Bill wrote:

I'm talking about getting a flat face on a 5-foot length of lumber,
not an edge. If you don't like the question, please ignore it.
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If you get the face flat over 60%-70% of the surface, that is probably
good enough for the planer at least 90% of the time.

SFWIW, after I learned the proper technique to use a jointer,
it became a "go to" tool more often.

There is something about a 12" jointer.G

Lew