Dowels for bench dogs?

[Phil Stone]

Any tips for finding dowels that are actually 3/4" in diameter? Even at the local hardwood supplier, they seem to be 18mm.

[Maurice Ungaro]

Phil, what you may consider (I'm thinking about this myself) is to try the 18mm dowel and install the ball portion of a small bullet catch. Might make all the difference.

[Garrett Ellis]

Or a couple wraps of tape.

[Maurice Ungaro]

Or a bit of veneer!

[Prashun Patel]

Or a square head on the top.

[Ron Patrick]

You might try something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_02a_Rbe3E

[george wilson]

Might just be easier to get a metric drill that fits the dowels,unless the holes are already drilled. The dowels are probably made in a metric country.

[Steve Voigt]

Any tips for finding dowels that are actually 3/4" in diameter? Even at the local hardwood supplier, they seem to be 18mm.

Oak dowels sold at my local ace hardware are typically .750-.755. I buy a 3-footer and a package of 3/8 bullet catches to make bench dogs, and I generally need to shave the dowel down to get it to fit in my dog holes, which are a true 3/4.

[Phil Stone]

You might try something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_02a_Rbe3E

Yeah, that would probably work nicely. Thanks, Ron.

[Phil Stone]

Oak dowels sold at my local ace hardware are typically .750-.755. I buy a 3-footer and a package of 3/8 bullet catches to make bench dogs, and I generally need to shave the dowel down to get it to fit in my dog holes, which are a true 3/4.


I guess I'd better bring my calipers when I go dowel shopping.

[Phil Thien]

I guess I'd better bring my calipers when I go dowel shopping.

Or a block of wood drilled w/ your 3/4" bit.

[Steve Voigt]

I guess I'd better bring my calipers when I go dowel shopping.

I bring a 0-1" micrometer -- fits in the pocket, less conspicuous. :)

[Judson Green]

Or this might work. I made my own dowels and use some wire from a wire whisk.


317428317429

[Al Launier]

I use a 3/4" dowel with (3) narrow adhesive-backed velcro strips attached lengthwise to the OD of the dogs. The Velcro provides for a slightly snug fit & the dogs are easily removed. I normally keep them inserted in the dog holes below the bench top & when needed the dogs are pushed up from below. Easy & the dogs are well stored!

[ian maybury]

There's perhaps an argument to push up to the 20mm size used by the various Festool work holding solutions - it might open another sourcing option. I'd personally be reluctant to reduce the size of a dog below the 3/4in which to my mind is already on the light side. The Lee Valley stuff i think is also available in the larger size.

[Sean Hughto]

Buy a lathe.

[ian maybury]

A long shot (mailing might be too expensive), but these guys in Scotland do hardwood dowelling to all sorts of sizes (including custom) : http://www.plugitdowel.co.uk/wood-products/dowelling-round

They did a good job when i bought from them a couple of years ago...

There pretty much have to be similar services in the US?

[Daniel Rode]

I added some dowels from Lee Valley to my last order. The dowels are not special, but they are uniform and 3/4" == 3/4", not 18mm. However, I bought 3/4" dowels from the home center recently specifically to make bench dogs and they we're a full 3/4" (this time). Nothing seems to measure what it should any more. Plywood comes 19/32" instead of 5/8". Why, because it's really 15mm. As much as I prefer our measuring system, perhaps we should join the rest of the world and use metric.

Anyway...

FWIW - I want my bench dogs to be somewhat under 3/4". 23/32" - 11/16" is about right. I want them to slide easily and have the bullet catch provide the friction to hold them in place. I made mine similar to this http://www.popularwoodworking.com/workbenches/schwarz-workbenches/i-have-a-dog-in-this-fight

Making a round dog takes a couple minutes. For me, they are totally disposable. I used bullet catches this time, but I might switch to a spring setup like Judson showed if I can figure out what to use for the spring wire.

[glenn bradley]

Phil, what you may consider (I'm thinking about this myself) is to try the 18mm dowel and install the ball portion of a small bullet catch. Might make all the difference.

This is what I have done.

[Phil Stone]

I think the bullet catches and springs are great ideas and make lemonade out of this lemon. They require an undersized dowel to work properly in the first place. The "move up to 20mm" idea is intriguing, especially for the access to European accessories, but my holdfasts (my main use of my dog holes) dictate against that.

[ian maybury]

You might find Phil that your holdfasts work perfectly well in 20mm holes, especially if the bench top is pretty thick (3 - 4in) and the holdfasts are close to being a full 3/4in diameter. Some experience problems getting holdfasts to grip in 3/4 holes drilled by typical means.

It probably wouldn't be too hard to mock up a 20mm test hole or two...