"RayV" wrote

The shelf is
attached to the legs using pocket screws.

Is there a better way to secure that joint?

IMO, "notch" the legs across the diagonal to hold the beveled shelf corners
.... then use pocket screws to hold the shelf in the notches.

If I do use pocket screws how much material do I need to leave on the
Maple legs?
Any other ideas or design tweak suggestions?

I am planning on having the legs taper from 1 1/2" to 7/8" over 22"
leaving 3" untapered for the aprons.

With that taper, and with the shelf at 6" above the floor (the picture seems
to have the shelf a bit lower), and using a 1/4" notch in the leg, you will
have approximately 1 1/4" of diagonal cross section "meat" to screw into
before going through the opposite corner of the leg.

You will want to select your notch/screw size carefully with that diagonal
cross section in mind.

The old pieces that I've seen built like this did not use very long "pocket
hole" screws ... then again, I've only seen a few.

FWIW ....

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www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 9/30/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)