how hard is it to pull the joint apart) and the shear strength of the joint (that is, how hard would it be to get the two pieces to slide past each other). Let’s consider what a dowel pin does ...

When you encounter a stubborn dowel it's tempting to pull it out with a pair of pliers, but that inevitably mars the pin. If you'd rather not ruin the dowel or risk damaging the part you're ...