Bench dog sizes??

[Rick Potter]

I recently bought a bench from Rockler with 3/4" dog holes all over the 1 1/2" thick maple top, kinda like the MFT table. They were advertised as 3/4" dog holes. In actuality, my $2 plastic calipers say they are about 1/32 short of 3/4". I have some 3/4" Chinese dowels from HD which fit fine, but a true 3/4" US made dowel will not fit.

Interestingly, I have 3/4" drill bits that will not fit, but 3/4" straight router bits that fit easily. I have a dozen plastic dogs for a 20 year old Workmate, and they will not fit either.

Anyway....the question is, what size are bench dogs from Lee Valley, or other good companies? Are they this much smaller than a true 3/4 or should I ream out the holes in my butcher block top.

Thanks,
Rick

PS: I will do a quickie evaluation of the bench when I get it operational.

[Ed Labadie]

Not much help, but the B&D workmate dogs are larger than 3/4, no matter what 3/4 bit you use, they'll never fit.

Ed

[Bruce Page]

The two Lee Valley dog accessories I have are a true .740 diameter.
IIRC I drilled my bench with a 49/64 drill (.765).
I would open up the holes to 3/4" if it were my bench.

[Nick Decker]

Not much help, but the B&D workmate dogs are larger than 3/4, no matter what 3/4 bit you use, they'll never fit.

Ed

Yup, those Workmate dogs never fit anything, least of all the Workmate.

[Nick Decker]

I have some of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Big-Horn-19112-Small-2-Pack/dp/B003NE5AXC/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1488307985&sr=1-2&keywords=Bench+dogs

They fit 3/4" holes fine, and can be pushed down as far as you like for working on thin stock.

[Rick Potter]

Thanks for the quick info guys. I am especially glad to hear about the Lee Valley sizing, since my first order will be from them. I have several of the Kreg bench clamps, and am really anxious to get a couple of those new bench dog/bench clamp adapters they recently brought out.