Bench Dog
A peg or stop used with dog holes.
Bench dogs rise from dog holes to trap a board against a vise, planing stop, or another dog. They are useful for face planing and routing flat work.
Hand and non-power tools
Bench Workholding
Bench workholding uses dogs, stops, hooks, holdfasts, boards, and wedges to control work on the benchtop without always reaching for clamps.
What to Know About Bench Workholding
Bench workholding includes removable and built-in devices that use holes, friction, leverage, or simple registration. These tools make sawing, planing, chopping, shooting, and carving faster and safer.
Working principle
The work is trapped between a stop and tool force, pinched by a holdfast, hooked over a bench edge, or registered against a fence. The best setup supports the work without blocking the cut.
Major Types
Choose by the direction of tool force and by whether the work needs to lie flat, stand vertical, or register against a fence.
Holdfast
A bent bar that wedges in a bench hole.
A holdfast locks with a mallet tap and releases with another tap. It holds boards quickly for planing, carving, chopping, and template work.
Planing Stop
A low stop that resists planing force.
A planing stop catches the end of a board while the plane pushes forward. It keeps the top face clear of clamps and lets work move quickly.
Bench Hook
A simple hook-and-fence aid for sawing.
A bench hook registers against the bench edge and supports small crosscuts. It keeps hands away from the saw line and protects the benchtop.
Shooting Board
A guided board for plane-trimming edges and ends.
A shooting board supports a plane on its side while the work registers against a fence. It refines miters, square ends, and small parts.
Doe's Foot
A notched batten for planing wide boards.
A doe's foot bears against a corner of the work and a stop, resisting sideways movement. It helps hold boards for face planing without clamping across the top.
Wonder Dog or Surface Clamp
A dog-hole clamp for benchtops.
A surface clamp uses dog holes to apply horizontal or vertical pressure on the benchtop. It is helpful where a normal clamp cannot reach.
Common Woodworking Uses
- Face planing without clamps across the work.
- Small crosscuts at the bench.
- Shooting square ends and miters.
- Holding parts for carving, routing, or chopping.
- Fast repeated bench operations.
Choosing Bench Workholding
- Match dog diameter and holdfast style to the bench holes.
- Use low stops when a plane must pass over the work.
- Use a bench hook for small sawing before building more complex fixtures.
- Add a shooting board when precise end grain matters.
Setup
- Check that dog holes are clean and sized for the hardware.
- Place stops so tool force pushes the work into support.
- Use sacrificial backers where saws or chisels will exit.
Accessories and Consumables
- Bench dogs
- Holdfasts
- Bench hook
- Shooting board
- Planing stop
- Sacrificial fence stock
- Paste wax
- Replacement rubber or cork pads
Maintenance
- Keep wooden fixtures flat and replace chewed sacrificial surfaces.
- Remove pitch or rust from metal dogs and holdfasts.
- Wax contact points lightly if wood binds.
- Retighten fences on bench hooks and shooting boards.
Safety
- Make sure stops are lower than cutting edges when the tool passes over them.
- Tap holdfasts securely before applying cutting force.
- Keep hands out of the saw path on bench hooks.
- Support large panels so they cannot lever out of the holding setup.
Manufacturers and Companies
Listed as relevant examples, not endorsements.
Gramercy ToolsHand tools, saw vises, holdfasts, and rasps.Veritas / Lee ValleyHand tools, sharpening systems, workholding, and layout tools.Lie-Nielsen ToolworksHand saws, planes, chisels, and sharpening accessories.RocklerShop jigs, workholding, finishing tools, and hardware.Armor ToolAuto-adjust clamps, jigs, and bench workholding.