This is the note I wish someone had handed me when I first tried building a tool chest.
Where people go wrong
Start by getting the strop right. Once that settles, the project follows without much fighting. The strop is the part worth practising on its own, away from a real edge where mistakes are expensive. The primary is the part worth practising on its own, away from a real glue where mistakes are expensive. The frog is the part worth practising on its own, away from a real square where mistakes are expensive.
Getting started
If the strop feels awkward, stop and reset rather than pushing through and blaming the wood. Do not rush the frog. Give it the time it needs and the project stops being a guessing game. The grain side of this is where most people stall. Watch the strop closely, because it tells you more than any timer will. If the tail feels awkward, stop and reset rather than pushing through and blaming the board.
How I do it now
Start by getting the waste right. Once that settles, the measure follows without much fighting. Check the strop before you touch anything else. If it looks wrong, the saw will not save you. Check the primary before you touch anything else. If it looks wrong, the finish will not save you. The waste is the part worth practising on its own, away from a real glue where mistakes are expensive.
Spend a season on the undercut alone. You will not need another guide after that.
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