Rubber Band Powered Bench Dogs

Bench Dogs or bank hooks are inserted into corresponding holes of the bench if needed and serve as a stop for fixing work pieces on the workbench.

But with two screws and a rubber band you can change them into Pop Up Bench Dogs

Tools you needed are only:

• a saw
• a screwdriver

the following is optional:

• awl

• pencil

• caliper

Material for each bench dog

• a hole in your workbench
• one wooden dowel, that fits in this hole
• 2 screws
• 2 rubber bands

Cut a dowel in length. It should 3 cm longer then the thickness of your workbench

Make a cut on the bottom ca 10 mm deep and one at the top ca 5 mm deep. You can use a table saw or a hand saw. You do not have to work very accurately.

Put the dowel in one hole and make a little groove with a hand saw. This groove will later catch the rubber band.

Make sure this groove has the same direction as the bottom slot.

Make a line with a pencil straight through the hole. The distance form the hole to one screw is the length of one rubber band. Pre drill the screw holes with a ale and screw in the screws.

Place a rubber band over the screws. Insert the dowel into the hole, insert one strand into the slot, the second must be on the side with the small groove. To enhance the effect they can add a second rubber band, but this second on goes completely through the slot.

To push it up

use a screw driver, a chisel or a coin. Insert it into the slot, push it a little and turn the dowel.

To push it down

just push the dowel deep in the hole and the little groove will catch the rubber band.

To see all steps at once, please watch the video

You can find more ideas like this on my YouTube channel.