What is the recommended first step when building a cabinet case?

• A. Glue joints
• B. Dry fit pieces
• C. Finish edges
• D. Sand surfaces

Answer: (B)

Dry fitting the pieces is the best first step because it allows you to verify that all parts come together cleanly, align properly, and stay square before any permanent joints are made. Assembling without glue lets you spot mismatches in cuts, misaligned dados or rabbets, and edge-to-edge alignment issues, so you can adjust before you’re locked into a glued-up box. If you jump straight to gluing, small errors become permanent, leading to gaps, twist, or doors that don’t line up. Finishing edges or sanding too early can also change dimensions or affect how well the joints seat, making the eventual glue-up harder to achieve. After you confirm a proper dry fit, you can proceed with glue-up confidently, then finish and final-sand after the case is assembled.