The two end units attach to the cross members at the top and bottom both front and
back using countersunk bolts through the ends which are captured by “nuts” in the cross
members to complete the overall base frame. The back of the bench is also a plywood
panel that sits in dados in the ends and cross members. The “nuts” were made from ¼”
steel using taps appropriate to the bolts. They are not unlike those that Lie-Nielsen
uses to hold their benches together (though theirs are more nicely milled. You can
probably find closeup photos of them on their website, Lie-Nielsen.com) The nuts sit in
D-shaped holes made by drilling the hole and chiseling one end flat for the nut. The
rectangular shape of the nuts is necessary since they will be inaccessible during the
final tightening and must remain in place without rotating (like a regular nut which would
require a wrench to keep it from moving.) The photo below also shows this arrangement
at the other end of the bench as well as a tenon that fits into the top of the bench and
holds the top firm against pressure from the front vise. The front vise is mounted in a
front piece that is attached to the corner post. (Read further for more information on the
vises.)
BENCH TOP
The top is 4″ thick for the first 4” (for the bench dogs), changes to ~3″ thick for about a
foot back, and finally to 2″ thick at the back more or less like the bench top in the Landis
drawings (see the end photo to get some sense of how the top thickness changes.
Once again, note that the “core” is ash with 3/4” cherry glued to the top surface.
My top is made in two sections (front and back as shown below) that are attached by
bolts in slots (think like pocket screws except using bolts) under the top and aligned by
a tongue and groove joint. I intended to make the top one piece, but found that it was
going to be too heavy to manage. The top is attached from the frame from below with
some lag bolts in elongated holes to allow for movement at the back. The “steps” at the
back support the top as it becomes less thick. As in Landis’ plans, “caps” are lag-bolted
to the ends of the top to provide a more finished appearance. One is shown sitting on
the bench top.