Thin crate dividers often look finished long before they feel finished. A divider can be cut square, sanded flat and still catch on the way into a slot because one crisp edge is doing all the rubbing.
Before the final dry-fit, try adding a tiny bevel to the hidden lower edges. Two or three light passes with a sanding block is usually enough. The goal is not to round over the visible face; it is just to remove the sharp corner that wants to dig in.
Mark the show edge first with a pencil tick so the bevel stays where it belongs. On a batch of matching dividers, stack them the same way on the bench and touch the same two lower edges each time. That keeps the habit quick and repeatable.
A small bevel also gives glue and dust somewhere to move instead of building a hard ridge at the bottom of the slot. If the divider still feels tight after that, the fit probably needs a real adjustment rather than extra force.
This is the kind of quiet shop detail that saves frustration at assembly time. Parts slide together more calmly, finished faces get fewer scuffs, and the crate or display box still keeps the clean square lines people expect.
Practical takeaway: ease only the hidden lower edges of a crate divider before final dry-fit; a tiny bevel can stop catching without changing the look of the finished box.
Crate DividersHand SandingSmall-Shop Tips