[LoyalAppleGeek]

Hello everyone!

I have another question concerning the Western Red Cedar Garden Swing I'm working on. The backrest is crowned with an arc and sunbeam. The sun and rays will be inset 3/16" from the face of the arc like the backrest slats below it. The arc is already attached permanently (not the best order) so I can't remove it to secure the rays to it or get better access to the parts. I can't glue the end grain, so do you have any tips for fasteners that would work well here? Pocket screws aren't really an option, as the rear will be very visible. The entire bench is done with dowel joints, but that's not possible now since I can't sandwich the pieces in between the arc and top rail.

Thanks!

 

[LoyalAppleGeek]

I was thinking of drilling at an angle and epoxying nail shafts in, basically making metal dowel joints but with smaller diameter fasteners

 

[bondogaposis]

Pocket screws.

 

[LoyalAppleGeek]

Actually, would just glue be acceptable if it was epoxy or polyurethane glue rather than PVA?

 

[000]

Use a spline bit (wing slot cutter) and cut a groove in the rails and all of the ends of the sun and rays. Put in a spline made out of the same material. Attach all the pieces then cut out any parts of the spline that show.
Glue the heck out of everything.

 

[LoyalAppleGeek]

That's a good idea, I could come at it from the side that way since I can't get a drill in there. I don't have a spline bit though… is there an alternative method of making those grooves?

 

[Loren]

Biscuits for the tops of the rays. Make the
sun a 3-layer sandwich and cut tenons in
the smaller ends of the rays. Glue the biscuit
ends first then assemble the sun around the
tenoned ends.

 

[LoyalAppleGeek]

Biscuits for the tops of the rays. Make the
sun a 3-layer sandwich and cut tenons in
the smaller ends of the rays. Glue the biscuit
ends first then assemble the sun around the
tenoned ends.

- Loren

Bingo! That'll be perfect! Thank you so much!