When smoothing or jointing along the grain, do you start the plane ahead of the edge? meaning, when you start the plane iron is "in the air" (with the toe on the stock) and contacts the edge as you go? The "logic" part of my brain (often faulty, mind you) says that the cutter will "slam" into the wood that way.
Also, and I hope this isn't a "holy war" issue, but when bringing the plane back, do you lift it or bring it back along the wood? I've seen both ways done, and was wondering if bringing it back along your stock has any /real/ effect on the cutter.
I'm more a pragmatist than an academic when it comes to this sort of stuff, so bear that in mind.