Three feet deep was my rule for clay until I tried widening the holes with gravel. Now I skip the extra digging and just pack in the stone, holds way better.

Totally agree with skipping the epoxy. It does give things a sort of fake, plasticky look that never feels right on wood. Butterfly joints take more time but they become part of the piece's story, you know? That crack held together with wood just has a soul that filler never will. The extra effort is what makes a hobby project feel truly yours...

My buddy Steve tried to fix a Garmin transponder in his garage last year. Spent 300 bucks on parts before finding out his fix was useless without a certified shop's stamp. Now it's just a fancy paperweight on his bench.