The right tool to choose if you wish to make exact sized dowels from any solid timber. The dowel plate is a rectangle 130mm(5.1/8") x 38mm(1.1/2"), 6.3mm(1/4") thick of surface ground A-2 cryogenically treated tool steel, a very humble looking but nonetheless a very precise tool. The holes are machined with a 6° clearance on the underside but are straight for the first 0.025". The tool can be sharpened many times without any change in the size of the holes, but quite frankly at 60 Rockwell it is doubtful whether it will ever need sharpening. Both metric and imperial plates are available, to cut 3mm, 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm & 16mm dowels or 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 1/2" & 5/8" in imperial sizes.