Ask Mitch - Gun Cabinet Door Joint

Half Lap Joints for a Gun Cabinet Door?

I like the way you do the half lap joint..I am wanting to build a gun cabinet.the frame of the door is 1" inch thick by 4" inches wide and 72" inches long.the bottom and top pieces are 1" inch thick and 4" inches wide and 36" inches long. Do you think if I do the half lap on this and then drill 4 holes near the corners of the half lap then use walnut dowels it would be strong enough. I don't have a mortise and tenon jig. Or do you think I should do a loose tenon then do the 4 hole dowel thing

Larry

With 16"sq of long grain glue surface area at each corner, I'm sure it will be strong enough with a pva adhesive. The dowels would look nice, but shouldn't be necessary. 4" is about the widest I would make the joint because of the cross grain nature, and the possible movement across the width - if the cabinet was likely to experience a wide range of humidity then I might suggest mitred corners with splines (or loose tenons).
Of course you might like the added challenge of a bridle joint - I haven't done a machine cut version on video yet, but the hand cut video will explain the joint.
Mitch

Recommended watching: Half Lap - Easy & Accurate Table Saw Method

Hand Cut Bridle Joint

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