Tried pre-finishing panels before final assembly on a kitchen job last month

I always did finish after assembly but a buddy convinced me to try pre-finishing the panels and it cut my sanding time by like half. The trick was labeling every piece as I went so I didn't mix up door panels. Has anyone else switched their sequence around and seen a difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

stella3071mo ago

Jaw dropped when I read "cut my sanding time by like half." That's wild. I've been finishing after assembly for years and I always end up sanding in those tight corners where the brush can barely reach. Never thought to just do it before putting it all together. Labeling everything sounds like a pain but I bet it beats the alternative. Might actually try this on my next cabinet job.

gavin_allen481mo ago

Yeah, the labeling sounds like a hassle but it's totally worth it... I started doing the same thing on my last project and wished I'd done it years ago @stella307.

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