Anchors and dowels are very durable fasteners, which in theory should also work in wood. However, they are made of steel. Unfortunately, these materials are not the best neighbors in terms of compatibility, because the wood begins to rot at the point of contact with the metal. In addition, anchors often cause cracks when they expand, as they are too hard and unyielding. Using the principle of dowels and anchors, you can make a similar wooden fastening that will hold without glue and will not tear the workpiece during installation.
Installing a dowel on a wedge
This method involves preliminary splitting the edge of the dowel lengthwise using a chisel.
After this, a small wedge is planed from wood and inserted into the crevice.
A dowel with a wedge is placed in the hole and then hammered. The wedge enters the crevice and bursts the dowel, from which it is securely held even without glue.
Unlike an anchor or dowel, this fastening expands gently and therefore does not tear the workpiece. It is better than glue, as it is immediately held 100%.
An easier way: installing a dowel on a rod
In theory, you can repeat the principle of the anchor using a simpler method, simply by drilling a dowel and inserting the tip of a bamboo skewer into it.
It's easier and faster than planing wedges. But the rod crushes the wood inside the dowel, and it does not increase in diameter at all. This method does not work even on thin dowels.
Thus, the only reliable working method is to install dowels on wedges. So they definitely won’t fall out even without glue.
