overbuilt benches

[grizz441]

In all honesty I think the sides of the female would split out before the male side would shear off though. I say this only because that is where I have had problems before when assembling them. Most of the time my trouble came from the DT being too tight. If you look pretty close at the close up of the assembled end you can see there is where the material is lacking.

If that was the case than a little more bearing area for the male side would fix that.

[Dago]

Quality woodworking is a skill I don't have, wish I did.  Limited to one semester of woodshop in high school, did okay, but never had the equipment, space and time to get around to working at it.  Have been kicking around the idea of picking up a good table saw and router and seeing how bad I can screw up some wood.  Not at the top of my list but maybe a retirement thing some day.