> There are a few woodenware vendors selling supers with
> what I would call a "milled corner joint".  .

By this do you mean the rabbet joint? See
http://www.azwoodman.com/boxes/butt-joint.jpg
for a picture.  If so, I should mention that we have many, many boxes made
this way and they serve just as well, and as long, as the finger jointed
ones.  Moreover a dado is not required to make them, if you are only making
a few.  The rabbet can be made with two saw cuts, one with the board flat
and the other with it on end.

>These are fine,
> and they minimize exposed end-grain but require stock
> that is absolutely planar for the scheme to work

That means pick boards that are flat when buying, and keept hem wrapped in
plastic until cut and assembled, taking them out only when ready to cut, and
covering them again unless they are to be assembled immediately.  That
applies if you are in a dry area or in a shop that is heated.  If you are in
a damp, rainy climate, drying is not such a worry.

When cutting, remember that wet wood can shrink as much as 1/2" in width
across a 9-1/2" board.  Check the archives at
http://www.internode.net/honeybee/BEE-L/.  We have covered this topic in
some depth (somewhere).

> One more hint - stay away from Lowes, Home Depot, and the
> other national chains when buying lumber.

YMMV.  We find in Calgary that Home Depot sometimes has really good wood,
especially when it cannot be exported to the US due to the softwood lumber
dispute.

allen
http://www.internode.net/honeybee/diary/