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SHOPDOG
A CRAFTSMAN’S BEST FRIEND

PLANS AND BUILDING PROCEDURES

(THE FOLLOWING WILL MAKE A SET OF SHOPDOGS)

MATERIAL LIST (FOR A SET OF SHOPDOGS)

QUANTITY DESCRIPTION

4 2” x 4” x 12’ (nice and straight)

2 CUSTOM MADE SHOPDOG TENSIONING STRAPS (available at woodshopdude.com)
24 3” EXTERIOR DECK SCREWS
12 5/16” FLAT WASHERS
4 3/8” NYLON LOCKING NUTS
4 3/8” X 3 ½” CARRIAGE BOLTS
4 12d (3.25”) COMMON NAILS OR FLUTED CONCRETE NAILS (Tensioning Strap Pins)

RECOMMENDED TOOL LIST AND SUPPLIES

• COMPOUND MITER SAW* • 1” DRILL BIT

• DRILL PRESS*
• BANDSAW*
• ELECTRIC DRILL WITH PHILLIPS DRIVER
• COMBINATION SQUARE
• TAPE MEASURE
• HAMMER
• 9/16” or 14mm WRENCH
• 1/8” DRILL BIT
• 3/8” DRILL BIT
• WEATHER PROOF WOOD GLUE
• PENCIL
• PERMANENT MARKER
• CENTER PUNCH OR NAIL
• SLIDING T-BEVEL
• SAFETY GLASSES
* NOTE: THESE WOODWORKING TOOLS ARE NICE TO BE ABLE TO
USE, BUT PROCEDURES CAN BE PERFORMED WITH HAND TOOLS
ONLY. THE USE OF THESE POWER TOOLS WILL BE ILLUSTRATED
IN THESE BUILDING PROCEDURES.

PART IDENTIFICATION
© 2011 by Grant Banash
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Grant Banash.
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F
B

D
B
E
ILLUSTRATION 1

A TOP SUPPORT MEMBER

B UPPER CROSS MEMBER
C LOWER CROSS MEMBERS
D TENSIONING STRAP
E LEGS
F PIVOT HARDWARE

MATERIAL LAYOUT

ILLUSTRATION 2

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BUILDING PROCEDURES

STEP 1
SET YOUR MITER SAW TO 10° IN THE BEVEL AND 22.5° IN THE MITER POSITION. CUT LEGS TO
THE INDICATED LENGTH AND ANGLES AS ILLUSTRATED. NOTE THAT ALL 4 LEGS ARE CUT
EXACTLY THE SAME LENGTHS AND ANGLES. YOU WILL DETERMINE WHICH LEGS ARE GOING
TO BE OUTER OR INNER LEGS WHEN YOU DRILL THE HOLES FOR THE PIVOT BOLTS. BOTH THE
BEVEL AND ANGLE GO IN THE SAME DIRECTION. THE TOTAL LENGTH OF THE LEG MUST TO BE
32” INCHES LONG.

10° BEVEL

22.5° MITER

PHOTO 1

ILLUSTRATION 3

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STEP 2
MEASURE EACH LEG TO 32”
IN LENGTH AND MAKE
CONSECITIVE CUTS UNITL
YOU HAVE CUT ALL 4 LEGS.
(PHOTO 2) ALL LEGS CAN
BE CUT OUT OF A FULL 12’
LENTH OF 2 X 4 MATERIAL,
WITH A LITTLE LEFT OVER.
DON’T DISCARD THE LEFT
OVER; YOU CAN USE IT LATER
IN THIS PROJECT.

PHOTO 2

STEP 3
IDENTIFY WHICH LEGS YOU
WANT TO BE ON THE
OUTSIDE AND INSIDE.
REMEMBER THAT BOTH THE
RIGHT SIDE AND LEFT SIDE
PAIRS OF LEGS WILL LOOK
EXACTLY THE SAME. YOU
WILL BE DRILLING THE PIVOT
BOLT SOON SO MAKE SURE
THAT THE TOP PORTION OF
EACH LEG IS SOMEWHAT
DEFECT FREE.

PHOTO 3

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STEP 4
USING THE PROVIDED INSIDE
AND OUTSIDE LEG
TEMPLATES, MARK THE TOP
NOTCH AND PIVOT PIN
LOCATION ON EACH LEG.
(TEMPLATE 1 AND 2) TAKE
YOUR TIME TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOUR LAYOUT LINES
ARE ACCURATE. USE A
SHARP CENTERPUNCH TO
MARK THE PIVOT BOLT HOLE
LOCATION.

PHOTO 4

TEMPLATE TIP
YOU CAN SPRAY GLUE EACH TEMPLATE ONTO THICKER MATERIAL, SUCH AS CARD STOCK OR
AN OLD FILE FOLDER, TO MAKE THEM MORE DURABLE. USE A RAZOR KNIFE AND A STEEL
RULER TO CUT OUT THE TEMPLATES.

STEP 4
USING A SLIDING COMPOUND
MITER SAW, TABLE SAW OR 22.5° BEVEL
HANDSAW CROSS CUT THE
FIRST COMPOUND MITER CUT
IN EACH LEG. IF YOU USE A
SLIDING COMPOUND MITER
SAW, PLACE A SPACER BLOCK
BEHIND THE LEG TO ALLOW
THE BLADE TO PENATRATE
ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
MITER SAWS USALLY HAVE
SOME WAY OF ADJUSTING
THE DEPTH OF THE CUT,
ADJUST THIS DEVICE TO CUT 10° MITER
TO THE DEPTH OF YOUR
LAYOUT LINES.

2X SPACER BLOCK

PHOTO 5

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STEP 5
USING EITHER A BANDSAW
OR HANDSAW, RIP CUT TO
THE LAST CUT YOU JUST
MADE. THESE CUTS ARE
MADE 90° TO THE FACE OF
THE LEG. IN OTHER WORDS,
LEAVE YOUR TABLE SET
PERPENDICULAR TO THE
BLADE OF THE BANDSAW.

PHOTO 6

STEP 6
USING A DRILL PRESS OR
HAND DRILL AND A 3/8” BIT,
DIRLL A THRU HOLE IN EACH
LEG AT THE INDICATED
LOCATION. AGAIN, TAKE
YOUR TIME TO ENSURE
ACCURACY. USE A BACKER
BOARD TO MINIMIZE
TEAROUT ON THE BACK SIDE
OF EACH LEG.

3/8” THRU
HOLE

PHOTO 7

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STEP 7
WITH THE SHOPDOG WASHER AND 2 WASHERS PIVOT BOLT
HARDWARE KIT, ASSEMBLE NYLON NUT
THE RIGHT AND LEFT LEGS.
USING A HAMMER, SET THE
PIVOT BOLT INTO THE HOLE
FROM THE OUTSIDE LEG TO
THE INSIDE LEG. USE A
9/16” OR 14mm WRENCH
TO TIGHTEN THE NYLON
LOCKING NUTS.

INSIDE LEG OUTSIDE LEG

PHOTO 8

STEP 8
NOW THAT YOU HAVE THE HARDEST PART DONE, LETS MOVE ONTO THE UPPER AND LOWER
CROSS MEMBERS. EACH SHOPDOG WILL REQUIRE ONE UPPER CROSS MEMBER AND TWO
LOWER CROSS MEMBERS. SET YOUR MITER SAW TO 10° MITER AND TRIM ONE END OF THE
SECOND 2 X 4. FLIP THE BOARD OVER AND MEASURE 32” FROM THE LONG SIDE AND CUT THE
FIRST LEG OUT. FLIP THE BOARD ONCE AGAIN AND MEASURE ANOTHER 32” PIECE AND CUT
THE SECOND LOWER CROSS SUPPORT MEMBER. ONCE MORE, FLIP THE BOARD OVER AND
THIS TIME MEASURE 26 3/8” AND CUT THE TOP CROSS SUPPORT MEMBER.

UPPER CROSS MEMBER

LOWER CROSS MEMBER

LOWER CROSS MEMBER

ILLUSTRATION 4

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WALL MOUNTING OPTION

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THESE SHOPDOGS HANG FROM THE WALL ON A FRENCH CLEAT
PLEASE READ THE WALL MOUNTING SECTION AT THE END OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS NOW.
YOU WILL NEED TO RIP A 22.5° BEVEL ON THE INSIDE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE UPPER CROSS
MEMBER BEFORE SECURING IT TO THE LEGS. YOU MAY CHOOSE NOT TO DO THIS UNTIL YOU
HAVE COMPLETED THE SHOPDOG. IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO THIS LATER DO NOT USE GLUE
RIGHT NOW TO SECURE THE UPPER CROSS SUPPORT TO THE LEGS.

STEP 9
MEASURE THE TENSIONING
STRAP HOLE LOCATION ON
EACH LOWER CROSS
MEMBER AS ILLUSTRATED
ABOVE. DRILL A 1” THRU
HOLE IN THE VERTICAL
CENTER OF EACH LOWER
CROSS SUPPORT MEMBER.
1” THRU HOLE
YOU CAN EITHER USE A
HAND DRILL OR A DRILL
PRESS TO CREATE THE
HOLES.

PHOTO 9

STEP 10
CHANGE YOUR DRILL BIT TO
A 1/8” DIAMETER AND
ROTATE THE LOWER CROSS
SUPPORT MEMBERS SO
THAT THE LONGEST END OR
BOTTOM IS FACING UP AND
DRILL A HOLE UNTIL IT EXITS
THROUGH THE 1” HOLE.
THIS WILL MAKE INSTALLING 1/8” PRE-DRILL
THE TENSIONING STRAP PIN
EASIER AND PREVENT THE
CROSS SUPPORT MEMBER
FROM SPLITTING. AGAIN
YOU CAN USE EITHER A
DRILL PRESS OR HAND DRILL
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS STEP.

PHOTO 10
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STEP 11
WITH THE LEG ASSEBMLY TOGETHER YOU CAN NOW MARK THE LOCATION OF THE LOWER
CROSS SUPPORTS. MEASURE 6” UP FROM THE LOWEST CORNER, AND DRAW A PARAELLE
LINE ACROSS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE LEGS. DO THE SAME FOR THE OTHER SIDE.

LEFT SIDE LEG ASSEMBLY

OUTSIDE LEG

INSIDE LEG

PHOTO 11

10° ANGLE

OUTSIDE LEG

INSIDE LEG

PHOTO 12

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NOTE
ON THE RIGHT SIDE YOU WILL NEED TO MEASURE FROM THE OUTER MOST CORNER OF THE
INSIDE LEG. USING A SLIDING T-BEVEL MAKES THIS JOB A LOT EASIER.

STEP 12
MARK AND PREDRILL WITH A 1/8” DRILL BIT THE LOCATION FOR SCREWS ON EACH LOWER
CROSS MEMBER, DO THIS FOR THE UPPER CROSS MEMBER AS WELL. PLACE THE SCREWS ¾”
FROM THE OUTER EDGE AND 1” FROM THE TOP AND BOTTOM.

STEP 13
ALIGN ONE OF THE LOWER
CROSS SUPPORT
MEMBERS TO THE OUSIDE
EDGE OF THE OUTSIDE LEG
ASSEMBLY SO THAT THE
BOTTOM OF THE LOWER
CROSS MEMBER IS ALSO
ALIGNED WITH THE 6” LOWER CROSS
OFFSET LINE YOU CREATED
LEFT SIDE SUPPORT
EARLIER.
LEG
MAKE SURE THAT THE 1” ASSEMBLEIES
HOLE YOU DRILLED FOR
THE TENSIONING STRAP IS
OFFSETTED 16 ½” FROM
THIS SIDE.

USING THE PROVIDED 3”

SCREWS, ATTACH THE
LOWER CROSS MEMBER TO PHOTO 13
THE LEG ASSEMBLY.
TIGHTEN THE SCREW SO
THAT THE HEADS OF THE
SCREWS ARE JUST BELOW
THE SURFACE

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GLUING NOTE
YOU MAY WANT TO ADD SOME WEATHER PROOF GLUE TO THESE CROSS SUPPORTS BUT,
BEFORE DOING SO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR FIRST SHOPDOG WORKS CORRECTLY, AND THEN
REMOVE THE SCREWS, ADD GLUE AND REASSEMBLE.

STEP 14
ATTACH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LOWER CROSS SUPPORT MEMBER TO THE INSIDE LEG.
REMEMBER THAT ONE SIDE ATTACHES TO THE OUTSIDE LEG AND THE OTHER TO THE INSIDE
LEG.

ATTACHED TO THE
INSIDE LEG

ATTACHED TO THE
OUTSIDE LEG

PHOTO 14

STEP 15
MEASURE 16” UP FROM THE TOP OF THE FIRST
LOWER CROSS SUPPORT MEMBER TO MARK
THE LOCATION OF THE UPPER CROSS SUPPORT
MEMBER. DRAW A PARALLEL LINE ACROSS
BOTH SETS OF LEGS AT THIS LOCATION.

USE THESE LOCATION LINES TO POSITION AND

SECURE THE UPPER CROSS SUPPORT TO THE
SAME SET OF LEGS AS THE FIRST LOWER
CROSS SUPPORT. USE THE PROVIDED 3”
SCREWS TO SECURE INTO PLACE.

ILLUSTRATION 5

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STEP 16
FLIP THE ENITRE ASSEMBLY OVER AND MARK THE LOCATIONS FOR THE SECOND LOWER
CROSS SUPPORT MEMBER. THIS MEMBER WILL BE IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THE FIRST BUT
ATTACHED TO THE OPPOSITE TWO LEGS. AGAIN, CHECK TO SEE IF THE 1” HOLES LINE UP
ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER BEFORE SECURING THE SECOND LOWER CROSS SUPPORT IN
PLACE.

STEP 17
SET UP THE ALMOST FINISHED SHOPDOG AND CHECK TO SEE IF THE ASSEMBLY UNFOLDS
AND FOLDS CORRECTLY. WHEN YOU EXPAND THE LEGS OF THE SHOPDOG THEY SHOULD
MOVE FREELY BUT THEY WILL BIND WHEN THE LEGS ARE OPEN BEYOND A CERTIAN POINT.
THIS IS NORMAL AND WILL NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS. ONCE YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH THE
MOVEMENT OF THE SHOPDOG, MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP OF ATTACHING THE TENSIONING
STRAP.

STEP 18
SET YOUR SHOPDOG UP IN THE OPEN POSITION. ATTACH THE TENSIONING STRAP THAT HAS
THE METAL CAM TO THE SIDE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE UPPER CROSS SUPPORT. THREAD
THE LOOP THROUGH THE 1” HOLE SO THAT THE THUMB LOCK ON THE CAM IS FACING UP. WITH
ONE OF THE TENSIONING STRAP PINS PROVIDED IN THE HARDWARE KIT, START THE PIN IN
FROM THE BOTTOM PRE-DRILLED HOLE AND HAMMER IT UP THROUGH THE LOOP OF THE
TENSIONING STRAP. BE CAREFUL TO NOT PENETRATE THE STRAP ITSELF. LEAVE A LITTL E
OF THE PIN EXPOSED UNTIL YOU HAVE TESTED THE OPERATION OF THE TENSIONING STRAP.
IN DOING SO, IT IS EASIER TO REMOVE THE PIN TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. ATTACH THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE TENSIONING STRAP TO THE SECOND CROSS MEMBER THE SAME WAY.

CAM STRAP SIDE

FREE END SIDE

PHOTO 15

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SETTING UP YOUR NEW SHOPDOG

SET YOUR SHOPDOG UP IN THE OPEN POSITION, SEPERATING THE LEGS UNTIL THEY START
TO BIND. PLACE THE 36” TOP SUPPORT MEMBER INTO THE NOTCHES THAT THE LEGS
CREATE.
THREAD ONE END OF THE TENSIONING STRAP INTO THE CAM END OF THE OTHER AND PULL
THE STRAPS TOGETHER. THIS WILL PULL THE LEGS TOGETHER AND CAUSE THE TOP
SUPPORT MEMBER TO BE LOCKED INTO POSITION.

IF EVERYTHING IS WORKING CORRECTLY, DON’T FOR GET TO DO THE FOLLOWING;

• HAMMER IN THE 2 NAILS THAT SECURE THE TENSIONING STRAPS TO THE LOWER
CROSS SUPPORTS
• GLUE BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER CROSS SUPPORTS TO THE LEG ASSEMBLIES FOR
EXTRA STABILITY (IF DESIRED).
• USING A PERMANENT MARKER DRAW CENTER LINES AROUND ALL CROSS MEMBERS
AS WELL AS THE TOP SUPPORT MEMBER, THESE LINES WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO ALIGN
YOUR ATTACHMENTS DURING SET UP.

WALL MOUNTING OPTION

YOU WILL NEED A TABLESAW FOR THIS OPTION.

NOW, GO BACK AND READ STEP 2 AGAIN. NOTICE THAT YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO KEEP THAT
LITTLE LEFTOVER FROM THE LEG MATERIAL. HERE IS WHY: YOU CAN MAKE A FRENCH CLEAT
ON THE UPPER CROSS SUPPORT TO HOLD YOUR SHOPDOGS NEATLY AGAINST A WALL.

DEPENDING ON HOW CLOSE YOU MADE YOUR FIRST CUT, YOU SHOULD BE LEFT WITH A LITTLE
LONGER THAN 18” PIECE AT THE END OF THAT 2 X 4. CUT THAT PIECE OFF STRAIGHT TO 18”.
IF YOUR WALL STUDS ARE SPACED 16” ON CENTER THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HIT EACH
STUD DURING INSTALLATION. IF NOT ,YOU CAN EITHER USE HOLLOW WALL ANCHORS OR CUT A
LONGER LENGTH OF SCRAP MATERIAL FOR THE WALL CLEAT.

REMOVE THE UPPER CROSS SUPPORT MEMBER FROM THE LEG ASSEMBLY.

SET YOUR TABLE SAW BLADE TO A 22.5° BEVEL AND RIP BOTH THE UPPER CROSS SUPPORT
MEMBER AND THE WALL CLEAT TO THE SPECIFICATION LISTED ON THE FOLLOWING
ILLUSTRATION.

DETERMINE THE WALL LOCATION FOR THE CLEAT AND USE 3” LONG SCREWS TO ATTACH TO
THE WALL STUDS OR, USE HOLLOW ANCHORS IF THE STUDS ARE NOT IN THE RIGHT SPOT.

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ILLUSTRATION 6

SHOPDOG REFERENCE PICTURES

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES THAT YOU MAY FIND USEFUL DURING THE CONSTRUCTION
PROCESS.

SHOPDOG READY TO USE SIDE VIEW

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FRONT VIEW TENSIONING STRAP

LEG AND TOP SUPPORT DETAIL LEG NOTCH CLOSE UP

UPPER CROSS SUPPORT FRENCH CLEAT SHOPDOG FOLDED UP AND READY TO GO

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THANKS AGAIN FOR PURCHASING THESE PLANS. IF YOU

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO E-MAIL
US AT:
support@woodshopdude.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE FEEDBACK OR PICTURES OF

HOW YOU ARE USING YOUR SHOPDOGS E-MAIL US AT:
comments@woodshopdude.com

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All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Grant Banash

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 SHOPDOG
A CRAFTSMAN’S BEST FRIEND

Purchased by Silviu Caragea, caragea.silviu2012@gmail.com #17425115

 SHOPDOG
A CRAFTSMAN’S BEST FRIEND

Purchased by Silviu Caragea, caragea.silviu2012@gmail.com #17425115