Replies

1. 
   _mj_ | Mar 26, 2020 10:01am | #1

   When I built my top the final glueup was 3 sections. I dry assembled with a coulpe of dowels for registration and laid out my dog holes. I was able to get the individual sections to the drill press before gluing up the top. The dowels made sure it went together with perfect alignment.

2. 
   DRBWWing | Mar 26, 2020 10:37am | #2

   If the top is laminated, you can drill the dog holes in one board prior to glue up. If it has to be done after construction, a drill guide will do the trick.

3. 
   jfsksa | Mar 26, 2020 05:49pm | #3

   I recommend a drill guide. Drilling accurate holes free hand is over my skill level. Lee Valley sells a drill guide. Just search using "dog hole bushing" as your search term. It's pretty easy to use, just follow instructions. Other companies sell them too.

4. 
   jsdowns | Mar 26, 2020 06:11pm | #4

   Thanks! I'll try that.

5. 
   jsdowns | Mar 26, 2020 06:11pm | #5

   Thanks! Good suggestion!

6. 
   john_c2 | Mar 26, 2020 06:55pm | #6

   If you want a dead straight hole, use a plunge router. If the hole doesn't go deep enough, you can finish with a drill bit.

7. 
   geedubbee | Mar 26, 2020 09:02pm | #7

   I also use a plunge router but, recent offerings in guide bushings and brad point pits look promising. If you are talking about the bench with a full cabinet compliment underneath you will want to think about below-the-top access.

   Many dog hole accessories beyond the common dog will benefit from your being able to reach under the top, There should be a gap at least large enough to allow you to clean out. In a previous bench I left little room assuming I could blow the area out or sweep a thin piece of long scrap through. What a pain; I have lots of room now and still have cabinets below.

   
8. 
   jfsksa | Mar 26, 2020 10:32pm | #8

   More on dog holes. I've built benches with vises attached and drilled dog holes. The "pro" woodworkers who do video series on building benches seem to always design the dog holes into their building process, making square holes perfectly aligned with the spot where their vise will be and perfectly slanted slightly toward the vise. I'm not that good. My strategy is to build the bench top, mount the vises and then lay out the locations for the dog holes. That is why I use the drill guide. Check out youtube for how to make a simple bench dog with a dowel stick and coat hanger wire

9. 
   user-7673167 | Mar 30, 2020 09:35pm | #9

   You can make a drill guide on the drill press by drilling a 3" thick board at true vertical, then clamping it down to the bench before making the hole. This would require that the bit used on the bench dog hole be long enough, and not a Forstner. Having given that advice, I now confess that I did mine freehand. I eyeballed one axis and my wife eyeballed the other, and the holes are just about perfect. At least my dogs don't whine about them. BAK