Thread: Dog hole placement

Adam,
I watched the clip and the message I get is install your vices first and then give some thought to what you want to do work wise. also keep the holes to a minimum. I like to have plenty holding options but those holes can be annoying when that very small screw falls through and starts a search in the dust and shavings cause its the last one you have. Holes spaces need to be a tad less then the travel of the vice to work but other than that just think before you drill. We all work in our own way. If I was doing mine again it would have some slight changes.
Regards
John

Plus one for keeping the holes in your bench-top to a minimum!

My main row of dog-holes (for the tail vise), are 25 x 25mm and when I first made the bench, I only made a few dogs, so the open holes were constantly swallowing small things they shouldn't. I'd decided from the start to use wooden dogs, so it wasn't a big deal to make dogs for every hole, & it didn't take me long to get around to that job. The holes are stepped, so the dogs can be pushed down flush, & being at the front of the bench, it's easy to put my hand under & push them up as needed.

However, I've got a few strategically-placed round holes for holdfasts towards the back & they can be a pita because I work with a lot of small bits when making marking-gauges, saw-bolts, etc. I haven't thunk up a convenient way to plug the darn things other than stick a sheet of ply over them when I am thinking ahead (which isn't all that often!), so they still eat the occasional object they shouldn't, & that's a real nuisance, because there are cupboards under that area & it's harder to see & retrieve them.

I know I'm a bit of a reactionary old curmudgeon, but the current fashion for using holdfasts for tasks like planing flat boards leaves me wondering. They are oldy-worldy & quaint, and great if you don't have more convenient ways of holding things (or learnt to use your feet as our Asian cousins do so skillfully). You simply can't get away from the fact that they sit right on top of the job, & more often than not they will get in your way, so you need to keep re-positioning either board or holdfast. A 'wagon vise', which can easily enough be fitted to an existing bench is infinitely more convenient & practical & unless you are involved in some pursuits for which holdfasts are clearly a better solution, would reduce your need for them (and the number of holes in your bench).

So my advise would be to only make holes when & where you need them to work on whatever you begin making, and seriously consider adding a travelling dog system down the track. You don't have to spend a small fortune on one of the proprietary wagon vises, nice as some of them are, it's not that hard to make your own up from easily-obtained hardware. I've never heard of anyone regretting adding a wagon vise to the bench.

If you are doing work for which holdfasts are the better or only holding solution, round holes are easy to add as the need arises. I certainly wouldn't rush in and turn your bench-top into a colander straight off.....

Cheers,

Some useful suggestions and explanation here.
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2013/0...-im-an-8-hole/
https://www.popularwoodworking.com/w...ey-be-located/

Thanks all, plenty of useful advise.

The hold fast approach isn't trying to be old world, but instead a reflection on the YouTubers that I am trying to learn from.

Shannon Rogers, Jay Bates plus Shaun Graham (worth the effort) who I find are great teachers, all state that although the have end vices they are seldom used in favour of other methods.

I'll go with keeping it minimal as that seems to be the consistent message. The original post seems to agree with the Chris Schwarz post above so I'll take common elements of the two.

Many thanks,

Adam