
Yet, each has its own advantages, such as:
- Woodworkers use both these machines to smoothen wooden boards, yet a jointer smoothens the edges of the stock allows the edges of both boards to be joined.
- A jointer can also joint or smoothen the surface of a board.
- A jointer is also used to flatten a twisted, warped or bowed board.
Full Answer
What's the best jointer for woodworkers?
Best Wood Jointer Reviews Powermatic 1791317K 54HH Helical Cutter Head Jointer. An all steel closed stand jointer design, probably the best jointer for professional carpenters or serious home woodworkers. Cutech 40160HCT Benchtop Jointer. The Cutech 40160H-CT is an impressive affordable jointer. ... JET 708457DXK JJ-6CSDX Closed Stand Jointer. ... More items...
What is a jointer planer used for?
- A jointer makes flattening surfaces and squaring edges quick and easy
- With a jointer, you can remove all forms of defects (twists, wraps, cups, and bows) that can prevent your lumber from being flat or square
- The jointer is fully adjustable. So, you can easily change the cut angle to fit the needs of your woodworking project
How is a jointer used in woodworking?
What Can a Jointer Do?
- Face Jointing. Face jointing is the primary step you will engage in when handling your timber. ...
- Basic Edge Jointing. You can also use the jointer for basic edge jointing. ...
- Edge-jointing Long Boards. You will indeed find edge-jointing longboards that are heavy and wide frustrating and challenging. ...
- Rabbeting. ...
- Chamfering. ...
How to run a jointer?
“Straighten the edge” with a band saw. Then cut to the line as closely as possible using a band saw, creating an edge that will be safe to run through the jointer. Then return to the jointer to perfect the edge. Compensating for an out-of-square fence.

What Can a Jointer Do?
There’ll be instances when you need to deal with rough lumber likewise. In such instances, you will need a jointer to prepare the rough lumber for your project. As a beginner in woodworking, therefore, you need to know what a jointer does:
How to feed board to jointer?
To do this, you can feed the board onto the jointer using push blocks. Position the top corner of the stock over the outfeed table. Lower it until you see its top and bottom edge touching the infeed table. Repeat the feeding process until you get the preferred taper.
How to use a rabbet jointer?
Rabbeting. You can also use the jointer to create rabbets for joining two wood pieces. You can start by outlining the exact groove size on the board’s front edge. Then, position the fence with the rabbet’s width away from the table edge.
What tools are needed to cut stock?
When cutting a stock piece to a specific thickness, your primary tools of choice are the planer and table saw. However, the planers and the table saw are useless if the jointer has not yet smoothened the stock’s face or edge. Thus, the jointer is essential when dealing with rough lumber.
What angle should you set your jointer?
Aside from straightening the edge, it also ensures that the edges are squared up relative to the board’s face. When engaging in basic edge jointing, you should set your jointer at 90 degrees.
Can you use a jointer to straighten a face?
The jointer can quickly straighten an edge and flatten a face. However, you can still expand the applications of the jointer. For example, you can make tapered legs for your desks and tables using your jointer. For example, you can taper the whole leg of a table or do a straight section on the legs.
Do you need to balance twisted boards?
If you are working on twisted boards , you will need to exert extra effort balancing the work pieces to prevent rocking them onto the blades. However, suppose you have a high-end benchtop jointer, you can breeze through this process, considering that high-end models are usually designed for perfectly flattening, edging, and face jointing rough or twisted board.
How does a jointer work?
All jointers come with a blade guard. It is attached to the table so that as the user moves their board over the blade, the guard pushes away from the spring. As the guard moves away from the blades, the stock takes it’s place in covering the rotating blades. Both work in tandem to almost always keep the blades covered.
What is a jointer?
A jointer is quite possibly one of the most underrated tools in a woodworker’s shop. It’s will never be the first tool a person buys for their shop (nor should it be). However, once you begin looking to buy lumber from a sawmill, it is probably time to look at getting a jointer. Depending on how much lumber you buy, ...
What is a planer used for?
A planer is used to cut a boards thickness to a desired level. For example, let’s say you purchased 5 pieces of oak from a saw mill. You’ve run your boards over your jointer and have all even and square sides. As you lay your boards out on your workbench, you realize each board is a different height.
What is S4S wood?
When a piece of wood has been run through a planer and cut so that all 4 sides are straight and parallel, it is commonly called a S4S board. All boards sole at large box stores come this way. When you begin buying lumber form sawmills, it less common to buy S4S wood.
What is the area to the right of the jointer blades called?
each side of the blade of a jointer, there is a “table.”. The area to the right of the blades is referred to as the “infeed” table. The area to the left is the “outfeed” table. The greater the tables, the easier it is to cut longer boards.
What is the negative of buying a jointer with longer tables?
The negative to buying a jointer with longer tables is the space that it takes up in your shop.
How much does a sawmill jointer cost?
You can get a benchtop version new for about $250. However, I would recommend getting a larger floor standing unit as it can handle larger boards. Starting price for these units will be closer to $1,000 new; however, you can get an older used model for less than $500 on Craigslist if you are patient. I went this route and got an older Rigid model that has a transferable lifetime warranty on the motor for about $300. It’s been an excellent machine.
What is a Jointer?
A jointer is a machine that can decrease round saw marks and sharp cutting edges in wood by shaving off splintery imperfections. It has a special head that swivels on a screw to provide rhythmic contact with the wood.
Working of a Wood Jointer Machine
Carpentry jointers are also capable of cutting chamfers and rabbets. You need to learn some tricks for these actions. The jointer is not responsible for milling a board constantly, but you can easily dissect wood from two faces. Several projects are completed using a jointer, like making a stock square.
What is the purpose of a jointer?
Th e purpose of a jointer is to turn rough lumber (warped, bowed, etc.) into a flat, usable board. A jointer can also straighten and square edges on your boards as well.
What is jointer table?
A jointer consists an infeed and outfeed table. These are aligned on a table with a cutterhead. First, lower the infeed table to the amount of wood you wish to remove. Be sure to have the guard in place, it is easy to lose a finger to a jointer. While the machine is running, pass the board across, while being supported by the outfeed table. A fence is typically used to guide the board. The fence is adjustable to get just the right angle.
Do you need a jointer and a planer?
Do you need both a jointer and a planer? If you are working a lot of rough lumber it is highly recommended to have both to quickly sand down your boards. Jointers and planers are great time savers and will save you money in the long run if you are creating several projects with wood.
What is the function of a wood jointer?
The primary function of a wood jointer is to create one flat edge on a board which can then be joined at the edges to make a far wider board. This device comes with two tables parallel to each other and known as an in-feed and an out-feed table.
What is a jointer in woodworking?
Novice woodworkers always ask, “What is a jointer?” as much as they want to know the difference between jointer and planar. Basically, each machine is meant for a unique surfacing need. Though both woodworking tools are required by professionals to get the maximum out of rough lumber, yet the basic function of a jointer is to flatten a surface or straightens an edge. A planer is used to flatten the second surface and make it parallel to the one made by the jointer.
What is a jointer used for?
A jointer is also used to flatten a twisted, warped or bowed board. On the other hand, a planer is used to thin a thick board, and to flatten and smoothen its surfaces. It is also used to create consistent and parallel boards of thickness along its entire length.
What is the difference between a planer and a jointer?
Woodworkers use both these machines to smoothen wooden boards, yet a jointer smoothens the edges of the stock allows the edges of both boards to be joined. A jointer can also joint or smoothen the surface of a board . A jointer is also used to flatten a twisted, warped or bowed board. On the other hand, a planer is used to thin a thick board, ...
How do planer and jointer work?
Generally, the planer and jointer work in combination with the jointer jointing one edge and one surface of the board before sending it through a thickness planer to smoothen its surfaces and make the board parallel and of consistent thickness all along its length. Author: John Clax.
Why are the jointers placed above the cutter head?
They are placed above the cutter head so that the jointer creates a completely straight and a square edge. When two boards are placed together, they fit perfectly and the strong joint that ensues is nearly invisible.
What is a planer table?
Typically, a planer comprises: An adjustable table proportionate to the real cutting head that determines the overall thickness of the board. An in-feed and an out-feed roller that send the board through the planer. A cutting head with rotating blades that cover the timber.
What is jointer woodworking?
The jointer is a kind of woodworking machine allowing to transform a rough part into a tool with four well parallel faces and squares. It also offers the user the opportunity to use his planer to work with wood, in order to have the desired dimensions.
What is a Jointer purpose?
When considering what a jointer is, we note this tool is used to change the surface quality of wood.
What is the difference between a jointer and a planer?
The geometry of the jointer makes it possible to dress on two sides but cannot calibrate the board. To be able to achieve this end, a planer must be used.
How does a jointer work?
For neophytes, a jointer works like a fixed and inverted planer to equalize a wood, that is to say that the blades which are used to remove the material are located under the wood and not on it.
What is jointer in a workshop?
A jointer is a fairly large but extremely necessary material found in the workshop. It is used in the same way as the router or the planer. The jointer is a special kind of planers that can be fixed motionless thanks to special equipment. Usually a long base plate is used for this purpose.
Why use an electric jointer?
The electric jointer is used in industry and everyday life, the product is characterized by high performance characteristics. The only drawback in most cases is the high cost, as well as the significant cost of electricity.
Can you keep a jointer in the process by weight?
Joiners as a category of electric planers have the largest dimensions and significant weight – thus, it is not possible to keep them in the process by weight. Throughout this article, you will know what is a jointer and a little more about this very useful and practical tool.
Why is it important to use a jointer?
With lumber that’s flat and uniform, it’s much easier to create a quality product. That is where a jointer comes in. It’s hard to get on with your woodworking projects without either. You need boards that are parallel to one another from either elevation. A jointer is just as important as any other tool in your arsenal.
What Is a Jointer?
A jointer is a woodworking tool that essentially makes a board of wood flat, to not have a twist, bow, or cup defect. It derives its name from its function of providing flat surfaces on boards that you join together to produce even wider boards.
What is the difference between a jointer and a planer?
What Are The Differences Between a Planer and a Jointer? A common misconception is that a planer makes a board flat. On the contrary, you use a planer to make a board have a uniform thickness. Woodworkers categorize jointers and planers as preparation tools.
What are jointer blades?
The blades in a jointer are set to match the elevation of the outfeed table. While operating the machine, the operator has to take care not to injure themselves due to the open design of the blades. Also, the operator should be hands-on, to maintain a suitable feed speed, while applying light and downward pressure.
Why is a planer different from a jointer?
Unlike a jointer, the cutter head in a planer is set on top of the wood. The cylinder housing the cutter in a planer rotates at high RPMs, trimming the board as it’s fed through the machine. Another reason why some may confuse a planer with a jointer is due to linguistic differences.
How big is a floor jointer?
Stationary (floor) models range from 6-inch and beyond, although up to 12-inch is more than enough for most people, unless running a good-size production shop. In general, an 8-inch jointer is great for most home woodworkers. Anything less might be limiting. Larger jointers are primarily used for industrial purposes.
What is a cutter head?
The cutter head contains at least two or more blades, the more blades being better. The cutter head blades protrude outside to file the board coming into contact as the head rotates. The knives remove the excess amount of material parallel to the two tables, ensuring the board is flat along its length and perpendicular to the board’s face, thanks to the fence.
What can a jointer do?
A jointer can do two things well. One of them is to take a board and make one surface (not an edge but the larger top or bottom) and make it perfectly flat. After you've face jointed a board you can then take it to the planer and, with the faced joint down, plane the other face to be perfectly parallel to the jointed face.
Who wrote Jointers and Planers?
If you hanker for more info after reading the magazine article, I'd recommend the book Jointers and Planers by Rick Peters. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Can you do woodworking without a jointer?
Certainly, woodworking can be done without a jointer -- as you mentioned, a sled and wedges can be used to get that first flat face, and also boards can be jointed on the tablesaw, but a jointer makes the tasks go by much more quickly and, IMO, more precisely for the most part.
Is an 8 inch jointer good?
A jointer is a nice machine to have and an 8 inch is most desirable. However, your pocketbook may not permit buying a good one (usually $1200 and up for an 8 inch). I've had a shop for over 30 years and just acquired a jointer in the last 10. Before that, I used hand planes and/or purchased wood prepared so I didn't need to do much joining. Everything a jointer does can be done by hand but you have to weigh the trade offs of which machine will save you time/money vs epediency.
Can I use a small jointer on a table saw?
The only thing I could do with a small jointer would be to square the first edge of a board, and I can do that extremely accurately on my table saw ... albeit much, much slower.
Do you need a jointer for woodworking?
If you have a couple of good hand planes you do not need a jointer IMO.
Can you use a 6 inch jointer?
If you need to face joint pieces larger than 6 inches you can't use a 6 inch jointer. As a beginner, you're better off buying lumber that is already face jointed and planed so that you don't have to worry about this step. Lumber face jointed and planed is known as S2S (surfaced two sides).
