Glue-Up

A glue-up is the assembly process itself -- applying glue, positioning parts, and clamping everything together -- as distinct from the glue material being used or the joint being formed. It's called out as its own distinct step and term because it's genuinely its own skill: a glue-up that goes wrong (parts slipping out of alignment, running out of open time before every clamp is placed, uneven pressure leaving gaps) can ruin an otherwise perfectly cut joint, which is why a dry-fit rehearsal beforehand is standard practice for anything beyond the simplest glue-up.