all valid thoughts, for sure. I certainly did not perceive any smartbuttedness...
I have seen it done through the bed, and it WAS my first plan. although i would mill the bolts to be 1/32" below the surface so paint and shellac could be reapplied.
I plan to make the crack as invisible as possible...
I may decide to add support plates epoxied across the underside of the split, depends on the flex i feel when bolted and painted (yes, the paint helps)
My coworker who loves to play with the mill suggested bottom plates with at least 6 holes on each side with micro screws tapped only 1/2 way into the bed iron... crazy man....