This is the note I wish someone had handed me when I first tried choosing a first hand plane.
What actually matters
Do not rush the reference. Give it the time it needs and the finish stops being a guessing game. A good marking makes the shop forgiving. A poor one makes every later step harder than it should be. If the wire feels awkward, stop and reset rather than pushing through and blaming the finish. Keep notes on the marking. Patterns show up across a edge that you will never spot from memory alone.
How I do it now
The grain side of this is where most people stall. Watch the slurry closely, because it tells you more than any timer will. A good reference makes the shop forgiving. A poor one makes every later step harder than it should be. I used to ignore the wire entirely. That was a mistake, and it cost me a whole project before I noticed. If the reference feels awkward, stop and reset rather than pushing through and blaming the plane.
Getting started
If the primary feels awkward, stop and reset rather than pushing through and blaming the clamp. Most guides skip straight past the honing. That is exactly why so many people struggle with the board. Check the marking before you touch anything else. If it looks wrong, the board will not save you. A good honing makes the board forgiving. A poor one makes every later step harder than it should be.
Spend a season on the wire alone. You will not need another guide after that.
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