Another DowelMax mod... easy one...

[Bill Huber]

I guess I must be a wimp or something but after about 10 or so set of holes my fingers get tired of tightening the main clamp screws.

So here is my quick mod to help with that problem.

You will need 2 split pins as long as you like, I used 1 3/4" in pins. I think they were 1/8" pins, they measure just a little over 5/64". I think the 1/8" is after you drive them into something and compress them.

A drill bit for the pins you get, I use a 5/64" so the pins did not have to be driven in very hard.

It is also nice to have a 5/64" allen wrench to remove the flat part of the clamp.

A drill press would make things much easier if you have one and a V block.

Remove the clamp plate from the DowelMax and with a 5/64" allen wrench remove the flat part of the clamp screw and remove the clamp screw.

Use the hand nut you removed from the clamp plate and put in on the end of the clamp screw so it will be flat when you go to drill it.

Drill the hole, drive in a pin, put it back together and that's about it. It sure makes thing a lot better and faster for me.

In the second picture I was not going to drill the pin, I was just to lazy to take it back out to show how I set up to drill the holes.

123271 123272

123270

[Brian Penning]

Nice mod. I like it.
Now what's the plastic bolts on the sides for?

[Bill Huber]

Nice mod. I like it.
Now what's the plastic bolts on the sides for?

That was a mod I did awhile back.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=107921&highlight=DowelMax

[Walt Caza]

Hi Bill,
Nice work on both of your Dowelmax modifications.
To be clear, the older mod from the link adds nylon screws to lock the
clamping screws... which adds flexibility.

And this new mod adds twisting helpers to the knurled thumbscrews,
which assists tired fingers in jig clamping.

I can see practical advantages to both.
Keep up your good tinkering and tweaking.
be well,
Walt

ps My Dowelmax deserves both of these enhancements!