First project should I assemble or stain and seal and then assemble

[George Stoltz]

Hello,

New to the site and just got my Kreg jig today.  I am making a combination book case/wine storage unit.  Am using veneer plywood.  

Should I assemble the unit before finishing and then take it apart to stain and seal and then put back together.

The staining and sealing steps would be easier and look better if I could do each piece flat.  What do you gals and guys do?

[Ken Darga]

I've done it both ways.

For most projects it's better to seal, stain and finish after the object is assembled.

Finish the pieces ''before'' assembly , if they're items that will be bolted in-place,

such as stained piece affixed to a painted object., or visa-versa.

[David Dean]

Well  George Stoltz I build drasser's and I have a problom with my ply running and been thanking about that too. I pre stain some parts be fore I put them togather but it's a idel.

[Ken Darga]

I use ''sanding sealer'' before applying stain, so as to get a more even finish blend.

[James P. Cottingham]

IMHO, it may depend on what you are making. Chairs, for example, may not matter but for furniture that has a panel, I would stain, seal, assemble, then finish. That way, as the wood moves, I don't see unstained wood in any gaps.

[George Stoltz]

I use sanding sealer,too.  I have become accomplished at mixing and matching stains.  It's just the cutting of wood and building where I am a novice. 

[Jay Boutwell]

My practice is to never satin and seal anything that is part of a frame or main structure of a project.  My reasoning is that stain and sealer fill up the wood grains and somewhat hinders the penetration of any glue.  One exception to this is on cabinet doors where it stain the edges that go into the groove as the panel should free float with in the door frame and sometimes will show bare wood should the panel move too much.  Although I also use space balls and panel alinement strips in the grooves to control movement and keep the paned centered in the door frame, there is occassions when the panel will move enough that it could show bare wood on the panel edges. i never assemble something and then take it apart to finish it and then reassemble it as you are doing twice the amount of work and again any edges to be glued will suffer from lack of good glue penetration. 

[Rick]

Then you have tackled the most difficult part first.  ;-)

George Stoltz said:

I use sanding sealer,too.  I have become accomplished at mixing and matching stains.  It's just the cutting of wood and building where I am a novice. 

[Shawn Eastham]

I have learned the hard way, trying to finish After. If you finish before its together you"ll have better angles and access to your project. If you finish after its together, watch out for your glue squeeze out. Glue will seal the wood very quick. And you'll see blotches were you either smeared the glue. or just didn't get it soon enough. Good Luck!

[George Stoltz]

Shawn,

I agree even though this is my first project.  I am doing a "dry assembly" without stain.  then I will take it apart and finish the wood.  I can do a vastly better job on stain and poly when the pieces are separate.

Thank you for your input.