Workbench Accessories: Vises, Bench Dogs, Hold-Downs & Mats
FriendsWithTools.io earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. We do not test these tools ourselves — all claims are sourced from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings, and aggregated user reviews, each linked inline. Prices and ratings were verified on May 2026 and may have changed.
A workbench without hold-down accessories is just a table. The bench itself provides a flat surface and some mass. The accessories are what make it functional for planing, routing, sawing, and assembly. You do not need everything on this page. Start with a vise and a few hold-down methods and add from there.
When to Replace
Bench vises last decades with occasional lubrication. Replace a vise when the screw is stripped, the jaws are cracked, or the slide bars are bent beyond alignment. Bench dogs are almost indestructible. Rubber bench mats should be replaced when they get slick with finish or worn thin at the edges.
Types Overview
Front vise (face vise)
Holding boards edge-up for planing, jointing, and sawing. Bolts to the front of the bench.
$40-150Bench dogs (round or square)
Pinching workpieces between the dog and a vise or another dog for surface work.
$5-20 per setHold-down clamps
Pressing workpieces flat to the bench surface for routing and sanding.
$15-40 eachBench mat (rubber)
Non-slip surface for assembly, finishing, and protecting the bench top.
$15-30Tail vise / end vise
Working with bench dogs to clamp long boards flat for planing.
$60-200Bench hooks
Crosscutting small pieces with a hand saw. Hooks against the bench edge.
$15-30 or shop-madeBuying Tips
- A front vise is the single most useful workbench accessory. It turns your bench from a table into a woodworking station. Budget at least $50 for a vise that will not flex under clamping pressure.
- 3/4" round bench dog holes are the de facto standard. Drill a grid of them into your bench top and you can use dogs, holdfasts, and hold-down clamps interchangeably.
- Holdfasts (Gramercy or similar) are the fastest hold-down method. Drop one into a dog hole and smack it with a mallet. Done. No threads, no knobs.
- A rubber bench mat costs $15-20 and saves your bench top from glue drips, finish spills, and scratches. It also prevents small parts from sliding around during assembly.
Top Picks
70A-7 Quick Release Vise
Solid front vise for general woodworking with 7" jaw width
Holdfasts (pair)
Fast hold-down in 3/4" dog holes with a mallet strike
Brass Bench Dogs (4-pack)
Won't damage blades if you accidentally plane into them
Bench-Top Mat 24x48"
Non-slip work surface for assembly and finishing
Borrow or Buy?
Workbench accessories bolt to your bench and stay there. They are part of your shop infrastructure, not project-specific tools. Borrowing a vise does not make sense when it takes 30 minutes to mount and align.
Common Questions
What size vise do I need?
A 7-inch front vise handles most home woodworking. Smaller vises flex under heavy clamping. Larger vises (9-10 inch) are better for wide boards but cost significantly more and weigh 20-30 pounds. Match the vise to your bench: a lightweight bench will move before a large vise reaches full pressure.
Do I need round or square bench dogs?
Round dogs are more versatile because they fit into standard 3/4" holes drilled with a Forstner bit. They rotate to contact the workpiece at any angle. Square dogs resist rotation, which is useful for planing, but require square mortises that are harder to make. Most people start with round.
Can I use my workbench without a vise?
Yes, but you will fight the workpiece on every task. Clamps to the edge work as a substitute, but they get in the way and require two hands to adjust. A vise holds work securely with one turn, freeing both hands for the tool. It is the first accessory to add.