The foundation of all woodworking is 4-square lumber. This lumber has both sides and edges that are perfectly flat, perfectly square and parallel.
Lumber can be milled several different ways, but by far the easiest and most efficient is to use a power jointer and planer. (Hand-milling is a beautiful art on its own, and is something that all woodworkers at some point should try and master). Here’s an example of what we mean:
Woodworkers are likely to be familiar with the terms planer and jointer. However, they may not know the difference between them. You may hear the tools called a jointer/planer a lot. This is wrong. They are completely separate tools.
So whats the difference between a jointer and a planer? We will discuss the different functions of each tool and then go into detail about their specific roles.
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General Overview: Jointer Vs. Planer
Jointers and planers can be expensive power tools that only woodworkers, craftsmen or dyed in the wool DIYers would consider purchasing. Like we mentioned, quality woodworking cant begin without properly milled lumber, and these tools are the most reliable, foolproof way in which to 4-square your stock.
Given their price tags and space that they take up in the garage, though, a lot of people wonder whether they can get away with buying one tool or the other. Many people wonder if they can afford to buy one tool or another, considering their price tags and the space they take up in the garage. Do I need both a planer and a jointer?
You don’t need both an errand man and a planer. (Not more than you require both an electric tablesaw and a circular saw. If you are not skilled in hand-milling, then the only way to get square and co-planar lumber without the use of both tools is to do so. Although you can make it look pretty close with just a planer, a table, or circular saw (and many skilled DIYers and woodworkers do this), it won’t be perfect.
What Are The Differences Between Jointers And Planers?
The jointer is used to give a piece of lumber a flat, square face and a flat edge.
This isn’t as simple as just putting the piece on the table. You need to be able to see the grain direction and natural cup of the stock. These will help you determine which side of your board needs to be joined first and the direction it should run along the jointer tables. (Jointer blades spin clockwise, and you always want to cut with the grain).
So, if done right, the jointer will leave you with one perfectly flat face and one perfectly square edge. (You always want to joint the face first; the jointer will only give you a perfectly square edge if the face is completely flat and flush against the fence).
What about the other side and edge?
This is where the planer comes in; it makes sure that both faces and both edges of the board are parallel with one another, or co-planar. (If you were to use the jointer for both sides of the board, youd get two perfectly flat faces, sure, but they wouldnt be parallel to one another – youd be left with a wedge-shaped board thats thicker on one end than the other).
So going back to the question of whether or not you can get away with using one tool or the other, youd be much better off using just the planer than just the jointer.
You can actually do a lot with a planer. Most lumber that youll buy will already be somewhat milled – that is, itll usually be somewhat flat and acceptably (not exceptionally) straight. You can make passes on each side of the board with the planer until you have two parallel, square sides. The planer cannot square the edges, but you can trim them with a table saw and circular saw. These results are acceptable. With a jointer, all you can really get is one flat face and one square edge.
Heres a really great video showing the basics of how to use both the jointer and the planer, and highlighting the basic functions of each one.
Are You Looking To Buy?
If you’re ready to step up and invest in a planer or jointer, here are a few we believe to be good value. These tools are reliable and high quality and you can trust them to deliver good results. You can do so much more with the planer than you can with the jointer, and you can always buy a jointer later.
Planers
DeWalt DW734 12 Portable Benchtop Planer
Slightly better quality than the DeWalt DW734, but you pay for it.
This tool is ideal for amateur woodwork shops and garages. The maximum thickness is 6 3/81 cm, which is a little more than the DeWalt. It also has a maximum width of 30 cm. Its 2-knife cutterboard (the DeWalt has a 3-knife) is easily adjustable/replaceable, and it can support pieces up to 30 long.
The DeWalt can handle slightly longer and wider boards, but in our experience the quality of cut is better with this Makita.
Our choice for an affordable value option. This Delta is our recommendation if you are looking to add a planer in your workshop, but your budget is tight. You should be prepared to accept that you won’t get the best planer in the world if your budget is limited. However, we have used similar budget-priced planers and this one appears to be the best. The planer can hold stock up to 33cm wide by 15cm thick and has an infeed support of 6 cm and an outfield support 33 cm. What we like best about this tool is how user-friendly and no-frills it is; incredibly simple to adjust, maintain, and operate.
The biggest budget jointer out there that we know of. (Most amateur home garage planers are 6 or 20 cm). Again, make no mistake about the price – you get what you pay for. While a serious professional woodworker would never consider this for his shop, its a great value buy for DIYers looking to add a decent size planer to their shop. Jet also offers the JJP-8BT 20 cm planer for a little less. Both options are high quality and will get you setup with a jointer at a very affordable price.
At just a little over, this is the most valuable of all the tools. An adjustable fence that can be used to make 45-degree beveled cuts. The maximum depth of the cut is.
