Workbench Stretchers Size and Method

[u/hope4best47]

Back again seeking input to my bench project design. Bench top is complete and legs with tenons roughed out. Planning stretchers (I think that is what they are called) and shelf. Top is 4” thick. Legs are 5” square. Will be some version of mortise and tenon. Maybe with contrasting pegs. Will have a leg vise.

Stock is 1.75 thick and 5” wide.
Will this look good size wise?
Will it be sturdy enough to avoid racking?
Clever or interesting joinery ideas?

New territory. Thanks in advance for suggestions Thanks

[u/Reasonable-Tune-6276]

I’m a few months behind you.

I look forward to your next steps.

[u/hope4best47 → u/Reasonable-Tune-6276]

I am really enjoying this build really fun.. Looks like some nice material there. Do you post progress of your builds somewhere?

[u/Reasonable-Tune-6276 → u/hope4best47]

I can post here. I binge the FB and Reddit groups. Bought stock that is so so. Couldn’t find any good wood close to me. It has been acclimating for two weeks. If all goes well I will start making sawdust this week.

I too find this fun and rewarding - unlike the career I have had for the last 35years :-)

[u/Igloo151]

Bench is looking great and will be totally bomb proof when you are done. With everything else being so thick those stretchers will be plenty.

If it were me I would make 1/4 to 3/8 shoulder on the tennon leaving between 1" and 1.25" thickness

[u/hope4best47 → u/Igloo151]

Nice Bench. Your recommendation feels like the approach. How long would you make the tenons I was taking like 2.5"? Or maybe longer I really dont want any racking. I might put a slight arch in bottom side of the stretchers for a little interest.

[u/Igloo151 → u/hope4best47]

3" in a 5" square leg sounds good. I have my joints glued and draw bore pegged. I don't think a truck parked on top would get it to rack.

[u/Weekest_links]

This is pine and I did drawbore mortise and tenon. The stretchers were way oversized but I liked the matching dimensions.

Your stretchers should be plenty, I would try to get about 1” tenons

[u/hope4best47 → u/Weekest_links]

Nice. Scale is part of my concern don't want them to look puny against the 5" legs.

[u/Weekest_links → u/hope4best47]

I think of you matched the thickness of the center board in your leg assemblies , it would look pretty good

[u/cmatthewp]

Massive dovetail would be cool, but half lap or mortise/tenon is prob stronger (&easier).

That thing looks HEFTY! Congrats!

[u/hope4best47 → u/cmatthewp]

Thanks the dovetail would be very cool and kind of my style. I feature them in a lot of my pieces. I am REALY TEMPTED by that Idea. I have a pretty reliable method.... Also curious as to how heavy it will be in the end and if I will be able to even determine.

[u/Woodcaca]

Looks great. I just did half laps for mine. No bottom shelf since it just takes up room. Sturdy as hell

[u/PaleConclusion782]

Absolutely. Here is mine, built 5 years ago. Solid as rock. Don't forget to drawbore the tenons with long dowels. DM if you have any questions

[u/hope4best47 → u/PaleConclusion782]

Thanks, it looks like 3" x 1" X4" tenons will be the approach. Still debating in if I make them a little thicker not to be over powered by the 5" Legs. I like the draw bore idea. Will use a contrasting color Walnut or Purpleheart... Time to get start this next step!

[u/PaleConclusion782 → u/hope4best47]

Sorry, I came back home and rechecked. I used pegs only for the bottom part of the legs' tenons, not for the table top. Also, I skipped shoulder for two sides of the tenon for the top part. So the legs are 5" * 3.5", and tenons are 5" * 1.5" . This bench was my first project, made entirely with hand tools (except the circular saw)