How to join 2 pieces of timber

[Carlnorwich]

I am building a pergola. The 2 main beams are 150 x 50 and the cross beams (15 of them) are also 150 x 50.

Rather than just sit the cross beams on top of the 2 main beams I thought I'd cut a peice out of the cross beams (say 50mm deep) and then slide them onto the main beams, this will look better but add stability I'm sure.

How do I cut these peices out?

I guess; use a jigsaw to make 2 cuts into each of the 15 cross beams - 50mm in depth and 50mm apart. Then get a wide chisel and knock the peice out?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[ColJack]

that's the way I did mom's.. well ok i used a circular saw rather than a jigsaw, but the principles the same..