Breakfast nook bench(Advice needed)

[juststartingout]

Hi all,

I'm putting together a breakfast nook bench for my kitchen.  The bench will open on the top for storage under the seating area. The project will be made from mostly 3/4" A1 Maple plywood, the top will be bread boarded with poplar and the whole project painted(likely white).

My question is about joinery.  I'm debating on whether I need rabbets on the end pieces to set the carcass into with glue or should I just use butt joints with festool dominoes?  I can use pocket screws too, but I'd like to use something a bit stronger as I'm imagining this piece taking lots of abuse from kids and folks climbing in and out of the seat.

I know I'm likely over thinking this but I want to make sure it comes out nice and any experience out

Thanks,

Oscar

 

[tjbnwi]

Dominos, glue and pocket screws. The pocket screws are more a clamp in this situation.

Tom

 

[juststartingout]

Thanks TJBNL.  I dind't think of using both.  Dunno why not.  Great suggestion.

 

[johnesher]

I just finished mine, except for the drawers, electric outlet and toe kick trim. I used 3/4" MDF for the top since I knew we were going to paint. Put a round over on the exposed edges and I think it'll be durable enough.

 

[TheTrooper]

Looks great John. What angle is the seat back?

 

[johnesher]

Looks great John. What angle is the seat back?

Thanks. 5 degrees on the back as well as the seat.

 

[Hud]

I made a large bench for a bay window in two parts that had display area on the ends and storage under the seating area.  I used 18mm Baltic birch edged with poplar for all visible parts and high density particle board for all that were not visible.  It was supposed to be painted but when customer saw it she decided to varnish.  I tis fastened with a combination of screws, pocket holes with screws, dowels and biscuits to minimize drift while setting the screws.  I did this before my introduction to Festool, the track saw would have saved me a lot of time.