Swingman wrote:

You gotta be brave, or foolish, or both to undertake some of these
projects ...

I just came home with 2 selections from Half-Price Books:

Shelves, Closets & Cabinets, P. Jones, 1977.
Success With Biscuit Joiners, A. Bailey, 2007.

I think I'm brave and foolish enough for my current project.

I've been thinking a "practice box" makes a lot of sense.
I could practice my joinery and my finishing on it to help
avoid more expensive surprises.

Bill