Benchdog hole spacing? (pic)

[Jeff Craven]

I've borrowed a portable drill press for the weekend. Should I add more holes? They are currently 16" on center across the bench and 12" on center front to back. These are primarily for traditional holdfasts. Should I put some in between and make them 8" on center across the bench?

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/4025/img0855fd.jpg

[Jeff Craven]

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/5866/img00093201004012247.jpg

[Joe Shinall]

I would definitely put more holes. I had about that many and the first 10 times I went to use them I didnt have the holes in the right places. I have mine about 6 inches apart. But each person is different too.

[glenn bradley]

Mine too are on 6" centers. Rows of three near the vises and single out in the open.

[Don Dorn]

Mine are 4" on center - two rows at 10" apart that line up with the chop holes on the tail vise. Glad I did it because I still find that I have to open up the tail vise more than I would like to make some things fit. The less you have to open the tail vise, the flatter you can lay your stock on the bench. Well, at least that's my theory.

[Jeff Craven]

I'm now putting them 8" O.C. I'll post another pic when I'm done. I borrowed this Electromagnetic drill press from work, so I just clamped a steel plate down and the magnet does the rest. This is making quick work of drilling these holes.
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9966/img00094201004012339.jpg

[Jeff Craven]

Okay, progress! Now they are 8" centers across the width of the bench.
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/1890/img0856f.jpg

And I'm contemplating adding holes to the vice block. I'm not sure if I intend to use them.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6213/img0857l.jpg

[Tom Godley]

Nice bench -- looks familiar :)

Did not drill mine yet -- but have been thinking of doing the front vise.


I like the drill press -- I was planning on using a jig.

[Jaze Derr]

Oh, wow, I've never seen one of those portable drill presses. I think that makes the bench hole drilling so easy it's considered cheating :)

I'd love to have that when it comes time to drill my bench dog holes.

I would put maybe 3 or 4 holes somewhere in the middle between your 2 lines. Just to give you a few more options for holddowns with awkward pieces. But the bench looks nice! Much nicer than mine will turn out, I'm sure.

As for the holes in the vice: those are easy enough to drill by hand at a later date if you decide you want one. Not like trying to drill some in the middle of the bench.

[Greg Hines, MD]

Nice bench. I would definitely bore 2-3 rows of holes in the front jaw of your vise and bench top. That gadget would have made it a lot easier than I did it with a router and insert plate to register the holes.

Doc

[paul cottingham]

I went 4" on center, and some days I wish I had put them 3" on center.

[Bruce Page]

Jeff, I'm pretty sure using the electromagnetic drill press is classified as cheating. :rolleyes:
(I drilled mine on my milling machine. ;))

Nice looking bench!

[glenn bradley]

+1 on cheating. I did the plunge router routine. :-)