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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

All four of the screen doors at Heartwood are made with half-lap  
joints. I used that joinery design because it is far easier to make  
compared to mortise and tenon and obviously stronger than doweling.  
Call me lazy.

So I was happy for hearing my brother tell me that an article in one  
of his woodworking magazines did a research test on the various  
joining methods, including the above and biscuits, and found that the  
half-lap joint is the strongest.

If anyone has ever tried to take apart a half-lap joint, they will nod  
in agreement. Modern glue well applied results in a joint that if  
wrenched apart will rip wood from opposing sides.

I have been happy with the screen doors, two of cedar, one pine, one  
cherry. Door joints take a helluva beating; they are stressed each  
time a door is slammed and no doors are more regularly slammed than  
screen doors. I know I am not alone in enjoying the sound. If the door  
maker is clever and fine tunes, there will be a double slap, first  
loud then gentle, when a screen door let go at it widest opening.  
Whee! Here I come, world!

The only criticism one might make of the half-lap is that end grain is  
exposed. Beauty being in the eye of the admirer, aesthetics is a  
personal judgement. As for me, I find exposed construction to be  
beautiful.

Gene GeRue
www.RURALIZE.com