Roughing by hand... In practice, I find planes longer than my forearm unnecessary. What isn't often mentioned is a verification step, using straightedges. Search Jim Tolpin on squaring stock, or Bob van Dyke for a well photographed method. I start with the cupped side up. That gives the plane two points of registration, on each pass.
Your shop reset. Jim from Westport, MA here. May I recommend you stop by Yoder hardwoods and seek out instruction before more purchases? That will illustrate what you like to use. I also work mostly by hand and find that the Low Angle jack is a rarely used tool. A properly tuned #4 is more handy. (I use the ECE wooden body.)
