Update: a finisher in Grand Rapids pointed at my drawer fronts and asked why I was sanding them after assembly

Felix Dixon · 2026-10-17T09:10:03.017643+00:00

So I used to sand every drawer front after I glued and nailed the box together. Felt normal, that's how I was taught back in 2011. Last week a finisher I do work for took one look at a stack of fronts on my bench in Grand Rapids and asked why I was sanding after assembly instead of before. He pointed out that the joint edges get rounded over and the front never sits flush anymore. I didn't want to hear it, but he was correct. Now I sand and prefinish the front completely flat, then assemble. My gaps look cleaner and I'm not chasing scratches around a corner. Anyone else get this from their finisher, or am I the last one doing it backwards?

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Update: a finisher in Grand Rapids pointed at my drawer fronts and asked why I was sanding them after assembly | Cabinetmakers - The Community Guide