Use dowel pins as pivots, hinges, shafts, jigs, and fixtures to locate or hold parts. For a tight fit, your hole should be equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter shown. Breaking strength is measured as double shear, which is the force required to break a pin into three pieces.

Pins with a material certificate provide a traceable lot number and test report.

Steel pins are the strongest dowel pins. Steel pins are precision ground except for 1/32" diameter pins. Pins with a black-oxide finish have some corrosion resistance. 1215 carbon steel pins are easier to machine than other steel pins.

Stainless steel pins are more corrosion resistant than steel pins. Pins that are passivated offer added protection against corrosion and oxidation. Stainless steel pins are precision ground except for 1/64" diameter pins. 18-8 stainless steel pins offer a balance of strength and corrosion resistance. They may be mildly magnetic. 316 stainless steel pins have the best corrosion resistance of our stainless steel pins. They may be mildly magnetic. 416 stainless steel pins are more wear resistant than other stainless pins, but not as corrosion resistant. They are magnetic.

400 nickel pins and grade 2 titanium pins resist salt water and caustic chemicals. 400 nickel, also known as Monel, may be mildly magnetic. Titanium pins are about as strong as steel pins, but 40% lighter. They are not magnetic.

Brass pins are softer than other materials, so they’re often used as shear pins. They resist corrosion and are nonmagnetic.

Aluminum pins are one-third the weight of steel pins, but not as strong. They resist corrosion and are nonmagnetic.

Some pins meet material and dimensional standards set by ASME, Mil. Spec., DIN, or ISO. DIN 6325-m6 is functionally equivalent to ISO 8734, with slight differences in hardness and length tolerances. ISO 2338-m6 is functionally equivalent to DIN 7, but the ends are chamfered instead of rounded.

For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.