I’m preparing to build my first proper workbench and I can’t decide on what type of dogs to use. Round would be easier but I think square may be superior. Also I plan on making my own dogs, either round or square (Veritas dogs are too pricey for this lad). Any thoughts?
Donovan
Replies
Something some folks do is to make round pegs with square tops.
Which ever you choose, I've found that the part (side) of the peg that makes contact with the held piece, needs to be angled downwards slightly to hold the piece tightly to the bench. Otherwise, as it wears, the peg tilts the holding face up and pops the held piece up away from the bench.
I've always liked round holes, and they've worked well over the years. Believe it or not, my favorite bench dogs are the "swivel pegs" from a Black and Decker Workmate. They are cheap (Ace hardware, etc. 4 for $8) and best of all, once you see one up close you'll realize you can crank as many of as your heart desires out of 3/4" dowel and scraps, as thin or as thick as you wish. A 3/4 dowel with a rubber crutch tip works very well too.
Jorgensen makes a nice hold down that works through a 3/4 in. hole too.
Round are also much easier to add later when you realize you need something like a bench stop or what not.
Also easy to plug...
Listen to your old Uncle tkluck !
He knows well of what he speaks !!
Robin
Sorry,sent this to the wrong person...should have been Donolee.
Apologies.
Edited 10/5/2008 3:45 am ET by pharmachippie
D,
I recommend round because:
* The dogs can revolve, allowing you to orient the flat face of the top bit to hold irregular shapes such as a round table top.
* The holes are much easier to make, especially if you find that you need some more after the bench is complete.
* The holes can be re-plugged more easily if they become redundant, using round dowel.
* The same round dowel can be used to make spare dogs, of any length and with profiles jaws if you want.
[19mm dowel can be bought; or easily made with a lathe].
* You can also use any round dog hole with a bench hold down too, virtually all of which have round posts and many of which have the same diameter as the round bench dogs (usually 19mm or 3/4").
Lataxe
Round holes get my vote -- with the accessories from Lee Valley: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1&p=41637
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Donovan,
Go round. Square dogs usually reside in dog holes angled towards the rear vise to provide the slight angle required to keep work on the bench. This means that they are useful in only one direction. Round dogs, in contrast, live in holes bored perpendicular to the benchtop and therefore can be used in any direction. Most hold-downs (well, all that I know of actually) have round shanks too.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
No expert, but my opinion..
Round pegs with square heads. Or round pegs with round heads' Either work in most cases. I have some of both I have made. I will say that the round head is more likely to show a small dent in the 'stick'. BUT, so can the square head.
I use a hardwood stick to 'buffer' the end for protection using either. OK, so it is a bother to look for the 'buffer sticks'.
Wolfcraft make plastic ones - round peg, square top. I don't know if they form part of the American range (which is different to the European one).
Both have their advantages depending upon the situation.
One drawback of round in my expereince is that they will turn in the hole, and therefore hold less well in certain situations where the force is applied across an edge, for example, and the predrilled dog points on your bench don't allow holding at exactly the points where you would otherwise choose. May never effect you if you don't use planes much.
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