How do I secure dowel sticks into wood?

Question

I am trying to make a shelving unit for my dvds and cds. Instead of shelves I wanted to use dowel sticks to hold them. My problem is that when put together the top is the correct width and the bottom is correct. The middle however goes outward and when I try to attach the dowel sticks, with screws, across, the screws do not attach them to the sides. They continue to turn even with a drill. They never tighten and just pop out. What do I do?

Will wood glue be strong once there are cds and dvds on the dowels?

I made holes in the side boards for the dowels to fit into. The holes are about half way throught the board. I put the screws from the outside through the board into the dowel end but they do not hold.

Answer 1

The usual way to attach dowels is to insert the ends into drilled holes in the wood end pieces. If you have a center piece, just pass the dowels through slightly larger holes hat go all the way through that piece. Usually holes are the same as the dowel diameter or a sixteenth of an inch larger. For permanent installation or stability, they can be glued into the holes with ordinary wood glue.

Answer 2

Your description confuses me a great deal. But I have this to ask.

Are the screws long enough to reach the dowels? If you are trying to attach by drilling in to the sides of the dowels.

If you are trying to tighten them by drilling in to the dowel ends - try holding them while drilling the clearance hole for the screws?

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

Wood glue

Answer 5

sounds like the middle dowels are maybe the wrong length, or that the side(s) are warped or bent.

Answer 6

Try Gorilla glue. This man I know told me it swells and will attach just about anything. I think you can buy it just about every where.