert the dowel into the next hole
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Hammer through again
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Rotate wood and repeat if necessary
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Continue working down hole sizes
Each smaller hole sharpens the cylinder and trues the shape.
Stop at:
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Larger diameters → toggles and trap parts
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Smaller diameters → arrow shafts and precision dowels
Step 6: Final Pass and Smoothing
After reaching your target size:
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Scrape lightly with the cutting edges
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Sand with grass, leaves, or fine sand if available
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Burnish by rubbing with smooth wood or bone
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Optional: heat-straighten over coals (for arrows)
Now you have a professional-quality dowel.
Advanced Techniques
Hardening the Dowel Over Fire
Heat can:
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Straighten
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Harden
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Remove moisture
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Improve durability
Roll dowel slowly above coals — not flames.
Spine Testing for Arrow Shafts
Press the shaft against the ground to test flex.
Match dowels with similar flex profiles for accuracy.
Cutting Nocks and Shoulders
Use your blade or wood scraper to add:
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Arrow nocks
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Toggle grooves
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Tie points
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Shoulders for bindings
Adding Fletching or Wrapping
For arrows:
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Carve shallow channels
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Add feathers or improvised fins
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Secure with cordage from spools
→ Learn How to Make an Arrow
→ How to Use a Spool
Common Beginner Mistakes
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Starting with a hole that’s too small
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Not scraping wood first
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Hammering too aggressively and splitting the stick
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Using wood that’s curved or knotted
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Trying to size dry hardwood (much harder)
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Not trimming ends flat
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Skipping hole sizes
Expert Tips
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Use green wood for shaping, dry for final dowels
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Always start with the largest hole
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Rotate frequently for even cutting
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If shaft jams, twist while pulling
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Use wax, fat, or oil sparingly as a lubricant (optional)
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For arrows, always test straightness often
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For toggles, leave ends slightly oversized for strength
FAQ
Q: Can I use any wood for dowels?
A: Yes, but straight-grained hardwood gives the best results.
Q: Does the wood need to be dry first?
A: Green wood shapes easier; dry wood holds final shape better.
Q: How do I keep the dowel from splitting?
A: Always start with the largest hole and work down progressively.
Q: Can this make perfect arrow shafts?
A: Yes — it’s one of the best field methods for traditional arrow making.
Related Skill Series Posts
(© 2025 Grim Workshop. All Rights Reserved. Grim Workshop, Survival Cards, and all related marks are registered trademarks of Grim Workshop. This article is part of the Grim Workshop Skill Series educational archive. No content may be reproduced, republished, stored, or adapted without written permission. For dowel makers, woodcraft tools, and compact survival kits, visit www.grimworkshop.com.)
