A joint for the seat side rail and rear leg or other furniture joint is disclosed. A bolt extends through a first bore forwardly through the leg and then through a second bore into the rear end of the rail. A tapped bar is inserted transversely into a pocket in the rail to receive the forward end of the bolt. The bolt is pre-stressed to put the joint under compression throughout. Preferably the bolt is bonded by adhesive to the first and second bores and the bar into its socket to form a composite of the leg, rail, bolt and bar. The joint is made superior to conventional dowelled joints by inserting in aligned bores extending into the rail and leg in opposite directions from the joint a metallic rod which is twice as long as the width of the rail and cementing the rod within the bores. The rod and/or bore may be roughened to promote adherence of the cement to the rod and wooden members.