I was helping a friend in Barcelona build a kitchen cabinet last summer. We used a two-part epoxy, but the instructions were in Catalan so we guessed the mix. It hardened way too fast, like in minutes, while we were still adjusting the clamps. We spent the rest of the day scraping rock-solid glue off his tile counter.
Back then, I hurried through sanding and it showed. Now I go slow and the finish is so much smoother! That care made a big difference on my recent bookshelf.
He asked for a full set of custom cabinets as a birthday gift. I told him materials alone would cost more than my car. Now he's sulking because I suggested he try IKEA.
I was fitting dovetails on a walnut cabinet in my shop. My neighbor saw it and joked about just using screws for speed. I told him how traditional joints last longer and look better. It dawned on me that clients might think the same way. Now I begin by asking what they know about cabinet construction. This simple step avoids wrong assumptions later. Our planning sessions are clearer and faster because of it.