I'm nearly done working on a craftsman-styled side table, with an ash top and shelf and quarter sawn white oak for everything else. I'm really happy with the surface I was able to get on all parts (especially the ash*) with hand planing.
I'm not the most experienced finisher; I like the building part the best, and if I can finish with Danish Oil, I'm usually happy. But I think this piece deserves more than that, so I'm going to try Jeff Jewitt's "Mission Oak Finish" recipe.
Jewitt writes: "...sand the wood with 100, then 120 and then 150 grit and wipe the wood with distilled water. Sand with 180 grit when dry...".
Can I skip this part? Like I said, I'm pretty happy with the surface I have now. He also suggests sanding with 320 grit after the sealing coat. That should be ok, though, I think, because it's just scuffing the sealer surface, right?
* A high-angle blade in a bevel-up jack made surfacing the ash a real pleasure (and workout!)