Reply by crank49

Sorry, I didn’t read the link. The picture just looked like oak, and oak is often used in Mission style pieces so I just went with that. If its intended for pine you would probably be ok with cedar, IMHO.

A screw through a lap joint is not a bad thing; and as others have also said, it can be hidden.
A screw into endgrain, “into the end of the end rails” is not so good, but that may not matter with a 4” screw. I do a similar joint on my workbenchs and some machine stands for my shop. I put a maple dowell through the rail, perpendicular to the screw and let the screw bit into that. That is extremely strong.

-- Michael :-{| Diapers and politicians both need to be changed often; and for the same reason.