Here we go again - round dog holes or square

[Hmerkle]

So, you have decided to build that workbench - finally...

You have your design picked out and there is one last thing - the dog holes...

In building up the top you can choose to leave the top board "open" and create square dog holes or put it all together and drill them...


WHAT DO YOU DO? and why?

 

[Mike Davis]

I may regret it but I'm going to drill mine. 4 inches in from both sides and every 6 inches the full length.

I will use round dogs and also occasionally wrought iron hold downs.


Chris has some good thoughts on this.

http://blog.lostartpress.com/2007/11/13/the-better-dog-hole-round-square-and-where/

 

[BKind2Anmls]

My nickel's worth:

If you are going to make your own holders, stops, etc. I would say square. They are easier to size and add pads and other accouterments to.

If you are going to buy the holders--round dog holes. Round holes are easier to "install," especially if you need to add more later.

 

[Hmerkle]

My nickel's worth:

If you are going to make your own holders, stops, etc. I would say square. They are easier to size and add pads and other accouterments to.

If you are going to buy the holders--round dog holes. Round holes are easier to "install," especially if you need to add more later.

That is funny - I would have said just the opposite - if I make "homegrown appliances" for the bench - isn't it easier to work with round stock? (metal or wood and add cams or whatever to a rod or dowel?)

I was trying to make the argument (in my head) for square and I kept re-turn-ing to round! :eusa_doh: (does that even classify as a pun?)

 

[CrealBilly]

My vote is for round for obvious reasons already stated

 

[FredP]

round for a few reasons. 1 they are easy. 2 you can use hold downs without wallerin the holes out so much. 3 you can make your own on the lathe and leave the top square for clamping irregular shapes and boards with angled ends. ( just glue some sandpaper to one of the flat sides. ):wwink:

 

[merrill77]

I use square holes.

1. The 3/4" stock needed for my dogs is plentiful in my scrap bin. No need for dowels or a lathe.
2. I can make use of the squareness to keep things from turning when needed, while still allowing round dogs when rotation is beneficial.
3. 3/4" round accessories (e.g. holdfasts) work in my square holes. The reverse is not even remotely true.
4. Square dog holes were *really* easy to make when I was gluing up my benchtop. I did 45 in under an hour.

 

[Gofor]

When initially making my bench, I put in a tail vise and square holes down the front edge. Easy to do if gluing up the top (not one solid slab), and they are superb for hand planing. I have since added round ones for hold fasts, bench pups, etc. I would/will probably do the same for any future bench.

Go

 

[Hmerkle]

I use square holes.


2. I can make use of the squareness to keep things from turning when needed, while still allowing round dogs when rotation is beneficial.


Now that is a GREAT argument for square bench dog holes!

4. Square dog holes were *really* easy to make when I was gluing up my benchtop. I did 45 in under an hour.

Chris - how did you make 45 in under an hour?

 

[Phil S]

You could make a bench with both and then you would never be wrong or is that never completely right - sort of like the believing both the theory of general relativity and quantum theory are right - or you could make octagon holes that would be all-purpose but good for nothing

 

[merrill77]

4. Square dog holes were *really* easy to make when I was gluing up my benchtop. I did 45 in under an hour.

Chris - how did you make 45 in under an hour?

My top is laminated - picture lots of 2.5" wide boards on their edges, glued together on their faces for a 2.5" thick top. I glued 6 boards in 3 pairs and then used a dado on the table saw to cut slots every 4". Those slots then became the dog holes.

Looking at my album, it looks like I don't have a picture of that part of the build. Best I've got is this one...which shows 2 of the dog rows after I've glued on one more board to transform the slots into holes.

 

[tarheelz]

A few of each.

 

[W Burton]

I am still putting the finishing touches on my new "Big Ash Workbench," and I have put in two rows of . . . rectangular dog holes. I stole the idea from the Benchcrafted plans. Actually, the top part of the dog hole is 15/16" x 1-1/4". It then tapers in to 15/16" x 15/16". The bottom tapers further to allow a thin wooden strip to act as a "spring" to hold the dog in place. I am making a dog for each of the 26 holes, so the top surface will be flat, and the dogs can be popped up from below when needed. Here's a picture of my jig to cut the holes:



The advantage I saw with this design is that the top of the dog will stay in place and not go below the surface, allowing the bench to basically not have holes.

I have used round holes on my twin screw vise, which line up with the two rows of 13 dog holes spaced 7" apart. I may also incorporate a few round holes for hold-downs should I see the need for them. By using a split top design, I should be able to slip a clamp down in the center slot for holding down most work.

Here's a photo of my progress so far, with dogs made for about half the holes:

 

[automobiliben]

Hank,

What type of bench are you building? I just started on a split top Roubo of sorts that I am going to put my Emmert into. Still debating between a shoulder or wagon vise though...

Ben

 

[LeftyTom]

If the dog don't fit the hole, get a bigger hammer! :widea:

 

[CrealBilly]

I wonder if they make a square to round insert or the other way around?

 

[Mike Davis]

Who is 'they'?

 

[McRabbet]

I'm a proponent of 3/4" round dog holes since a large number of bench accessories are made for that size (just drool over the Lee Valley stuff) and it is easy to add them after the bench has been completed, unlike square ones. I know that traditional holdfasts (like the Grammercy ones) will fit into square dog holes, they are optimal for 3/4" round holes.

My 2 cents.

 

[Hmerkle]

You could make a bench with both and then you would never be wrong or is that never completely right - sort of like the believing both the theory of general relativity and quantum theory are right - or you could make octagon holes that would be all-purpose but good for nothing

Thanks? (I think?)

 

[Hmerkle]

Hank,

What type of bench are you building? I just started on a split top Roubo of sorts that I am going to put my Emmert into. Still debating between a shoulder or wagon vise though...

Ben

AWW Ben - you don't want to ruin that Roubo with an Emmert - I come down tomorrow and take that off your hands so you can make a completely wooden bench!:rotflm:

Seriously,
I have a bench that my Dad and I made years ago - I am planning to upgrade it - I am still in the planning stages...