When you need to flatten a warped plank of wood, a jointer will often be the power tool to turn to. This machine looks like two uneven tables pressed together with a spinning blade between the two of them. This depth and cutting edge creates space to cut away extra material that keeps the board from having a flat surface. A jointer excels in creating a flat face from a warped one and squaring it up, but primarily when the edge is bowed inward. A concave edge is easily taken care of with a jointer, but flattening a convex surface may require a different tool. Rough lumber is very rarely straight and the edge joints that you may try to create with it straight from the mill may not always make a strong connection. The use of a jointer makes flat, stable, and square surfaces out of raw planks that are ready to be matched together. The planer is easily confused with the jointer, and uses a similar cutting process, but is intended for adjusting the thickness of wood boards instead of evening out inconsistencies in surfaces. There are combinations of the two called jointer-planers which combine the flattening of a jointer with the thickness adjusting of a planer.
Picking up wood from the hardware store or lumber depot for a project can often cause disappointment. Unless you are paying extra for wood that has already been milled, you are bound to come home with wood that is slightly (or sometimes even extremely) bent, twisted, cupped, or otherwise warped. The short answer to the…
A quality benchtop jointer will enable you to create polished or even edges on wood. It also helps straighten pieces of wood. However, there are several aspects to consider when choosing the right model from the many units available on the market. I have compiled a list of the best benchtop jointers and a buying…
The term “jointer” is used to describe a tool that makes lumber, usually boards, flat so that they can fit together to form a larger, solid piece of material. A jointer machine is a large table designed to create flat surfaces on wood. A jointer plane is a handheld tool; a long, more robust version…
A quality benchtop jointer will enable you to create polished or even edges on wood. It also helps straighten pieces of wood. However, there are several aspects to consider when choosing the right model from the many units available on the market. I have compiled a list of the best benchtop jointers and a buying…
A two-in-one solution might just be what you need in your woodwork station if you’re looking to cut down on space. To get the best out of both worlds, a planer jointer combo will be the perfect way to maximize your woodworking craftsmanship. There’s an overwhelming number of planer jointer combos in the market. Finding…
The masonry construction process includes compacting the mortar between bricks to ensure proper drainage. Brick jointers are specialty handheld tools designed to do just that, while also shaping the mortar. To joint brick, you will need to choose an appropriate brick jointer and practice your technique. What Is a Brick Jointer? A brick jointer is…
Deciding what size jointer do I need requires consideration of three factors; the width of the cutting surface, the length of the tables, and the weight of the base. How Does Size Affect Jointer Performance? If you’re considering adding a jointer to your woodshop footprint, make an informed decision by reviewing how size affects jointer…
Biscuit jointers have a guide mounted on the front of the tool that allows you to cut a perfectly sized and shaped slot no matter what biscuit you are using. There’s no denying that using the best biscuit jointer is a convenient way to make biscuit joints, but you can achieve the same result with…
Parallelogram jointers are mid-sized power saws used for flattening the face or edge of lumber. Parallellogram jointers cost more than traditional jointers, but need less adjustment out of the box. While a traditional jointer may need periodic readjustment, the parallel bar design supporting the tables of a parallelogram jointer should not require adjusting. This article…
To achieve precise and consistent results in your woodworking endeavors, you need flat, true boards. A benchtop jointer can churn out perfectly milled boards, as long as you know how to use it. Learn the uses, features, and parts of benchtop jointers and get set up for success. I’ll also teach you some things to…
A jointer is highly recommended for jobs when you will be working with rough lumber. In fact, it’s often recommended as the first tool you should purchase to upgrade your workshop. A jointer’s purpose is to straighten and flatten boards for woodworking. The process of preparing a rough-hewn board for woodworking projects is called ‘milling’.…
You’ve got a new woodworking project and are excited to get started. You head to the home improvement store and stock up on the lumber you need. Then back in your workshop, you notice the stock you purchased has problems. Cupping, twisting, uneven edges — the pre-milled stock for sale at big centers is notorious…
A jointer is a perfect tool when looking to square pieces of lumber for cabinet doors and other panels. However, it isn’t the only tool. A router works just as well in most situations, only that it makes the process easier. This article will show you how to use a router as a jointer. How…
If you don’t have the budget for a jointer or simply don’t have enough space to store it, you’ll benefit from learning how to make a jointer jig for a table saw. This way, you will be able to use your table saw as a jointer without having to blow your budget. How to Make…
A jointer is one of the most time saving and useful tools in a woodworker’s collection. However, it’s also one of the least necessary and the last machine woodworkers usually get. If you are looking for alternatives, then keep reading to find out how to square a board without a jointer. How to Square a…