(*Brief Disclaimer: I like workbenches. I certainly wouldn't consider myself at the Schwarz level of affliction but I'm young(ish) yet; I've got time. I think workbenches are expressions in wood unto themselves. I recognize that not everybody shares this viewpoint. If you're sick of bench threads/questions or if you don't see the point in extra aesthetic details for what you consider to be 'just a tool', by all means feel free to pass this thread by*)
Fellow Creekers,
My Benchcrafted Split-Top Roubo is starting to take shape. I have the legs and stretchers done and ready to be glued and I'm working on the leg vise chop and parallel guide before the base goes together permanently.
As I'm nearing the time to start work on the top I'd like to describe what I'd like to do for the end of the top(s) opposite the wagon vise and get your feedback for the best manner in which to proceed. I'm constructing the top from a combination of ash and cherry. I really, really like the looks of the cherry slab Roubo in PW recently. I'm currently planning to keep the split-top as I believe it adds versatility to an already versatile design. For the half of the top that houses the wagon vise I'm planning to do the dog strip laminate and the end-cap in cherry, the rest in ash.
For the end of the top halves opposite the wagon vise I'd like to incorporate an end-cap (in the manner of a breadboard end) only without the vise hardware. This would allow me to have each top half with the center portion ash and a border of cherry.
My question pertains to attaching this second end-cap. My current plan is to use the same construction as the side that houses the wagon vise screw; namely a great big tenon on the end of the top laminate and a great big mortise on the inside face of the end-cap. Is this sensible from a wood movement perspective? Any other thoughts? Feedback is very much appreciated.
Thanks!
Charlie
Pictures are of one of the two leg sub-assemblies dry fit and the leg vise chop being taken down to final thickness. For reference the board next to the slab is for the parallel guide and is 3/4" thick.
IMG_20120518_203205.jpg
IMG_20120520_191830.jpg