A system and method for increasing a crush strength of a panel. The system having a panel being made from side-grain wood, a bore that extends partly or completely through the panel, and a plug made from end-grain wood. Because end-grain wood has a significantly higher crush strength per square inch than side-grain wood, a topical crush strength of the panel can be increased through the use of the plug. The plug can further be provided with a hollow portion to be used with a thread stepped dowel comprising of a base section, at least one middle section, and a tip section, with each section being progressively smaller in circumference than the last. The at least one middle section of the threaded stepped dowel further comprises thread spiraling around the outer surface of the at least one middle section.