Panel drying and finishing

[David Love]

I have heard of some individuals who prefinish the side of the panel to be
ribbed first masking off the area that will be in contact with the inner rim
as well as the ribs.  I have not done this yet the idea of slightly easier
cleanup of glue without it soaking into the wood near the ribs is tempting.
However, I have found that when a piece of wood only has a finish on one
side and you change the EMC, it tends to warp.  First, why is that and does
that tendency suggest that the one side finishing process prior to ribbing
is a bad idea?

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com