4-dowel template

This is a template that will help you join two pieces of wood with 3/8" dowels. There are actually two templates, one with a tab on each side that will just fit over two 2x4's (ie 3 inches), and one with only a single tab, that you can use at the end of any piece of wood.

Basically you clamp a guide onto each piece, and then drill through the holes with a 3/8" bit, to the depth necessary on each side to join your pieces. The holes are slightly under-sized so you will take a bit of plastic of