The base of a dining table I'm making has a complicated intersection and I'm not sure what the best way to join the 3 or 4 pieces is. Here's a pic of the model:
Table_Model.jpg
The table and its components are made of 8/4 mahogany. The legs and the feet are glued up to make them a little beefier (about 3 1/2" thick).
I'd like the long bottom rail to be a solid piece. The legs join in from the top with double tenons, similar to this:
Table_Leg.JPG
I don't have a plan for the short legs that come in on the sides, but am leaning to double loose tenons. I'm concerned that the intersection of the tenons would weaken the overall joint. I would glue the side legs in. Then make the mortises for the legs. In order for the tenons not to interfere, the sides would only have room for a single tenon (which seems really wimpy).
Table_Side_Leg.jpg
I could double them up, but they would eventually get chopped up by the tenons of the legs.
Table_Side_Leg2.jpg
Table_Leg_Tenons.JPG
I also toyed with vertical tenons in the sides, but that seemed to break up the grain flowing through the bottom rail.
How would you join these pieces? Thanks in advance for any comments.
ryan