Jim, I thought the point was to plane your two reference/layout faces square and true so that you could layout properly and accurately? Was the technique that Steve taught us this summer Square rule or Mill rule? I thought they were pretty much the same, no?
Timbergoddess, thank you for the reply, but could someone be a little more specific or detailed about the approach to trueing up a timber and getting the reference faces squared up? Are you literally free handing it?
Do you start by snapping chalk lines and then freehanding with the planer to the line, using the planer like carving tool? Chalk lines don't seem all that accurate compared to using razor knives to mark layout. Are there other techniques whereby you set up a straight edge to use as a guide for the planer? I don't know, I'm just guessing or imagining. That's why I need some more detail.