I've found some plans that suggest using bolts and nut plates for assembling a bench, and I'm leaning towards following these plans since I want it to be easily disassembled. However, I'm curious about the possibility of switching to dowel connections instead. Would it be feasible to drill larger holes and fit dowels in their place? Also, I'm wondering how you all determine the size and strength of joints and connections during the design phase of your projects.
4 Answers
If you want to get creative, you could use bolts but cover them with plugs to make it look like dowels. It'll look seamless, and no one will be the wiser unless you spill the beans!
I'm actually a fan of dowels! Hardwood dowels are quite sturdy, and you won't have to worry about the hassle of tightening anything. Plus, no risk of accidentally hitting a bolt.
It's common to over-engineer your joints at first. Most people tweak their designs after encountering failures. It helps to learn from what happened like how strong your initial joints are.
Dowels can be weaker than bolts since you can't tighten them if the joint becomes loose. Also, be careful with glue because it can damage the wood upon repair if something breaks.