I'm making a guillotine out of 4x4 spruce. It's base is 8x4. The 2 uprights are 10' high and have 2 horizontal braces/spacers 13" from the ground and about 8" from the top. I'm using all half-lap joints (I think that's what they're called) and will connect them with 3/8" carriage bolts. So far all angles have been 90 degrees, but I want to put in 45 degree supports where the base meets the uprights, and also where the horizontal spacers meet the uprights. I had planned on a butt-joint (not sure if you still call it that if it's 45 degrees), with 3/8" threaded rod to connect it, but my concern is that this will have some flex and sort of slip and slide as I'm trying to drill through it. I was wondering if there's a better way to keep these supports from moving. I thought of routing out a notch in the upright and base to accept the support, but I'm concerned it might be too difficult getting the angles right. My woodworking skills are a little limited. I have a mitre saw, skil saw (which I've been using to cut and "route" the lap joints), $99 table saw (so pushing 10' sections of
4x4 through it is out ;o) ), router, hand saws.TIA, Shawn