Drilling bench dog holes benchtops

Way back, when I was still in the design phase of this workbench, I had originally planned to drill the dog holes in the benchtop using a ¾” spiral up-cut bit and my plunge router. I had planed to use a collar and a template similar to a shelf pin hole drilling jig, just on a much larger scale. It would seem to make sense to drill bench dog holes behind your woodworkers vise so that you would hold down work pieces using the vise on one end and a bench dog or two at the other end. However, it would seem risky to drill down through the bench top when the threaded metal vice rods pass below.

There are dozens of ways to drill dog holes that dead-nuts plumb, and I’ve written about many of them during the last years. My favorites use the fewest tools and jiggery – not everyone has a big plunge router with massive bits or can clamp a drill press to the benchtop. Popular Woodworking Magazine managing editor Glen D. Huey shows you how to make perfect, evenly spaced dog holes in your workbench top using a router.

How To Build a Quick and Easy Drill Press. I was thinking about using a spiral upcut router bit to start it and a fostner bit on the drill to finish it, but that it a lot of money for the router bit (looks like around $50). My bench top is thick ash. I then used a brace and bit with throw to finish drilling the rest of the way through. Both of these holes were drilled on my drill press.

I used a drill guide to make sure I was drilling in at 90-degrees. It made a mess of the backer board when it punched through, but the holes in the benchtop were clean on both sides. I am looking for advice on how to drill bench dog holes in a bench.

More specifically how do people do it. I used a Forstner bit and a backer board to prevent blow-out. Now, simply clamp that 2×jig to the benchtop , centering the hole over the dog - hole location, and drill through the benchtop with the auger bit. I purchased some bench dogs to use with my new bench , but I’m not sure how to space the holes for the bench dogs.

I’m reluctant to start drilling holes into my new bench without some advice regarding the appropriate spacing of the holes. Bench dogs allow you to hold longer pieces between the dog positioned on the outside vise jaw and the dog positioned in the appropriate bench - dog hole along the workbench. Dog holes can also be aligned from the front to the back of the workbench and used with a face vise.

If your dog holes are spaced apart, there are no gaps and you can clamp all board lengths - up to the length of your bench top. For stock long and multiples thereof you will have to crank your end vise wide open. Cranking can be reduced by spacing your dogs closer together. My end vise opens inches.

My work bench has dog holes on a 4″ grid. The bench measures 2′ x 6′. I have a MFT without the cost of a MFT! A row or two of ⁄ “-dia. While you can simply drill a hole anywhere, I like to space them consistently across the length of the bench.

The top has four rows of bench - dog holes bored into it. Specialized hardware called bench dogs fit into these holes , and when combined with other accessories and our Yost woodworking vise, the benchtop can hold a workpiece of just about any shape or reasonable size. The lipped brad-point style scores the perimeter of the hole for clean entry and smooth sidewalls. These holes universally accept all bench dog accessories like Kreg Bench Dog stops and Rockler Bench Cookies. Drilling Bench Dog Holes se With Bench Dog - Angle Clamps.

These holes are essential for using the router (next step), if you plan to use a non-plunging straight bit. By drilling holes into your bench , you can create round dog holes that can serve just as well. The typical diameter for these round holes is ¾”, and since they can be retrofitte you can place them just about anywhere on your bench , but, it’s best to plan to line them up with your vises just as with the square versions. Luxury A Dowel Of Any Size Can Be Used Depending On Functional Choices I Recommend 12quot Or Bigger Diameter For Most Woodworking Applications Drill A Dog Hole In Your Bench Top , Enlarge The Hole With A File And A Smaller Dowel. I think the min for most holdfasts are about 2-2.

A typical dog is simply a peg used just as you described your doing to plane boards. I find this point important because I use holdfasts a lot when I work. By using round bench dogs I can make sure that every hole is also suitable for a holdfast making the bench top versatile without littering it with all manner of holes. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. For drilling the dog holes , we offer mm drill bits that are 2mm long overall, enough to go through the jig and a thick bench top.

Re: Dog holes for plywood workbench top Well I am glad to see that we are on the same page! I was given the bench top that is is the picture by a friend who had no place to store it. This means you can drill holes that in addition to not being perpendicular to the surface the hole its self can be curved.

I drilled a few curved holes in my bench ). Bench Dog was launched in the mid-nineties with the simple idea that great tools were the result of extensive experience, thoughtful design, and exacting engineering. Since then, the Bench Dog product line of router tables, safety accessories, and shop tools has steadily expanded.