how to balance an equitorial mount

After 6 or 7 years of imagining, I have realized that I lack some basic skills -- like how to balance my AP mounts.
For example, I now think that I need to balance the DEC axis first, and then balance the RA axis with the counter weights as a second step.
If I don't do the balancing in this order, is it possible that the telescope will be balanced in some positions and not in others?

For possible relevance, I have AP400 and AP Mach1 mounts and 4in and 5in refractor telescopes.

Regards,
Roger

AP mounts are good about balance, not too sensitive to that. I would say that there would be no real problems unless it is grossly out of balance.