Hmmm. I'd like to see that discussion. If I remember my levers 
correctly, putting the stretchers very low turns the legs into class 2 
levers, multiplying the effect of any lateral forces on the top, and 
tending to break the leg/stretcher joint. Stretchers near the middle of 
the leg seems better to me. Wide stretchers, allowing for long shoulders 
on a tenoned joint, for example.

FWIW
Don

On 2021-09-02 10:24 a.m., Brian Welch wrote:
> On Thu, Sep 2, 2021 at 11:54 AM Greg Isola wrote:
>
>> Hi John, and all:
>>
>> I'll add one more lower shelf option that has worked really well for me:
>>
>> Screw narrow battens to the inside faces of your long lower stretchers and
>> then fill in the shelf space with short boards with tongue and groove
>> joints between them. This has several advantages. First, it was an
>> opportunity to use my matching T&G woodies. Always fun. Second, no glue or
>> fasteners for the actual shelf boards, making it easy to pull one out to
>> sweep out the shelf area. (I never do this, but it would be easy if I did!)
>>
> I second this idea from Greg. My lower shelf is exactly as described,
> except that mine is made from maple T&G floor boards from my old 1886 house
> that were removed in a renovation.
>
> I remember a discussion from somewhere about the height of the bottom
> stretchers and how their placement affected the anti-racking power of the
> stretchers (lower is better, I believe). Thoughts?
>
> Brian
>
>
> 
>
>

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