I think it was Siemsen's bench that persuaded me too. The LV design had 
the two slabs placed further apart, like a dust well. I didn't want 
that. I've used the centre gap for lateral planing support a few times, 
and it's quite convenient. My slabs are joined by on-parallel 
cross-bearers screwed below, but the top is held on dowel pins entirely 
by gravity. With the Record vise attached, it's wicked heavy. By my 
calculations, the beefier Doug Fir base came in just slightly heavier 
than the maple that the LV plans called for, and I think it looks more 
substantial. I've seen no loosening of the butt joints, nor any racking 
whatsoever.

Don

On 2021-08-01 3:32 p.m., Adam R. Maxwell via groups.io wrote:
> Split top is another thing I have no regrets on, and I think I stole that idea
from Mike Siemsen. I've had to tighten the deck screws on the base up a few
times, but it's still solid, even with no glued joints.


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