Although it would work better with a drill, I was able to use it with a cordless drill and quite soft wood. I could not find the dowels I needed on sale at a reasonable price. When darning holes in wood, we usually want the texture to match, and this allows you to do that with a one-time purchase of a special tool. and make forks to your heart's content. Of course, for any size you want to make, you'll need a fork cutter. The 5/8 inch size was what I needed, but was out of stock at most placesβ¦