I'm fairly new to "real" woodworking. As a 4 year old I would spend an hour or two pounding away in the basement workshop before coming upstairs and proudly show off to my father a bent nail buried halfway into a board. Now I'm 37, I've got most of what I need for a "real" shop, minus a bandsaw, and I've just finished my second bed, a nice maple sleigh bed that I'm quite proud of. LOML is very happy. I plan to complete the bedroom set - night table, blanket chest and bureau.
My question is this: In finishing a piece of furniture, what surfaces get the full schedule of finish steps? The back side of a bed rail for example doesn't show, but it should get at least some finish to help prevent warping. It's often said that all surfaces should get the same finish to equalize moisture absorption.
I read articles about the number of steps in a finishing process. Sand between coats, buff, wax, apply 3, 4 or even 5 coats of varnish, etc. I can't help but think "yeah that's easy on a flat surface, or on individual components", but when the dresser (for example) is all glued up and assembled, do I really need to do all those stps on every nook and cranny? Maybe just the top and the sides. What about the trim? It all still has to look evenly finished.