Best Dogs?

[darita]

The set of dogs I have fit rather loosely in my MFT dog holes, so I've hardly ever used them.  I want to start using the dog holes for cross cuts, so I'm looking for snug-fitting dogs for accurate cuts.  Who makes the best dogs?

 

[masonwoodshop]

I’m a huge fan of the UJK expanding dogs from Axminster Tools. In Southern Ontario, we deal with very dry periods and very humid periods throughout the year and these dogs shine with their expanding rubber ring.

 

[afish]

Im not a huge fan of dogs for certain situations but I will second the UJK expanding dogs. Also the power lock dogs from TSO are great if they work for your situation. 

 

[Sparktrician]

Another vote here for the TSO dogs!  (Them and German Shedders... [big grin])

 

[darita]

So must one purchase the Chamfer Cutter as well?  Also, are there any negatives to cutting that chamfer in the dog holes?

 

[rvieceli]

I’m rather fond of the Parf dogs. Available from Lee Valley. Stainless steel

Never failed me.
https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/sho...es/71185-stainless-steel-parf-dogs-by-veritas

Ron

 

[Cheese]

So must one purchase the Chamfer Cutter as well?  Also, are there any negatives to cutting that chamfer in the dog holes?

Yes...that countersink is for MDF tops only. It will not work on ply or solid wood tops.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

So must one purchase the Chamfer Cutter as well?  Also, are there any negatives to cutting that chamfer in the dog holes?

I just used a chamfer bit in a hand held router.

Edited: Should have mentioned when I moved to Festool/Makita track saw system I had some MDF slabs CNC'd with 20mm holes. I bought several UJK standard and expandable dogs. I do like the expandable better but I really have not used them much because around the same time TSO introduced their parallel guide system and along with the TSO square I already had made the dog system redundant and more time consuming to use.

 

[Frank-Jan]

Another vote here for the TSO dogs!  (Them and German Shedders... [big grin])

My sister has a siberian husky, now that's a shedder  [big grin]

 

[rmwarren]

I have nearly every flavor of dog known to civilization by now. My favorite are the Benchdogs quad dog. Similar to UJK with the o-rings, they come in about 6 heights and the portion in the MFT is shorter (~18mm).

I've also settled on the chamfer style, it's easy enough to cut in ply MFTs with a piloted router bit. I find the chamfer centers the dogs better and eliminates any wobble when the dogs are slightly loose, which overcomes the need for a perfect fit.

RMW

 

[tsmi243]

I find the chamfer centers the dogs better and eliminates any wobble when the dogs are slightly loose, which overcomes the need for a perfect fit.

Same here.  It also makes a big difference having a threaded hole in the bottom.  Once you tighten them down, they don't wobble in the holes at all.

 

[rmwarren]

I find the chamfer centers the dogs better and eliminates any wobble when the dogs are slightly loose, which overcomes the need for a perfect fit.

Same here.  It also makes a big difference having a threaded hole in the bottom.  Once you tighten them down, they don't wobble in the holes at all.

That's the beauty of the Quad dogs, you twist them from above expanding the o-rings which eliminates the need for the knob from below.

RMW

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I have had good service out of many different brands of dogs. The TSO dogs that came with they MTR triangle fit my bench as well as any others have. I also have the Festool ones from one of the MFT sets, they are the ones with flats machined into them. I don't really get the point of the flats? Maybe they are intended to have greater contact, to keep from denting softer materials?
I use the Parf Dogs for my track saw cutting station, 2 different lengths for differences in material thinness. I even have a cheap Chinese set from Amazon, and they fit well too.
Part of it may be that my table is drilled with the Parf Guide System. They are very precise.