Dog set screws are designed for use in precut holes — similar to how dowel rods. They don’t feature a pointed tip like traditional screws, so you can’t just drive them into a piece of wood or other object. Instead, you can install a dog set screw by inserting the protruding tip into a precut hole.

Most dog screws are used in machines where they permanently hold two objects together. A common application for dog set screws, for instance, is connecting a rotating machinery gear to a shaft. The protruding tip is placed in a precut hole of the same size, after which the threaded body is fastened to a threaded hole of the opposing part.

Because they are used in machining and industrial applications, dog set screws are designed with fine tolerances. They are available in specific sizes and threading. When shopping for dog set screws, you’ll need to choose a size and threading to match the application for which you intend to use them.

Dog set screws essentially function as dowel rods by holding the parts with which they are used together. While dowel rods are completely smooth, though, dog set screws are mostly threaded. They feature a long threaded body that’s capped with a protruding and unthreaded tip. The tip is inserted into a precut hole, and the threaded body is fastened to a threaded hole.