>> A dowel bought from a supplier will have the wood grain going in the
>> same direction as the screw and in effect will act like a large group
>> of straws held in your hand that pull out of your hand easily.  This
>> is why you need to make your own dowel with a plug cutter, having the
>> wood grain going across the screw hole.


That's interesting.  Going to extremes, wouldn't it be even better to
cut the plug out of plywood?

Then nothing would split.  (I've been experimenting with small plywood
parts for just this reason.)

Mark Kinsler