Alan Schwabacher
Member
- Messages
- 103
- Location
- Shorewood, WI
I've had my eye on that bench for a while. The article is worth reading carefully, since there are details that are not apparent at first glance, but that make sense. The construction with simple butt joints and counterbored lag screws into endgrain, if done as described, will not loosen up as much as would most screw joints. If not overtightened, a screw into endgrain has half the pullout strength of one into sidegrain, and expansion and contraction will stress it less.
I would be very careful if I wanted to replace the very wide stretcher with a cabinet. The rigidity of the bench depends on that stretcher, which effectively serves as diagonal braces, alleviating the need for bulky legs and joints. If replaced by a cabinet you could lose a lot.
I would be very careful if I wanted to replace the very wide stretcher with a cabinet. The rigidity of the bench depends on that stretcher, which effectively serves as diagonal braces, alleviating the need for bulky legs and joints. If replaced by a cabinet you could lose a lot.