Half Lap Joinery On Siderails

A half-lap joint is a strong woodworking joint created by removing half the thickness of two boards at their intersection, so they mate perfectly to create a flat, flush surface. This joint is often used for bed side rails because it provides a large, face-grain gluing surface that is stronger than a simple butt joint.
For the bed rails, you will use a corner half-lap joint, where the two boards join at their ends, and the mating surfaces are recessed by half their thickness. Fasteners like screws can be used in addition to wood glue for extra strength.