Thread: bench dog holes, where to put them?

Trev,

I built a workbench a number of years ago using the lamination method. I placed my (round) dog holes in a matrix across the entire top, all holes 150mm apart. Having dog holes evenly spaced means that you can use a variety of bench tools to hold parts on the bench. Most of the gear for hold downs are really easily made.

You need to make a plan to drill the holes very accurately, because if they are irregular you will struggle to get your bench hooks to fit every hole.

The book I used for my information was "Making Workbenches" by Sam Allen. If you can't find one in the library, or on Ebay, just let me know I would be pleased to post it to you for a loan if that helps.

All the best,

Anthony

Hi Trev, and welcome.

I've ended up with dog holes in an "L" shape. On the left of bench, behind the front vise, are a series of holes spaced about 100 mm apart, which mirrors the two dog holes in the vice face and allows clamping by the front vice. Frankly, I don't use these a lot but they're useful for holding plane stops and such.

On the front of the bench I've put another row of holes in line with the dog holes in the tail vice. To minimise racking, I think these ought to be the same distance from the front of the bench as the vice screw, or pretty close. However, most benches (including mine) seem to have these holes somewhat closer to the front of the bench. In my case, there's a replaceable apron that serves as the final board of the bench top, and that's where the dogs are.

Here's a pic that shows the left end and the replaceable apron.

Attachment 111092

Cheers,

Tex

I did what Tex did and they seem to work well for me.

I reckon Tex is on the money too. Mine are at 200mm and will be getting some in between as soon as I get the time. They work at 200mm but there is greater flexibility and less winding at 100mm. For what it is worth, Christopher Schwarz reckons 3" spacing in his Workbench book.

I agree with the guys above as far as the top goes, but don't forget the front face of your bench as well.

I don't know what size apron you have, or the configuration of your legs, but if the legs are in the same plane as your apron you should also put dog holes in them. These will be invaluable for dogs, hold downs, or even just dowels to better hold larger pieces, like doors and panels, when one end is in the face vise. Use one row down the leg below your vise for resting pieces on to stop downward slippage, and one on the other leg or across the apron for a more lateral hold. The venerable Mr Schwarz advocates a sliding deadman device - which is great in principal but severely limits what you can use the space under your bench for, but even without one I have found that some type of front face dogs are 'the bomb'.