Joinery for thin table slats

I can think of only one way that wouldn’t make me so nuts that it would wind up in a chipper…

I’m thinking drill and pin it from underneath with dowels…

Its a bit tedious but that’s how I think I would try/do it.

Your suggested way to do it will work fine with only glue. I would do a tenon on each slat (ie rabbet them, as you suggest, but on both sides). Glue in the spacers too. And use Titebond III just to be sure it’s waterproof enough for outside.

-- Jeremy, in the Acadian forests

I would never build a table of slats for outdoor use. There are just too many joints that after being exposed to the weather, will do one of the following: joints will swell and crack, individual slats will warp and/or twist, or both. Sure, it’s looks great, but the weather will wreak havoc in no time. I have built tables using that kind of construction and it did not last long in an outdoor environment. Now if I were going to build a table for outdoor use, it would be made of teak which stands up well in the weather.