In the thickness planer vs. jointer discussion, those differences are pretty clear:
- The jointer will give you a perfectly square single edge and flatten that single side, whereas the planer will give you consistent thickness and parallel surfaces.
- Jointers have their cutting knives embedded in the table with the wood passing over them, whereas planers cut from above the wood.
Full Answer
Which to buy first, jointer or planer?
My answer is always the same: “Get yourself a jointer first, then think about a planer.” The reason is that in many cases, the jointer is part of the foundation of your collection of woodworking tools. Just like when you are building a house, you want the best foundation you can get so the rest of the house can be built squarely and accurately.
Can I use a router table as a jointer?
Yes you can use a router table as a jointer but only as an edge jointer for removing small nicks and bumps on your edges. The one advantage a router has over a jointer is in the blade selection for the router bits.
How to properly use a wood planer?
Step By Step Instructions on How to Use a Surface Planer
- Identify and educate yourself about the setup of the surface planer. A: Familiarize yourself with how the surface planer operates. ...
- Test how the machine works. Once you have learned how the surface planer is set up, the next step is to test the machine. ...
- Wear ear protection once you are ready to operate the surface planer.
How to properly use a jointer?
Step by Step Instructions on How to Use the Jointer
- Familiarize yourself with the machine—its parts, features, and functions. Comprehending what the jointer is capable of is critical to maximizing its potential. ...
- Make Certain that the Jointer is Properly Tuned. The jointer’s tables must be perfectly parallel to each other. ...
- Square Up the Jointer’s Fence. ...
- Know the Limitations of the Board Stock. ...
What is better to have a jointer or planer?
In my opinion, you should purchase the planer first. You'll be able to accomplish more with it on its own than you can with a jointer. The jointer excels at making one flat face and one square/flat edge and that's about it.
Should I use a planer or jointer first?
But even if you only buy dimensioned or straight lumber, you'll always have use for a thickness planer. You'll always have the need to reduce your board thickness to fit the project you have in hand. That is why you should go for the planer first. Then later, you can get a jointer.
Can a planer be used as a jointer?
A planer can be used as a jointer by following a few woodworking tricks. Woodworking jointers and planers are used to mill wood so they can be used to build furniture and other projects to correct dimensions.
Is a jointer really necessary?
Simply purchase your lumber already milled in S3S or S4S form (surfaced on three sides or surfaced on 4 sides). If you're at a point in your woodworking where you're starting to use rough sawn lumber, say from a lumber mill or your local sawyer, then a jointer is absolutely essential to your shop workflow.
Do I need a jointer if I have a table saw?
Jointing with Table Saw to Square Both Sides of a Wood Piece (without jointer) Although the table saw can be used as a jointer to make the faces of a wood piece flat, it can also be used to square an edge to have perfectly perpendicular faces.
Can you use a jointer as a thickness planer?
You would end up with tapered boards if you tried to use your jointer as a planer. If you are simply after a smooth face, then yes you can, however your board may not be the same thickness, end to end. exactly. Said differently, there's no way to make two parallel sides on a jointer.
Will a planer flatten a board?
In order to flatten a warped, twisted, or cupped board, a common approach is to first use a jointer to create one perfectly flat face. Then you run the board through a thickness planer with the flat face downward, and the planer makes the top face parallel to the bottom.
Can you plane a 2x4 on edge?
1:203:41How we give our lumber a straight edge! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I have already gone and made this cut 18 inches I've made this on my miter saw and that way ofMoreSo I have already gone and made this cut 18 inches I've made this on my miter saw and that way of pushing a shorter board through the table son just makes it easier. So we've got this done.
Is a thickness planer worth it?
If you really want to get into woodworking, a thickness planer is worth the cost. Once you have it, you'll never regret the expenditure, because you'll be in control of your stock thickness like never before.
Why use a jointer over a table saw?
A jointer has a very wide set of blades that can be several inches wide. This means that you can easily flatten the wider edge of a two-by-four. Due to the limited depth at which a table saw blade can protrude from the table, it really cannot cut all the way through a board in this sense.
What to do if you dont have a jointer?
2:077:425 Ways to Joint a Board Without a Jointer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo one of the things I utilize a lot in the shop is called a straight line rip jig. And it's veryMoreSo one of the things I utilize a lot in the shop is called a straight line rip jig. And it's very simply kind of like crosscut sled it just has a track that rides in your miter slot.
How can I straight my edges without a jointer?
0:082:07How to Get a Straight Edge Without a Jointer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut you know this edge is straight and what you can do is hot glue this board to the straight edgeMoreBut you know this edge is straight and what you can do is hot glue this board to the straight edge and then run the straightedge against your fence.
In what direction should a board be sent through the planer?
On rough lumber, you can feel the fibers by running your hand over the board. It will be smooth in one direction and rough in the other. Feed the smooth direction forward into the wood planer. With some boards, you might get tearout in both directions.
Is a thickness planer worth it?
If you really want to get into woodworking, a thickness planer is worth the cost. Once you have it, you'll never regret the expenditure, because you'll be in control of your stock thickness like never before.
How can I face my joint without a jointer?
0:008:28No Jointer? No problem! Do you Even Need One? | Woodworking TipYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCheck it the purpose of the jointer is to give a board a nice flat surface either on the face or onMoreCheck it the purpose of the jointer is to give a board a nice flat surface either on the face or on the edge. And then you can take that flat surface. And run it through the planer.
Can you plane both sides of a board?
Once you've flattened one side, you can flip the work and run it through the planer with the flat side down (no sled required) to flatten the other side and ensure that it's parallel to the first side. The key to the sled is that it provides a flat reference surface.
What is the difference between a planer and a jointer?
The main difference between a jointer and a planer is that a jointer is used to flatten the uneven wood surface to remove warp, cupping, and twists. Whereas an electric planer is used to make the board flat , parallel with uniform thickness.
What is a jointer used for?
A jointer is used to perfectly flatten one face of a board, and square an adjacent edge. Additionally, jointers can also be used to flatten cupped boards, remove twists, and prepare boards for wood joinery to use as one large piece.
What is the outfeed table on a jointer?
The outfeed table of the jointer is slightly higher than the infeed table to accommodate the depth of cut. Once you have a flat reference face, you can square the edges as well. To do this, place the flat side of the lumber against the fence and move edges across the cutter head.
What is the best tool for flattening one face?
For a user whose job is mostly to flatten one face and square up one edge, a jointer is the best option. While some, with constant work on two flat and parallel faces, will choose a planer as the best option and an ideal alternative. Regardless of the amount of work you have, you will need a planer, jointer, or both.
What is an electric thickness planer?
Thickness Planer. An electric thickness planer reduces the thickness of the lumber parallel to the bottom face to get uniform thickness throughout the cross-section. The machine has infeed and outfeed pressure rollers that will feed the wood through at constant speed.
What is a planer that takes in wood pieces with one flat side and makes the opposite side parallel to it?
A thickness planer takes in wood pieces with one flat side and makes the opposite side parallel to it.
What is a wood planer?
A wood planer is a tool that is used to alter boards so that they are both flat on all sides and uniformly thick. There are two distinct categories: 1 Handheld 2 Thickness Planer
Why Should You Use a Jointer Before a Planer?
But, just in case you are unaware or not on board just yet, we will run through the specifics.
What is the Difference Between a Planer and a Jointer?
Before we can dive into why you should use a jointer before a planer, we should cover the basics of what these two devices can do for your lumber. From here, you will have an increased understanding of how they work and can more fully comprehend why one should be used before the other.
What would happen if you used a jointer after a planer?
What could happen if you were to use a jointer after a planer is that the planer would essentially do the work on both sides that the jointer would have done. This is why many people opt to use a planer in the first place- even though it is not quite as phenomenal at the square ends. Still, using a jointer after a planer would be relatively pointless.
How to make both sides of a wood table parallel?
To make both sides perfectly parallel, you will need to run the piece of wood through a bandsaw or table saw with the flat side you made with the jointer against the fence of the table or band saw.
What does a wood planer do?
What your planer will do is use the guide that you provide to flatten out both the top and the bottom (or the two opposing sides, depending on how you look at it) of your piece of wood. As you slide the piece of wood through the planer, you will want to ensure that the edge is held square.
Can a wood jointer be uneven?
Instead, it could become uneven wherever the jointer has to move in the natural wood grain direction.
Can you use a planer and jointer to smooth out wood?
You will find that both woodworking tools can provide a high-quality evenness on the sides intended to smooth out. In fact, when working with a planer or jointer, you will be pleased with the ability of both devices to cut through the uneven lumps and bumps that come with the natural wood grain on your beautiful piece of lumber.
What is a planer/jointer?
The planer/jointer is just that, a planer AND a jointer. The machine actually “transforms” from one machine to the other. So if it has 12″ blades on it, you have a 12″ jointer in one mode, and a 12″ planer in the other. And the trade-off is you get a super wide jointer, but you might be limited by the planer aspect.
How many needs does a planer fit?
So, you have 2.0 needs. The planer fits 1.5 of the needs. The jointer fits 1.0 of the needs. And I figure trying to use the planer to joint wood will simply make me understand the tool that much better.
How to dimension lumber with a planer?
This can be done with a planer only by building yourself a sled out of say 3/4″ mdf. You lay your lumber with the cupped face up and shim under the high points. The sled should have a stop block or use double faced tape to keep your lumber from sliding on the sled. Once you have the “top” flat, you can flip it over and run it through the planer. This may not be as convenient as running it across a nice Powermatic 8″ jointer like some lucky individuals (who shall remain nameless but who initials are Marc Spagnolo) but it works in a pinch.
How to check for flatness of a planer?
If you have a rotary laser you might use it to check for flatness. Once one face is flat, run it through the planer with that face down. When the other face is flat, flip the board to clean up the first face. It doesn’t have to be pretty before going into the planer – just flat.
How to get parallel faces on a board?
Plane to get the faces parallel then use a guided circular saw to put the first straight edge on the board. Table saw to get the parallel edge then crosscut to length.
Can you use a planer to joint?
You can use the planer to joint. Sure, there are some hoops to jump through. But compared to buying two tools at once, those hoops seem reasonable.
Does a thickness planer have a flat face?
In order for this tool to give satisfactory results, the lumber you are thicknessing MUST have one flat face. This is true because of the design of a thickness planer. The reference surface for this tool is below the cutter head; if you run a board through that is not flat, the twist or bow cannot be removed.
What is the difference between a jointer and a planer?
A planer is used for making two edges parallel while a jointer is used for making straight or flat surfaces. Let's say you have a warped board (suppose it looks like a banana from end to end). If you pass it through a planer, it will enter as a banana and exit as a banana. A jointer, on the other hand, will shave off bits of the banana, little by little, until it comes out flat.
What is a straight edge on a table saw?
To the fine answers already posted, I would just add this: The jointer can give a board a perfectly straight edge, which is an important first step in accurately cutting the board to width and length. The straight, jointed edge runs along the tablesaw's rip fence when you are cutting the board to width, yielding an opposite edge that is also straight, and parallel to the first. When crosscutting, the jointed edge gets held against the miter gauge or crosscut sled to help ensure that the freshly cut end is square - at 90 degrees to the board's long edge.
Can a woodworker use both a jointer and a planer?
I agree with the statement that an active woodworker could really make use of both a dedicated jointer and surface planer. But I only have a surface planer due to my very small workspace and I have made-do with hand tools for jointing.
Can you flatten a Stanley #5?
If I need to flatten one face (which is very rare - only if I have a rough- sawn board), then I can still get it flat with the hand planes. I use a combination of a Stan ley #5 and the aforementioned #7. The #5 is fitted with a cambered blade which removes wood more aggressively.
Is it nice to have a dedicated jointer?
To have had a dedicated jointer would have been nice and, as an engineer , I would have felt good about having perfect 90 degree angles all around, but in the end it worked out fine that I was simply close.
Is it a bad idea to use a jointer?
Edit With limited budgets, it's probably not a bad idea to look into a jointer/planer (e.g., https://www.grizzly.com/products/G0675 ). One cutter head is used for both planing and jointing--it just requires some sort of adjustment. I don't know how that adjustment is done because I don't own one. (I didn't learn about these until after I bought both a jointer and a planer).
Should I use a planer or a jointer?
I agree that you should have both. However if there were budget and space considerations I would go with a jointer. A jointer is going to enable you to get those precise surfaces for joining your wood. A planer on the other hand is a smoothing/sizing tool and much of what you do with it can be done with a little more elbow grease using hand planers and sanding. Often when you are purchasing rough cut lumber at specialty lumbar yards they can run your purchase through a planer.
Why Do You Need a Jointer or Planer?
Jointers help to give your wood a flat surface and a square edge. Plus, a jointer is also the best tool to remove imperfections from your lumber.
What is a jointer in woodworking?
A Jointer essentially has one job, and that’s to make your lumber perfectly flat without any twists, bow, and cups. And when you have boards that are nice and flat, your woodworking process becomes more efficient and easier.
What is a Planer?
Planers fulfill several roles in woodworking. In short, you can use a planer to smoothen the rough surface of your lumber.
What tool is used to flatten a piece of wood?
While the jointer is the first tool you use to flatten an unmilled wood piece, the planer completes the process by making the sides parallel—with consistent thickness.
What is a jointer machine?
The jointer is a big table-like machine with a cylindrical blade that cuts at the wood below to make it flat. It has two tables at the top of the machine (in and outfeed tables) that roll your lumber over the blade.
How to make a thick board with two flat sides?
However, if you want a consistently thick board with two flat sides—run that board through a jointer first, then feed it through a planer.
What is jointer in construction?
A jointer makes flattening surfaces and squaring edges quick and easy
What Is A Jointer?
- A jointer is used to perfectly flatten one face of a board, and square an adjacent edge. Additionally, jointers can also be used to flatten cupped boards, remove twists, and prepare boards for wood joinery to use as one large piece. The jointer has infeed and outfeed tables set precisely parallel to each other with a rotating blade between them. You will pass the rough lum…
What Is A Planer?
- A wood planer is a tool that is used to alter boards so that they are both flat on all sides and uniformly thick. There are two distinct categories: 1. Handheld 2. Thickness Planer WEN Benchtop Thcikness Planer – Click to See Details Handheld planersare most useful when the board is immobile due to one of the reasons such as its weight or unusual shape. Wood that is too large …
Differences Between Jointer vs. Planer
- The main difference between a jointer and a planer is that a jointer is used to flatten the uneven wood surface to remove warp, cupping, and twists. Whereas an electric planer is used to make the board flat, parallel with uniform thickness. On a jointer, the blade is below the workpiece, while in a planer the cutter head is above the work. For most woodworkers, the terms jointer and planer ar…
Which Is Better? Jointer Or Planer?
- For a user whose job is mostly to flatten one face and square up one edge, a jointer is the best option. While some, with constant work on two flat and parallel faces, will choose a planer as the best option and an ideal alternative. Regardless of the amount of work you have, you will need a planer, jointer, or both. But it’s ultimately a decision ...