bench wood movement

[John Piwaron]

I've glued up the two tops for my split top bench project and am now working on the end cap for the front top. Since the top, once it's all glued will essentially act as one big hunk of wood in terms of moisture, this should mean that gluing the end cap on is a no-no. The bench is a split top Roubo. How would you handle it's attachment?

[glenn bradley]

Think of it as a big breadboard end on a table top. Any of those methods will work; dowels in oversized holes, recessed screws used in a similar fashion, etc.

[John Piwaron]

Think of it as a big breadboard end on a table top. Any of those methods will work; dowels in oversized holes, recessed screws used in a similar fashion, etc.

Yeah.

I'm thinking of using no adhesive at all. There's big dovetails at the dog side. And a big tenon the end cap goes over. Depending on how well I make the M&T and the dovetails fit, I may leave it at that. I've got some of the big Benchcrafted cross dowels. Unfortunately they don't speak much to using them. My experience in other places with cross dowels is that they're pretty secure when assembled.

[Jamie Buxton]

So you have this big slab top. Why are you putting a breadboard end on it? Why not use it as it is?

[John Piwaron]

So you have this big slab top. Why are you putting a breadboard end on it? Why not use it as it is?

I *am* using the ends as they are. Except in on place. That place is where the wagon vise gets installed. The wagon vise needs that end cap.

This is the one I'm going to use. http://www.benchcrafted.com/TailVise.html

[Mel Fulks]

I put caps on mine because it is not kiln dried and moves a lot. Has shellac on end grain, two continuous loose splines
holding caps , three lag screws with washers go through oversize holes in caps and into bench.

[John Sanford]

It's a split top Roubo. Just go with the attachment method that Benchcrafted, the creator of the Split Top Roubo, recommends. Don't overthink it. If the method is unclear, just drop Jameel a note and ask him for clarification.

[Scott Vigder]

http://www.benchcrafted.com/TailVise.html[/URL]

"Built like a tank, drives like a coup" is one of the greatest tag lines ever!