work bench questions

I’m not sure what you mean by “L” shape unless your talking about then end vice that allows for room to say put a drawer in the vise that has been assembled and still work on it. Round bench dogs are not real bench dogs in my mind they are just stops. Bench dogs because of there wedged shape can be tapped down to tighten your hold on your work. If it is with in you skill level you can have a better bench if you build it yourself and for less money.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

Betsy, the question about the L-shaped tail vise has come up before someplace. As I recall, the best reason given was that it provides a bit of counterbalance for the rest of the vise because the wooden body of the vise hangs off a metal plate mounted on the edge of the bench top in the notch. Of course that foot of the “L” is not intended as a clamping jaw. It won’t come up close to the end of the bench anyway. I was curious about this, too, as I’ve just finished a plan for a bench that has a tail vise.

As to the dog holes, I would image that if the round dog’s jaws were made correctly, they might help to pull the work down to the bench.

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

Now that makes sense.

As for making a bench. It’s for sure in my skill level. But not sure it’s in my “desire to make it” mindset.

So to be sure – you would positively get a bench with rectangular dogs.

Thanks for the insight.

-- You can't get a hug from Facebook.

I think the rectangular bench dogs make more sense because of there design. But even they vary to some degree.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

I agree with Jim about the rectangular dogs.

One thing you might consider doing though is drilling some holes in the top for a hold down. You may find one of them useful from time to time.

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.