Replies

1. 
   blewcrowe | Apr 24, 2007 06:46pm | #1

   That's a bugger of a joint and I've been there. I've done it with dowels. I've done it with mortising in a slot that the corners slide into. Thirdly, I've simply attached some small tabs that the shelf just rests on. This last solution works easiest, pending the legs are rigidly affixed and will not splay, but if you feel you need attachment, you can then pin-nail up through the bottom and into the legs at an angle. Do you follow me?

2. 
   joinerswork | Apr 24, 2007 09:32pm | #2

   liamo,

   One way I've done this join is to cut a gain,or dado diagonally across the inside corner of each leg,  then clip the corners of the shelf to match, and slip the shelf into the dadoes, fixing it in place with a small nail or screw from below, and a dab of glue.  The dado is easily laid out and cut by hand, or by making a cradle (two vee blocks attached to a plywood scrap to support the bulk of the leg), used with the miter guage (crosscut fence), that presents the inside corner of the leg to the tablesaw's blade. Just don't nip into the legs so deeply as to weaken them.

   Easier, but not as workmanlike, is to simply notch the shelf around the leg, and place a screw in a pocket on the underside of the notch.  Screw right into the corner of the leg.  Probably as strong as the first method I suggested, as shearing the screw off with the weight of a stack of books isn't likely to happen.

   Regards,

   Ray

3. 
   art | Apr 25, 2007 02:50am | #3

   Another option is to install a small stretcher and dado the shelf into the stretcher.  Art