Alternate way to attach breadboard ends? Lag bolts?

[David Eisan]

Hello everyone,

We all know the traditional way to attach breadboard ends. Peg and glue middle 4'ish inches, peg ends in elongated holes, no glue.

I was thinking about different ways to attach breadboard ends the other night and I came up with this,

How about with Lag bolts?

No, really, lag bolts...

My top is 40" wide and 1-11/16 thick solid ash. The breadboard end is 6" wide. The tongue on the table and groove on the breadboard end is 5/8" by about 1-1/2"

I was going to drill three 3/4"x4" counterbores in the edge of the breadboard end that would be the end of the table, one in the centre and one 8" in from either end. The center bore would get a very slight clearance hole drilled clear through, same with the outer ones, but they would be elongated left to right. All three holes would have the correct hole drilled through into the breadboard tongue for a 1/4" lag bolt.

I glue the middle 6" of the breadboard end and screw on the breadboard end with a washer under the end of a 1/4"x3" lag bolt. I screw on each outer end, but use no glue. I plug the three holes with 3/4" plugs.

This should keep the end tight and allow for movement.

What do you think?

I hope I was able to get across my idea...

Thanks,

David.

[Alan Turner]

That is certainly a nontraditional approach. If you decide to go with it, I would shorten the glued area to 3" - 4". I also might use a machine screw, and tap the end grain of the table top instead of using lags.

I don't know your MC delta in Ontario, but in Philadelphia I usually use a range of 6% to 13%, and if your delta is similar, then you are going to have movement, winter to summer, of .81", or over 3/8" on each side of the centerline, assuming your ash is plain sawn. http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/shrinkulator.htm

Let us know how it works.

[Peter Mc Mahon]

Certainly sounds do-able David. Are you just looking for an alternative or do you not want to go the traditional route? I think maybe Frank Klaus builds work benches the lag bolt way. Peter

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

Many years ago (30) I built a butcher block living room set. The coffee table was 1.5" maple. the legs were really just more butcher block I attached them via to the table by the end grain. I used bolts to make it secure. The table is still solid as a rock. I could leap up in the air and land hard both feet slamming the table. I still can or I would if I could still leap that high.

Bolts are great things.