Bench Dogs

[John15]

I don't have any bench dogs at the moment but am planning to put some in - 19mm dowels. Up till now I have been holding my work with F clamps. I've researched old threads etc but am left with not knowing what the optimum number and spacings are. And also do they rely on friction to stay in place?

I would be grateful for any advice members can give me.

Many thanks,

John

 

[jim_hanna]

but am left with not knowing what the optimum number and spacings are.
I would be grateful for any advice members can give me.

Couple of relevant links
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/workbenches/schwarz-workbenches/a-few-of-my-favorite-holes
http://woodworkingmasterclasses.com/discussions/topic/dog-hole-spacing/

Regards

Jim

 

[keithkarl2007]

I haven't gotten around to building a proper workbench yet but I was planning on making small feather boards (you only need one cut on the feather board). I got a piece of beech around 5" thick drilled my dog hole and tried it. Works great.

 

[keithkarl2007]

You'll need one under each dog hole and they don't have any effect on using my holdfasts.

 

[Peter Sefton]

I would say space your 19mm holes at 100mm CL, the home made bench doge we use and sell can be seen on my tool shop website if you search for bench dog you will find them, I fit a small ball latch to stop the dowel dropping through the hole, if you can't find any we stock them under ball latch.
Cheers Peter

 

[John15]

Many thanks Peter

John

 

[keithkarl2007]

This is the only photo I could post. You don't need as many cuts in the feather board as I have. This was done when I originally thought of doing this.

 

[jim_hanna]

To stop home made dogs dropping down you could just drill a line of 19mm holes along a strip of ply (use a fence to keep them the same distance from the edge) and then stick your 19mm dowel in the holes and cut them out. It doesn’t have to be a deep inset to give a lot of strength.
If the ply is too thick for a job just plane it, the two below were originally the same depth.

If you mark the original edge of the ply then using two or more will give a straight edge.

If you have square tops on the dogs then while one can rotate two cannot, if you make a planning stop for diagonal planing with two indents for two dogs then the stop can’t rotate.

Regards

Jim

 

[John15]

Many thanks Jim - it looks like a very good method.
Cheers,
John