Selectively Stain Before You Glue

We've all experienced the frustration of wiping stain across our woodworking project only to find light spots where glue was left on the wood. The glue seals the wood's grain preventing the stain from penetrating. Quite often even the most vigorous sanding won't take care of the problem.Because of this many woodworkers prefer to selectively stain their project before gluing. Care should be taken though because glue may not stick to the stained surfaces. Because this may result in glue joints that fail this tip should only be used if you're sure the project will not be effected. The final finish can be applied to the assembled project.