Green oak fixings

[alex_w]

I am going to make a very basic beam bench out of a green oak plank 2" something like this with uprights and a flat top.

 

Will it be stable bolted together with countersunk coachbolts, or will the legs need a block underneath to brace them? or a right angle bracket. My carpentry is not up to fancy joints!

 

Many thanks

 

Alex

 

p.s these are not mine, I just used the pic to explain what I intend to make

[Charlieh]

saw this at weird and wonderful wood at the weekend, nice and simple really and look great, some of the fittings people were using looked pretty industrial and didnt suit the timber really, but i really liked this simple dovetail

[tommer9]

square mortice andTenons would be the best- a square peg cut in the top of the uprights going right through a corresponding square socket in the top plank, fitting very tightly, with wooden wedge driven in afterwards too.

[Cracker]

I am going to make a very basic beam bench out of a green oak plank 2" something like this with uprights and a flat top.

 

Will it be stable bolted together with countersunk coachbolts, or will the legs need a block underneath to brace them? or a right angle bracket. My carpentry is not up to fancy joints!

 

Many thanks

 

Alex

 

p.s these are not mine, I just used the pic to explain what I intend to make

hmm...in my experience of making green oak benches, using any kind of steel fixing is not ideal. If you bolt together as you described the wood will shrink and there will be a gap making the legs wobble within a few weeks indoors. Either season the oak first or do a joint like Tommer said.

[alex_w]

Thank you, I'll have a go at mortice and tenon I think

[tommer9]

If you do need to use metal, use expensive stainless steel fixings.