out if you don't use glue, but, then how would you hold a joint together? One way is to use a mortise and tenon and then pin the joint. This is really old school, for like when you searched the ashes of a burned down building for nail recovery. No nails but just ashes cause the pins burned also.
http://www.craftsmanspace.com/knowledge ... oring.htmlTwo notes: One, the last paragraph of the article cautions that the method uses up the strength of the joint and is not recommended. Two, the article is really basic in its information and the illustrations are very straightforward in all the click throughs on the left of the page. Nonetheless, you might find a new insight from the text.