It might be urged—and justly, too—that it is contrary to the principles of good construction to join members so that end grain and side grain are together. In this case, however, the top, being but 14 inches wide, is not inclined to shrink or swell enough under ordinary conditions— provided the wood used has been thoroughly seasoned—to cause any trouble.
The top proper is made up of eight pieces inches wide, jointed and glued. These are surfaced after the glue has set so that the top is inches thick, the bolsters having been tongued and fastened into the grooves cut in the ends of the top. The board which forms the bottom of the tool recess is rabbeted and set into grooves in the back and top proper.
To make it possible easily to brush this recess clean, two beveled pieces are fitted and nailed at either end of the recess.
The location of the holes in the is a matter for the ingenuity of the worker. As shown in the drawing, there is a place for back saw, two chisels, hammer, and mallet. Other openings are to be cut.
The top is to be fastened to the framework, as is the bench to be fastened to the floor, by lag or coach screws. Four screws are sufficient for
all.
The drawer sides are to be made of stock and thoroughly put together. The ledge or tongue-and-groove joint is to be used at the corners, and the bottom of stuff is to be "let into" the sides and back.
Plate 28 shows a bench that has the maxi mum drawer space. The dimensions are: Height, 32 inches; length of top, 60 inches; width, 24 inches; thickness of top, inches. The tool recess is 7 inches wide. The legs are 3 inches square, and the rails inches wide. The general tool-drawer is inches high, 38 inches long, and 20 inches deep. The smaller drawers are 5 inches high, inches long, and 20 inches deep. The paneled tool-rack is 34 inches long and 7 inches high.
The paneling is to be made of clear, kiln dried birch; the frame of clear, kiln-dried hard maple.
These benches should be finished with a liquid filler rubbed down, and followed with sev eral coats of shellac. The tops of hard maple benches are frequently finished by thoroughly rubbing in several coats of boiled linseed oil.