Don
IIRC, I was inspired by Paul Sellers dogs and made a version of my own.
The larger dog is for square dog holes. Made of ash. Has a "spring" also made of ash. That springyness is made by cutting a slight taper on the down end of the dog.
The round dogs are some crabapple. Basically just made a dowel then flatten one side just a little to get clearance for the bent wire in the hole. Then drilled two holes, the bottom hole as close to the size of the wire as possible, the top hole sized larger so the wire would move back and forth freely. And lastly, cut a flat part on the top (business end) of the dog approximately half its diameter and about ⅝" down.
Hope this helps, if you have specific questions I'd be happy to answer those... or photos of different angles.
Edit:
Also with the round dogs I made that vertical cut (the one though the diameter) at a slight angle, so when in use the work will be engaged at the very top of the dog first. With the square ones I cut the dados the dogs go in to at a slight angle. Just a few degrees off perpendicular is all that's needed.
Last edited by Judson Green; 08-07-2014 at 9:48 AM.
I got cash in my pocket. I got desire in my heart....