How would you do this joinery?

you could go for tenon and mortise, but on this particular project tongue and groove would be more easy and more than solid enough i believe. if the rails were less wide then it may be advised to go for tenons.

That is true…with the rail width I’d probably need a double tenon.

With the rails being 5” wide I would be more concerned with wood movement causing splitting with a double mortise and tenon joint. Where as with the tongue and groove method you are able to glue the rails to allow for wood movement to avoid splitting.

-- I don't make mistakes, I have great learning lessons, Greg

Greg…you bring up another good point with the glue. Should I apply glue to the entire length of the stub tenon in the groove or just part it to allow for movement? Remember, I’m new. Ha!

I would glue in the tongue about a 1/3 of the width or so of the stub tenon (tongue) to allow for movement.

-- I don't make mistakes, I have great learning lessons, Greg

Why don’t you ask gizmodyne?

-- Happy woodworking! http://www.blakeweber.us

I sent gizmodyne a message a few months back about some of the joinery, I suppose that wouldn’t be a bad idea this time either. Funny how I didn’t even think to do it again. I’ll send him a note.