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Hot take: A client in Seattle said my built-in looked 'too perfect' and it made me pause.
He told me he wanted to see the hand-cut dovetails and slight tool marks because it proved a person, not a machine, made it, which honestly flipped my view on finish sanding for good.
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lucasschmidt29d ago
That "too perfect" comment is a good point, but I've always thought the real proof is in how it works and holds up over time, not just the tool marks.
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val_williams29d ago
Ever had a client ask you to leave the saw marks on a tabletop? I had that happen on a walnut desk. I stopped at 150 grit instead of my usual 220, left a few subtle plane tracks. The guy loved it, said it felt alive. Now I always ask about finish preference before I start sanding. Some people really do want to see the craft, not just a slick surface.
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