Assembly assistance?

[mr_skittle]

I agree wholeheartedly that you should do a complete dry fit. Lots can be learned and disasters can be avoided!!

[msweig]

I'd agree that you want to rive those dowels for the drawboring.

The only potential problem I see with the order is staining and topcoat before doing the drawboring. You will be able to get everything together with no problem. But then after driving your pins I'm not really sure how you would cut off the excess/make them flush without damaging the finish. If your technique is good you could probably do it. But I don't think I could without scratching the finish.

Another option might be stain everything, and topcoat all of it except the faces where the drawbore pins go through. Then once those are driven and cut/sanded flush apply the topcoat (repairing stain beforehand if needed).