Tom's basics:
 
>repeated use of caliper gauge, mullet, or similar.)
>	4) Plane to desired Thickness.....

At this point I like to add a bevel on the thickness that
will be removed. The gauge mark is the lower edge of the
bevel and the bevel goes all around the piece. It's a great
visual reference, you don't have to bend all the time and look 
for the gauge mark, and it helps prevent tearout along the 
edges when you're going at it in diagonals with a scrub plane. 
The bevel gets narrower and narower as you get close to the 
final thickness. Don't remember where I picked this up, Wearing?

Hope this  helps.

Louis Michaud
Rimouski, Quebec