Use dowel centers to help you assemble your next project.
If you've ever worked with dowels you probably know the frustrations of trying to get all of your parts lined up. There are a number of jigs on the market to help solve this problem but few are as simple and inexpensive as a doweling center.
Doweling centers are precisely ground metal pins that can be inserted into a dowel hole on one part. The doweling center has a metal spur that when pressed against another piece will leave a small mark. This mark can be used to drill the mating hole in the exact location.