Just mark the joint out carefully on the three sides of the post, score
all
of the lines with a straightedge and box knife, then use a skillsaw to cut
the square shoulder. A few minutes with a sharp chisel and a mallet will
get the rest of the waste down to the lines, and you're done. It's not
rocket surgery.


Yup.

Make the housing a consistent depth rather than tapered, and just cut the
top edge at a 45-degree angle. This way it's easy to cut out the bulk of the
material with a series of through crosscuts with a circular saw. Cleanup
with a chisle becomes much easier

The top edge does not have to be tight as braces are designed to work just
under compression. The side and bottom faces of the housing bear all the
force. Typically a gap will develop there anyway with the inevitable
lumber-yard wood shrinkage.


-Steve



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