I am making a couple of Mission style barstools with 2 inch square legs – straight up and down – with stretchers and an apron, and a 1 3/4 inch seat: 12 inches square.
I’m debating with myself as to whether to attach the seat with mortise and tenon joints or use those z shaped table fasteners. It seems that the table fasteners would secure the the seat well enough – they work fine for tables and they would allow for any wood movement.
Usually I like to stick with strong, traditional joinery, but in this case I’m not sure there is any advantage. I keep wondering if I’m trying to take the easy way out by favoring the fasteners?
Or perhaps I am overlooking another option?
What do you think?
Replies
myoung,
Nothing wrong with drilling an angled hole in the top edge of each apron, and gouging out pockets in the apron (in!) side, where the drilled hole emerges, to accomodate the head of the screw. A 12" square seat won't be moving that much, to warrant extreme measures for movement. Just make the holes for the screws a little oversize. Tenons on the ends of the legs won't allow for movement at all, since the aprons between will prevent the legs moving.
Of course, if the seat is an upholstered frame, or upholstered piece of ply, movement isn't an issue anyway.
Ray
myoung,
Interestingly I just repaired a couple of old bar stools that I bought 30 years ago used for $2 and use in the shop. The tops were held on with four "L" type brackets. I thought it was a bit over the top until I realized these things are moved around by the seat...so maybe not so much over the top.
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