Parf Dogs vs Rail Dogs

[bipoloarbear]

I just ordered my first MFT and need to order dogs. I have looked through the forum and watched you tube videos and I think I am leaning to Veritas parf dogs. They just look quicker and less cumbersome to square the guide rail. Does anyone that has used both have a real preference?

 

[Birdhunter]

I use Qwas dogs and a large Woodpeckers square.

 

[grbmds]

I have the Parf dogs and I also have dogs from Rip Dogs I bought with my Rip Stop jig. They are both great. The Rip Dogs fit a little tighter but both are very accurate. I've squared my guide rail using a variety methods. The dogs are a beg help though to get the fence square (if you have the fence on the MFT/3).

 

[bkharman]

Also check out Precision Dogs. They fit really well and integrate with all of their other accessories.

I have Parf, Qwas, Rip, and several others. I think each serve their purpose well.

 

[bipoloarbear]

Thanks for your replies. It seems everyone is pleased with each system.

 

[roblg3]

If i remember correctly, the rail dogs are more versatile.  They can be both pegs as well as connect to your rail.  I have parf dogs, they work, but i cannot attach my rail to them.

 

[bkharman]

If i remember correctly, the rail dogs are more versatile.  They can be both pegs as well as connect to your rail.  I have parf dogs, they work, but i cannot attach my rail to them.

I have done it. You just need a square head M8 to put in it. Rail dogs do it a lot better but the Parfs can do it.

 

[bipoloarbear]

Thank you roblg3 and Bkharman. I hadn't even considered that they both could do dual function.

 

[bkharman]

Thank you roblg3 and Bkharman. I hadn't even considered that they both could do dual function.

I will be completely honest...  The rail dogs do their job very well, as do the Parf dogs.

I have about 20 dogs in total and reach for the right ones at the right time.

 

[sancho57]

though I dont have Parf dogs and I do have rail dogs....

I think its all personal preferance

 

[grbmds]

though I dont have Parf dogs and I do have rail dogs....

I think its all personal preferance

I think you are right on the personal preference. I bought the Lee Valley MFT Clamp set and have found uses for almost all of the various pieces, just depends on what I am doing. There are 2 low profile stops that I found work well when using the Domino to keep the piece in place and to push against. The Parf dogs are great for other things and I use them interchangeably with the dogs from my Rip Stop set. The dogs of all kinds do help when squaring up the guide rail and MFT fence.

 

[paulhtremblay]

Also check out Precision Dogs. They fit really well and integrate with all of their other accessories.

I have Parf, Qwas, Rip, and several others. I think each serve their purpose well.

The qwas dogs seem to serve the same purpose as the precision dogs. Do you recommend one over the other?

 

[bkharman]

Also check out Precision Dogs. They fit really well and integrate with all of their other accessories.

I have Parf, Qwas, Rip, and several others. I think each serve their purpose well.

The qwas dogs seem to serve the same purpose as the precision dogs. Do you recommend one over the other?

Like I said before... it kind of depends on what I am doing.  Most of the time I will use the Precision Dogs... mainly for workflow.  I have about 6 of them and they serve many purposes.  They are low profile and threaded and that is part of the ecosystem.  They have a clamp plate that you thread onto a dog, then mount it in the table.  They have a Precision Plate for us who use the MFT and Incra LS setup, and it bonds the table and Positioner.  I also use them for the "standard" purpose as stops and alignment of rails and fences.  I actually do use the Qwas ones for that as they have a taller head and body above the table. 

I also have some rip dogs that attach to my fence and drop in the dog holes insuring a completely square fence.  sometimes I will use my Qwas rail dogs in a rail in combination with the aforementioned fence and instantly have a rail perfectly perpendicular to the fence with almost no setup.  I have parf dogs (big and small) and use them for alignment and blocking and some other tasks.  Come to think of it, I use them a lot as stops when I am doing some tenon work with my Domino.  They are beefy and make great stops.  I bored out a few scraps with matching holes to slip over the Parf dogs.  (thanks again for getting those to the public Peter and Veritas!)

over time you will accumulate many of them.  Each has it's purpose and if I were stranded on an island and had to choose one?  It would definitely be Alessandra Ambrosio (oh wait!  wrong island!!)  I would go with my Precision Dogs... with what I explained above plus the little ring of relief at the top of the dog neck, it is a joy to use.  click here for more info on them.

Cheers.  Bryan

 

[paulhtremblay]

If i remember correctly, the rail dogs are more versatile.  They can be both pegs as well as connect to your rail.  I have parf dogs, they work, but i cannot attach my rail to them.

I have the rail dogs, and they fall right through the MFT3 holes. I would like to know how you can use them as pegs.

 

[paulhtremblay]

if I were stranded on an island and had to choose one?  It would definitely be Alessandra Ambrosio (oh wait!  wrong island!!)  I would go with my Precision Dogs... with what I explained above plus the little ring of relief at the top of the dog neck, it is a joy to use.  click here for more info on them.

I did not know who Alessandra was, but a quick intertubes lookup makes me think I have not stated my problem correctly. On an island, I think Alessandra would be more useful than precision dogs, for these reasons:

1. She could bear children, whereas the dogs cannot

2. She could help hunt and forage for food, whereas I cannot eat metal

3. She would be harder to lose than a workbench dog, and therefore less frustrating

4. She would not come with the wrong nuts (as my set of dogs did), so you wouldn't have to wait for a delivery

5. Since she is famous, more humans would invest time in finding her, and thus me, too; that means I might lose her companionship, but I would take that over being stuck on an island, as opposed to precision dogs, which are unknown to humanity

6. She could actually create a real conversation, as opposed to my precision dogs, which I would have to personify (as in the Tom Hanks movie), so I would have a less difficult time adjusting to society if I get off the island

7. She is beautiful, and though I am not, being old and normal, the lack of competition might impel her to choose me as a mate anyway, whereas the precision dogs seem to only consort with other dogs

(joking aside, thanks for the good info!)

 

[bkharman]

You one upped me Paul!  Got a good chuckle out of your reply!

If you need any pics or ideas, I will be glad to take some pics. Feel free to email or PM me.

I think the other reply about the rail dogs being more vers, might be on the precision rail dogs. Can't be certain but they have a ring that keeps them from falling through. The Qwas ones do not they need to be attached to a rail before you can really use them.