Or something like that.
My benchtop is laminated Doug Fir 2x4 construction lumber, two years old this month. So pretty well seasoned, hasn't left my shop since I built it, nominal 3.5" thick.
What I am noticing is Doug Fir loses against holdfasts time after time after time. Only a tiny bit, but it gives way every time.
I have a pair of holes I put one year ago, when the bench had seasoned in my my shop as a bench top for one year. I drilled at 0.984, one current hole is 1.159" end grain to end grain x 1.076 face grain to face grain, an oval, the other (I didn't measure) feels similar under the hammer.
The holes still work, but I have to whack harder to get the holdfasts to grip, and they want to twist towards the major diameter under the hammer. The three original (and most used) holes I put in at 0.989 are quite worn, but I can still get a good grip with the second whack.
FWIW I am using Crucible holdfasts at nominal one inch, have a dedicated drill bit for new holdfast holes and currently drilling 0.980 for new new holdfast holes. The tighter the hole, the less I have to womp to get the holdfast to grip.
I hope to build a new longer bench in the next couple years (six foot length instead of four) and wonder what I can do in advance to limit wear on the next bench top hold fast holes. My local hardwood purveyor handles a fair bit of 8/4 in both hickory and white oak as both are desirable for runners for dog sleds. Yellow pine I have never seen up here. All the Ash I see up here, so far, has unacceptable runout/ short grain. Hard maple I can get, though it seems to be my nemesis. 8/4 Poplar is also plentiful and not easily rived, but I am predisposed to think of it as boat building wood.
FWIW I am totally satisfied with Doug Fir for a bench top in every way accept for the holdfasts chewing up the endgrain of the holdfast holes.
Local to me I can grab 4x6 SGRN Doug Fir frim the BORG for about $2.90 per bf. I am perfectly happy with DF for legs and stretchers, it is stout stuff.
Local rough sawn birch is $10.33/ bf, also in 8/4 I can get hard maple for 9.40, hickory 11.15, white oak 9.26, Ash 9.05, and tulip poplar 9.18.
Yes, I do throw up in my mouth a little when I read about some of you grabbing white oak for $2.50/bf. My local guy doesn't carry jarrah. Exotics start at $25/bf and go up fast.
What are you running holdfasts in and happy with? I am leaning towards a hickory top with Doug Fir undercarriage for my next build.
Thanks