Four jigs were constructed to facilitate accurate milling. While all the required cuts could be made by hand, doing so can be an imprecise and potentially dangerous milling process. The dowel is difficult to hold in the proper position by hand and it can easily twist slightly making for a wider notch than intended. A hand-milled nock will also lack the smooth curving cut that permits the bowstring to fit the nock when drawn, allowing for a more uniform pressure on the arrow as it is propelled forward at its release.