How can I salvage this bench top?

[Wade Lippman]

I built this bench 2 years ago.
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It serves it purpose well and looks good, but I would rather have an
enclosed front top and access it by raising the seat then use the basket.

The seat is the prettiest piece of canary wood, and I would like to reuse it
in the new chest. The rest of the wood can be sacrificed.
IIRC it is attached to the sides by 2 or 3 dominoes.

The weird disjoint about a quarter way down from the top is just the
camera's way of telling me it is worn out.

Any clever ideas?

[Mike Cutler]

Wade

It looks as simple as running a circular saws across the sides, using the bottom of the top,as guide. Once done I would use a flush cut saw to cut final 1/2" or so off, and then run it through a sander.

[John Kananis]

I'd keep it simple and just use a hand saw - cut the side panel right where it meets the top and then use your favorite method of flushing the cut, ie. hand plane, sand, power sand, etc.