Joining question...

[Phil Winn]

I am building a Trestle/Tressel table out of Curly Red Maple, the "leg" to "foot" and "leg" to "table-top support"(don't know the correct name)" are mortised and tenoned together....for the horizontal "Beam" support---how do I attach this to the legs?
1. Mortise and Tenon?
2. Dowels?
3. Screws?
4. Or ????
Thanks, I will post a picture when I am finished with the project!
Phil

[Mark Singer]

Typically the frame is M&T joinery. I can't quite visualize the design, however once the frame is complete and the top made use figure eight fastners or a elongated screw slot and washer to allow the top to expand across the grain....if it is solid wood , it should be allowed to expand and contract. There are other techniques....an un-glued M&T from stretcher to apron...etc.

[Steve Schoene]

These are usually M&T joints, and quite a few are through tenons wedged in place so that it could be dissassembled for transport, or to fit through doors.

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

neither dowels nor screws will give you the surface area for a good glue joint an M&T will when done right.

Screws can be quite strong but are best as resisting shear loads more than pull out. Same for dowels.

An M&T is good against shear as well as torsion and pull out.