Having read a gazillion posts on workbenches, dogs, vices, etc, everything I've seen about creating square dog holes describes routing the holes in an apron strip, and gluing that "layer" along with others to the bench.

Why not simply cut and glue pieces of wood with the proper grain orientation to the apron at intervals of "square dog hole" width, and when dried, glue that entire assembly to the bench?

Thanks in advance --

Ned