Need a dowel pin a stockist can't supply? If it's an odd diameter, a non-standard length, a stepped or extractable type, a special material, or a pin held to a tolerance the catalogue doesn't list, we machine it to order — standard ISO 8734 sizes too, from a single piece.
What Is a Dowel Pin?
A dowel pin is a precision, unthreaded cylindrical pin that locates and aligns two parts accurately and carries shear load, keeping an assembly in exact register. It seats in a reamed hole to a controlled fit — usually a light interference — so the pin's diameter tolerance is its critical feature, not its length. Get the fit right and parts separate and reassemble in perfect alignment every time; get it wrong and the location drifts.
That is why dowels are defined by tolerance class (typically m6) and, for steel, by hardness and surface finish. Stockists carry the common hardened-ground sizes; everything past that — odd diameters, special lengths, extractable and tapped forms, non-standard materials and bespoke tolerances — is what we machine.
Types We Machine
Solid parallel (ISO 8734 / DIN 6325)
The standard hardened-ground dowel, held to m6 for a precise reamed-hole fit.
Parallel unhardened (ISO 2338)
Plain parallel pins in steel or stainless, m6 or h8, where hardening isn't needed.
Extractable / pull-out (ISO 8735 / DIN 7979)
Tapped internal hole to draw the dowel from a blind hole; air/oil release flat optional.
Taper pins (ISO 2339 / DIN 1)
1:50 taper that self-centres in a taper-reamed hole and can be driven out and refitted.
Grooved pins (ISO 8739 / DIN 1471–1474)
Grooved/knurled pins that grip a drilled hole without reaming, for permanent location.
Stepped & shouldered dowels
Two-diameter and shouldered location pins to your drawing.
Special & non-standard
Odd diameters, extra-long, bullet-nose, cross-drilled, or to a bespoke tolerance.
Dowel Pin Tolerances & Hardness
Solid dowel pins to ISO 8734 / DIN 6325 are held to m6 on diameter (a light interference fit in a reamed H7 hole). Standard reference values — we also machine to any fit you nominate:
| Nominal Ø | Diameter tolerance (m6) | Hardened & ground |
|---|---|---|
| Ø3 mm | +0.002 / +0.008 mm | ~60 HRC, ground |
| Ø4–6 mm | +0.004 / +0.012 mm | ~60 HRC, ground |
| Ø8–10 mm | +0.006 / +0.015 mm | ~60 HRC, ground |
| Ø12–16 mm | +0.007 / +0.018 mm | ~60 HRC, ground |
| Ø20–25 mm | +0.008 / +0.021 mm | ~60 HRC, ground |
m6 tolerance per ISO 286. Unhardened ISO 2338 pins are supplied to m6 or h8; stainless and custom-material dowels are held to the same diameter tolerance. Tell us the mating hole and fit (press, transition or slip) and we machine to it.
Standards We Work To
| Type | Standards |
|---|---|
| Hardened ground parallel | ISO 8734, DIN 6325 |
| Parallel (unhardened) | ISO 2338, DIN 7, BS 1804 |
| Extractable / tapped | ISO 8735, DIN 7979 |
| Taper pins | ISO 2339, DIN 1 |
| Grooved pins | ISO 8739–8744, DIN 1471–1474 |
| To drawing | Any non-standard diameter, length, tolerance, step or material |
Materials
| Material | Best for |
|---|---|
| Alloy / tool steel, hardened & ground | Standard dowels; wear resistance and precise fit (~60 HRC) |
| Stainless 303 / 316 | Corrosion resistance, marine, hygienic and outdoor use |
| Brass & bronze | Non-magnetic, electrical and decorative location |
| Titanium & exotic | Weight-critical or high-temperature assemblies |
| Nylon / engineering plastic | Non-marking, insulating, light-duty location |
Material certification to EN 10204 3.1 and inspection reports are available on request under our ISO 9001:2015 system.
Typical Applications
- Jigs, fixtures and tooling plates — accurate, repeatable location
- Injection mould and press tools — aligning plates and cavities
- Machine slides, gearboxes, pump and valve housings — keeping bores in register
- Engine and gearbox assembly — bearing caps and case halves
- Restoration and replacement parts — reproducing a worn or obsolete location pin from a sample
Only have the worn pin? Send it — we measure the diameter, length and fit and reproduce a matching dowel in the right material and hardness. No drawing needed; see how we reverse engineer from a sample.
Custom & Non-Standard Dowel Pins — Our Speciality
Stock ranges cover common hardened-ground sizes in steel. Everything else is us: odd diameters, non-standard and extra-long lengths, stepped and shouldered dowels, extractable and cross-drilled types, bespoke tolerances, and stainless, brass, titanium or plastic. Draw it, or send the pin you're copying — with no tooling cost, one piece is a normal order, and we keep the CAD on file for quick reorders. See also our special fasteners and shoulder bolts & pins.
Frequently Asked Questions
A precision unthreaded pin that locates and aligns two parts accurately and carries shear load — on jigs, fixtures, mould and press tools, machine slides, housings and engine components. It fits a reamed hole to a controlled fit, so diameter tolerance is the critical feature.
Yes — our core work. Odd diameters, non-standard lengths, stepped/shouldered, extractable and tapped types, and dowels in materials or tolerances stock ranges don't cover, from your drawing or a sample. One piece, no tooling cost.
Solid dowels to m6 per ISO 8734 (light interference in a reamed hole); ISO 2338 to m6 or h8. Or a specific tolerance you nominate for a press, transition or slip fit — tell us the mating hole and fit needed.
Yes — steel dowels through-hardened to around 60 HRC and precision ground to ISO 8734. Where hardness isn't needed or for corrosion resistance, we machine dowels in stainless, brass or other materials to the same diameter tolerance.
A dowel pin is parallel and fits a straight reamed hole for precise location. A taper pin (ISO 2339/DIN 1) has a 1:50 taper, self-centres in a taper-reamed hole and can be driven out and refitted. We make both, plus extractable dowels for blind holes.
ISO 8734/DIN 6325 (hardened ground), ISO 2338/DIN 7 (parallel), ISO 8735/DIN 7979 (extractable), ISO 2339/DIN 1 (taper), BS 1804 — or to your drawing, under ISO 9001:2015 with certification on request.
One piece, no tooling charge; unit price drops across small-batch tiers. Quote in 24 hours; typically 1–2 weeks by material, hardening and quantity, plus tracked worldwide shipping.
Get a Dowel Pin Quote
Send the Ø, length & fit, a drawing, or one sample — we reply within 24 hours.
// Qty & price
1 pc
Sample price
Confirm fit before a run
10–100
Unit price drops
Setup cost shared
500+
Best price
All tiers quoted upfront
- →No distributor — you pay the maker directly
- →CAD saved after first order — reorder anytime at lower unit price