: Slightly different question, but Tom Yost suggests screws as one way to hold
: the frame together while the epoxy cures. Then he says to remove the
: screws and either dowel or lash the joints. Why not use stainless screws
: and leave them in place? Less flex and/ or holding power than glued
: dowels?
: Thanks,
: Will

On these very small stringers the head shape will tend to split the wood no matter if the hole is properly cut or not. I use deck screws as temporary clamps while I'm assembling the frame and use small (1"x1") pieces of HMW poly (cut from an old kitchen cutting board) as a clamping blocks so the head doesn't tend to split the wood. The poly won't bond (not well anyway) to the epoxy and is easily removed after the epoxy has set up.

Later on I just fill the hole after the screws are removed with epoxy. I've had no problems with the epoxied only joints failing, course I use a filet all around the joint to expand the joint's glue area.

Bill H.