Dog Holes for benchtops

[Bessy]

Hey all,

I'm in the process of planning out a renewed workbench layout. I'm hoping the GJ braintrust can school me on dog holes, specifically, spacing from the edge of the bench, in between holes, and how many is too many of not enough? Further, as my miter station is going to have approximately 4' of mostly clear span, 2' deep and fastened to the wall, I was figuring on doing some on that bench, leaving my mobile island/outfeed table/ assembly bench mostly doghole free, but your comments and real-world expertise in that regard is also appreciated. I'd likely install some t-track in that mobile bench, but that remains to be developed as well.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jackfre]

I have a Parf Guide which lays out 20mm holes. I have the round 20mm dogs from TSOproducts. They have some nice options for MFT tables, like Festools. My Parf guide allows me to do a bench top in the MFT pattern and it is spot on. New Brit Workshop on the tube is worth watching. It may give you some ideas. You might want to get Christopher Schwartz’s book on workbenches. From the edge of the bench I would say that it kinda depends on the end vise you are planning on using. How far off from center is the dog on the vise. My new bench will have a Record 52 1/2 which puts the center dog about 6” or so from the edge of the vise.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Good advice getting Schwartz’s book, or Landis.
Are you planning round or square dogs? What type of vise; tail, face, twin screw?

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Spacing should be less than the full opening of the vise. Furthest away should be the maximum width/length of what you want to clamp (minus what the full opening of the vise is).

 

[Bessy]

Good advice getting Schwartz’s book, or Landis.
Are you planning round or square dogs? What type of vise; tail, face, twin screw?

I'm planning on round dogs for simplicity and because I already have some from a workmate knockoff, but the vise remains to be determined as of right now. I'm thinking of a face vise on the miter bench somewhere in the middle, to middle left, as I am a lefty. I did consider a leg vise at the far end, but I'm not sure that it will work with my current construction plan.

In the center of the bay, I'm planning on rebuilding my main rolling bench to have a twin screw vise at one end, and some retractable casters/leveling feet for rigidity. The current assembly table I built probably ten years ago, while functional really left a lot to be desired from my original plan.

Any recommendations for a good quality yet affordable low profile face vise?

 

[turbowoodworker]

Used Record or Craftsman vice built in to face.

 

[turbowoodworker]

I will attach some pictures of my bench. Because I had built it from the ground up, I used square dogs along the front apron to be used with twin screw on rt end. At the face vise on left side, I used round dogs as it was way easier to drill 3/4" holes than to engineer something similar.

I found the best source for dogs, either round or square to be Lee Valley/Veritas.

One other point, if I am understanding correctly, you, as a lefty, want to put the face vise on the left. This is a personal choice but if you do much hand planing, you will want your face vise on the right side. Your bench should be a mirror image of most that you will see, including mine.

 

[turbowoodworker]

More pics:

The twin screw vise is Veritas, the face vise is Woodcraft or Rockler (whatever was on sale). Since your bench sounds like it is already built, easier to add a small Record style front vise.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Rockler 9'' Quick Release Workbench Vise

A quality vise to add to your workbench.

www.rockler.com

Don't faint at the $219 price tag. These are found all day long at auctions and garage sales, betting $45 would get you one in great shape.
eep us posted on your progress/choices.
Rick

 

[turbowoodworker]

This thread is interesting too and may have some helpful pictures (not my thread):

I am obsessed with vintage woodworking benches ..I am always hunting for them.....let's see some pictures...I will go first...these are a few of mine

www.garagejournal.com

 

[ez-duzit]

As a professional woodworker of nearly 50 years I must say that bench dogs are one of the least used tools in my shop.

Do not put dog holes in your outfeed table.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Do not put dog holes in your outfeed table.

Good tip! That is a recipe for ugly kickback and similar misadventures.
I too fail to use my dogs as much as I thought I would. But often it is just because I work fast not smart! When I actually think about using them with the corresponding vise, they work really well. That is especially true when planing, but I tend to use the planing stop more as it is easiest to put in to use. The planing stop is seen on the left side of picture #4357 and is merely a block of wood that pops up from a hole in the bench.

 

[Bessy]

As a professional woodworker of nearly 50 years I must say that bench dogs are one of the least used tools in my shop.

Do not put dog holes in your outfeed table.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Alchase]

Red Storm Rising is clearly his best book. My .02.

As a professional woodworker of nearly 50 years I must say that bench dogs are one of the least used tools in my shop.

Do not put dog holes in your outfeed table.

I agree 100%

I spent hours an hours aligning and ensuring my “dog holes” on my bench use the same size dog holes my X-bench uses.
I think I have used the them more to hold my screwdrivers and other tools the I have used with my vise.
I use clamps like crazy, dog holes nots so much.

 

[Mainiac Mat]

I have 3/4" holes on my bench and use hold downs and round peg D shaped top poly dogs.

Spacing is personal preference. Just be sure your vise hardware doesn't obstruct the holes.

 

[Jacko264]

We have lots of dog holes in our garden if that helps