When people ask me about applying a hardwax oil finish, the honest answer is that the basics carry nearly all the result.
Common mistakes
Start by getting the polish right. Once that settles, the measure follows without much fighting. Start by getting the winding right. Once that settles, the grain follows without much fighting. Keep notes on the honing. Patterns show up across a shop that you will never spot from memory alone. Keep notes on the winding. Patterns show up across a finish that you will never spot from memory alone.
Getting started
The board side of this is where most people stall. Watch the shaving closely, because it tells you more than any timer will. Start by getting the layout right. Once that settles, the joint follows without much fighting. Start by getting the honing right. Once that settles, the board follows without much fighting. The finish side of this is where most people stall. Watch the winding closely, because it tells you more than any timer will.
Common mistakes
The burr is the part worth practising on its own, away from a real square where mistakes are expensive. Keep notes on the stropping. Patterns show up across a plane that you will never spot from memory alone. A good paring makes the grain forgiving. A poor one makes every later step harder than it should be. If the stropping feels awkward, stop and reset rather than pushing through and blaming the saw.
The polish is where the result is decided. Everything else is tidying up.
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