Learn how to use a dowel maker to shape toggles, pegs, and arrow shafts by scraping and sizing wood. Full beginner to expert guide.

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:

Arrow shafts
Trap toggles
Tent pegs (small)
Gear repair pins
Cooking spit supports
Pack frame pegs
Atlatl darts
Slingshot handle pins
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:

A flat piece of steel
With circular holes of different diameters
Each hole has a 90-degree cutting edge on one side
Designed for hammering wood through
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:

Scrapes away high spots
Cuts fibers cleanly
Prevents tear-out
Forces the wood into uniform diameter
Creates perfectly straight wooden rods

Starting with larger holes prevents splitting and reduces effort.

How to Use a Dowell Maker: Making Arrows

Best Woods for Making Dowels

Hardwoods

Oak
Hickory
Osage
Maple
Ash

Best for:

Arrow shafts
Triggers
Heavy toggles

Softwoods

Pine
Spruce
Cedar
Willow

Best for:

Light toggles
Quick lashings
Camp gadgets

Green vs. Dry Wood

Green wood scrapes easier and shapes faster
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:

Size shafts perfectly
Match arrow diameter
Produce multiple identical shafts
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:

Snare toggles
Trigger bars
Friction fire toggles
Backpack strap toggles
Tent door toggles

Uniform dowels make traps more predictable.

Pairs with:
→ How to make a paiute deadfall

Repair Pins and Connectors

Use dowels for:

Fixing tools
Replacing pegs
Joining wood pieces
Pack repairs

Handles and Grips

Small dowels can be wrapped with:

Cordage
Leather
Plant fibers

Perfect for:

Fire tools
Sewing awl handles
Small blade handles

How to Use a Dowel Maker (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Choose and Prepare Your Wood

Select a straight branch
Remove bark with a blade or scraper
Trim to a manageable length (8–12 inches is ideal)
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.

Angle the largest hole’s cutting edge against the wood
Pull toward yourself, shaving off high spots
Rotate the stick as you scrape
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.

Place dowel maker on a stump, log, rock, or anvil surface
Hold wood upright
Hammer the top end gently
Drive the wood through the largest hole
Pull from the other side

You now have a rough dowel.

Step 4: Remove Shavings and Check Straightness

After the first pass:

Remove any loose fibers
Sight down the shaft like aiming a bow
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.

Insert the dowel into the next hole
Hammer through again
Rotate wood and repeat if necessary
Continue working down hole sizes

Each smaller hole sharpens the cylinder and trues the shape.

Stop at:

Larger diameters → toggles and trap parts
Smaller diameters → arrow shafts and precision dowels

Step 6: Final Pass and Smoothing

After reaching your target size:

Scrape lightly with the cutting edges
Sand with grass, leaves, or fine sand if available
Burnish by rubbing with smooth wood or bone
Optional: heat-straighten over coals (for arrows)

Now you have a professional-quality dowel.

Advanced Techniques

Hardening the Dowel Over Fire

Heat can:

Straighten
Harden
Remove moisture
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:

Arrow nocks
Toggle grooves
Tie points
Shoulders for bindings

Adding Fletching or Wrapping

For arrows:

Carve shallow channels
Add feathers or improvised fins
Secure with cordage from spools

→ Learn How to Make an Arrow
→ How to Use a Spool

Common Beginner Mistakes

Starting with a hole that’s too small
Not scraping wood first
Hammering too aggressively and splitting the stick
Using wood that’s curved or knotted
Trying to size dry hardwood (much harder)
Not trimming ends flat
Skipping hole sizes

Expert Tips

Use green wood for shaping, dry for final dowels
Always start with the largest hole
Rotate frequently for even cutting
If shaft jams, twist while pulling
Use wax, fat, or oil sparingly as a lubricant (optional)
For arrows, always test straightness often
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.

How to Use a Dowel Maker for Bushcraft and Arrow Making