[Q] Bench dogs: what's the best wood?

[Fromey]

I note that G&S Specialist Timber have a good range of reasonably priced hardwood dowels ( http://www.toolsandtimber.co.uk/Hardwoo ... s_cat2_230 ). I'm intending to knock up a bunch of bench dogs and am wondering what would be the best wood for the job (I need to get to know the properties of common timbers).

The range is Ash, Beech, Oak, Sapele, Sycamore, Tulipwood and Walnut.

There may not be much difference between them with respect to bench dogs, but just in case one is of superior robustness, I thought I'd ask here.

On a related question, does anyone know of a source of spring ball catches (just the ball catch, not the mated housing)? If I can't find any at a reasonable price, I'll be going the bit of wire route as I have some nice springy stainless steel strips scavenged from windscreen wiper blades.

Thanks, as always, in advance.

 

[Dangermouse]

I would say Ash is the best, bit of give and very strong. They made car body frames of it in the 1930's, second I'd go for Oak, strong, but may be brittle.

 

[Richard T]

I'd agree with DM that Ash is probably the best of that bunch though Oak splits very easily; good for when you need to cleave it, not so good for when you don't want it to split. Walnut can be split easily too and is a bit delicate for bashing purposes I would have thought.

Sycamore is pretty tough and under used/rated IMO. Beech - also good and reliable.

Don't know about the other two - I only usually use what I kill myself and don't encounter them in the wild hereabouts.

 

[Peter Sefton]

We make our own up out of Ramin Dowel. Ash would possibly be stronger but we have been using ours for three years without any problems.

We supply the Ball catches and the Dowels for bench dogs.

http://peterseftontoolshop.com/epages/e ... s__Catches

http://peterseftontoolshop.com/epages/e ... s/DOWEL19M

I hope this helps

Peter

 

[speeder1987]

I turned my own from pen blanks in walnut and so far they have been fine, easily strong enough for what I need

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Argus]

.

An alternative......

I read somewhere years ago that mill-wheel cogs were made of Apple because of its strength and the cog sections could be easily replaced when worn down. I suppose that it was the case.

I made a set of two wooden (admitedly square) dogs for my bench in about 1996 out of some Apple wood that a neighbour had cut down.

I'd venture that Apple wood is available when gardens are tidied up and worth snapping up, even short bits. Here they are, battered and worn, but still going strong. :

http://handmadeinwood.wordpress.com/201 ... st-friend/



All best


.

 

[Fromey]

Thanks All,

I think I'll go with ash as I also want to get some Lime wood from G&S Specialist Timber. At their prices, I might just add some beech and oak for fun.

Peter, you're the only source of singular ball catches I've seen, so now I have to find some other goodies to help make the postage justified.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

As long as it's stable, I wouldn't have though it made the slightest difference.