Okay, full confession time: my first bottle of that modern glue ended up more on my clothes than the wood. But you're right, once you get past the initial mess, the speed is unbelievable. It's like Claire said, that extra sanding and acetone wipe aren't just suggestions, they're the difference between a wobbly joint and something that'll outlive us all. I clung to hide glue for years out of sheer stubbornness, but the time I save now lets me fuss over the fun parts, like hand-cutting dovetails. There's a pride in the old ways, but sometimes efficiency isn't the enemy of craftsmanship. Just don't ask me about the time I used the accelerator spray and fused a clamp to the piece, that's a story for another day.

Those quiet observations stack up over years. It's the domestic version of feeling seen.