Replies

1. 
   bobr2 | Oct 29, 2024 10:24am | #1

   Generally everything I've seen on incorporating square dog holes in a bench involves cutting them prior to laminating the lumber together to make the top. You can easily use a router to route dados into the boards for the top so that when they are laminated together you end up with square holes. I suppose you could simply cut short pieces to laminate in the top that leave a gap where you want the dog holes to be as well. If I were going to add square dog holes in a completed top, I think I would drill as much material as I could and follow up with a chisel to square up the holes. Personally, I use round dog holes and have no issue with them.

2. 
   chiwoodworker | Oct 29, 2024 11:38am | #2

   Ehh. Go for round then you can clamp things that aren't squares or rectangles. I have round on mine and, dirty little secret, they work for square stuff just fine.

   Added a picture: two sliding vices and two rows of holes allows you to clamp/hold some crazy shapes. There has been moments when a third in the middle would have helped.

   
3. 
   _mj_ | Oct 29, 2024 01:25pm | #3

   Mine are round and I agree with Bob & Chi. But to answer the Q; ripping the top, routing the grooves, and reassembling would produce the best results.

   If your bench is narrow adding a few inches of width would get you there.

4. 
   JEarch | Oct 29, 2024 02:29pm | #4

   While I agree with others about the complete adequacy of round dog holes (they also work well with holdfasts), I’ll offer a variation of Bob’s approach to add square ones.

   To facilitate getting perfectly square holes for the top portion, you could route a deep groove along the line of the holes and then fill the space between holes with lengths of square-cut stock to form holes that are perfectly square for the depth of the routed groove. The infills could also be cut to provide a slight cant to the holes if desired. The lower portion of the hole would be created as Bob describes but wouldn’t have to be as neatly cut.

5. 
   Bentusi | Oct 29, 2024 02:49pm | #5

   I'm planning on adding some round ones to my bench whenever I get the time and motivation simultaneously.

   You can always quickly make squared adapters for your round dogs if you need them for some reason or any custom dog adapter if they are round.
   Making any adapters for a square dog would be a lot harder and time-intensive.

   If your heart is set on square.
   Perhaps routing the squares out and making the square dogs have rounded edges to match would be easiest not having to worry about the sharp corners.