It depends on the table top's thickness, also. The thicker the top, the more vertical the hole can be. Tops less than 1 1/2" thick would likely require some angling, either the hole or the dog. If a bench is made with two 3/4" sheets of ply, another 6" wide strip, under neath, would make it thicker along the line of holes.

The function of holdfasts, particularly, are dependant on hole size and thickness of table..... as well as the holdfast's *angle.


On a side note: A few weeks back, I thought to try to make my own holdfasts, so I did a little research about them. I wondered how I could properly heat my rods, for bending, etc., without having a welder's torch.

Just so happens, this past weekend, I was given permission to go visit an old abandon saw mill and was allowed to collect whatever relics I thought of interest. I was specifically looking for a saw blade, for my shop's decor.. I picked up an old Buffalo forge. Looks in pretty bad shape, but I'll see if I can get it operating, something maybe fun to mess with, rather than fixing for long term use.

The mill was originally started by my aunt's husband and his brother (1920s or so), so a token of that past family history is there. The place was all grown up with weeds, vines, shrubs, trees, etc. I spent about 4 hours walking around, looking at all the old decaying buildings, about 10-12, and imagined what all took place in each, like which one had the still in it, judging from all the whiskey and wine bottles in one area, and, knowing my uncle's family was Baptist, had a thought of (when the milling was slow), "Hey Bubba, lets go to the mill and saw some wood!"

It was a nice day's get-away.

Sonny

Sonny