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The slanted 72 inch boards are not screwed into anything, but I would like to add them to keep the bench strong side to side.

I don't want to screw into the back bottom joint as it already has 4 screws in it and any more I feel would cause cracking.

Should I move the 72 in a bit and just get extra long screws to screw though it at an angle and then into the bottom board?

How might I do this without screwing into the same areas too much? enter image description here enter image description here enter image description here enter image description here

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  • The type of instability you're asking about is called "racking". – SaSSafraS1232 Oct 24 '19 at 20:39
  • You are on the right track by adding diagonal bracing. If possible I would extend it further, preferably from one lower corner to the opposite upper corner. If you do this one brace should be sufficient, no need for two in an "X". – SaSSafraS1232 Oct 24 '19 at 20:52
  • Another option would be two steel cables with turnbuckles crossing from corner to corner in an "X". Since these only provide support in tension you would need two. – SaSSafraS1232 Oct 24 '19 at 20:53
  • @SaSSafraS1232 What do you mean extend it further? You mean the bottom board? – user312484 Oct 24 '19 at 21:00
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    Move the board up a few inches from the bottom, predrill holes to prevent splitting, or add in a block for all the pieces to connect to. – SaSSafraS1232 Oct 24 '19 at 21:29

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