Jointer Vs. Planer: What’s best for your woodworking project?

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RIKON Power Tools 20-600H 6inch Benchtop Jointer

New woodworkers have a host of considerations when they get into the trade. Many of these revolve around understanding tools and their relevance. Jointers and planers tend to form a part of these considerations, as people often wonder which comes before the other and which is better to use.

You shouldn’t be comparing these tools to each other in this manner, as each has its useful place in the shop. If you ask any woodworking veteran, you are likely to get a similar response. 

If you believe that the two are alternative tools that perform the same function, this is a good time to dispel that myth. You can use both on the same wood piece to great effect. So, the information below is aimed at explaining the differences between a jointer and a planer, which should help you to decide how to apply each to your tasks.

The Jointer

This heavy-duty implement helps you to keep the edges of your wooden boards straight. When you want to join pieces of board together to create a larger unit, their edges must sit flush against each other for the best results. The jointer ensures you achieve this objective by maintaining perfectly symmetrical square or rectangular shapes.

A hand plane could be used to achieve a similar objective, but going that route is not recommended. Not only does it require greater skill, but it is wildly inconvenient compared to the results of simply letting the jointer do what it does best.

Total Biscuit Jointer 950W

Apart from this fall ocean, you can use your jointer to remove copying, warps, or twists from your board.

Pros

Here are the positive aspects of the jointer:

  • You can get your square or rectangular edges perfectly done with minimal effort when compared to what would be required for a hand plane.
  • The cost is very attractive compared to that of planers.
  • Adjustability is a huge factor present, which allows you to modify your cut angle as needed.
  • There is no quicker way to remove warping and twisting than to use a jointer.

Cons

On the downside, you have these considerations with a jointer in the mix:

  • Even when you have done your best job with the jointer, it’s all about the edges. The rough faces that need to be smoothed out remain.
  • Theirs is no guarantee of thickness consistency.

The Planer

DEWALT Thickness Planer

Professional’s Choice
The planner handles the matter of consistent thickness and parallel alignment. The design of the planer includes a flatbed for your board, as well as a conveniently positioned cutting head immediately above. 

When you use your jointer to ensure you have that sought-after square or rectangular look, it doesn’t and there. what happens beyond the squared edge and flat surface that you have taken care of? Are you going to put the board through the jointer repeatedly to handle the rest? You could go that route, but it’s not the most efficient or attractive method to use.

POWERTEC PL1252 15 Amp 2-Blade Benchtop Thickness Planer

The planner handles the matter of consistent thickness and parallel alignment. The design of the planer includes a flatbed for your board, as well as a conveniently positioned cutting head immediately above. 

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Using the included input and output rollers, you can exercise tight control over the board’s processing speed. At the end of it all, you end up with a smooth finish that has a consistent thickness, which you would not be able to get from your jointer.

Pros

Now it’s time to highlight the areas that make a planer amazing:

  • There is no better choice if you are trying to achieve consistent thickness.
  • The automation that’s present makes it a far superior choice to traditional hand tools.
  • While it’s not the only way to go, using the planner gives you the most effortless method for creating parallel surfaces.
  • When the job is done, there is a smooth finish present throughout that you would not get if you stopped at just using the jointer.

Cons

What about the downsides of the planer? Well, they are as follows:

  • Compared to the jointer, the planer is a much more expensive tool.
  • There is no functionality present for handling cupping, twisting, or warping.
  • Though the planer is better suited to achieving consistent thickness, you often don’t get that result after passing the board through the machine once.
  • A planner is not suited to edge squaring.
Jointer Vs. Planer
Jointers and planers tend to form a part of these considerations, as people often wonder which comes before the other and which is better to use.
Professional's Choice

Contrasting the Differences

So, now you have all the information you need about what jointers and planers do, where they shine, and where they falter. To further drive home the necessity of either tool, it’s time to zoom in on the contrasting areas.

First, there is the matter of each tool’s main purpose. If you’re getting a jointer, you want to square an edge and flatten a face, particularly because you’re going to be joining the said edge and face to another piece of wood. Planers, on the other hand, ensure you have parallel surfaces and consistent thickness throughout the piece of wood.

A jointer has knives mounted on the table, which means the wood gets cut from below. the cut is made from above when planers are used.

While planers have no functionality that assists with warping or cupping, a jointer is the most efficient way to take care of these nuisances. Additionally, planers tend to be on the more expensive side of the fence than jointers.

Are These Tools Always Relevant?

WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer, 3-1-4-Inch

The imperfections that would necessitate a jointer or a planer are not always present. For example, it’s quite possible to get your hands on wood that has already been pre-finished. In such cases, the edges and faces would already be properly shaped, warping and twisting would not be a factor, and parallel layout, as well as thickness, would be in order.

However, if you are paying a visit to your local lumberyard our other traditional DIY vendor, you are getting strong and durable unfinished wood, which is going to require some work on your part.

This means it’s rough cut, there are likely uneven surfaces, and the wood may be twisted, cupped, or warped. Your jointer can tackle the warping, cupping, and twisting, while your planer can handle the smoothing and leveling of the surfaces. In the end, the wood is ready for use.

Final Remarks – Which to Buy

As you can see from all the information presented, you are not meant to choose one or the other. Their best-case scenario would be purchasing both since they come together to create the finished product you want. The workflow involves starting with the jointer then turning to the planer.

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Why trust Handyman.Guide?

s written by Itamar Ben-Dor, who has 25 years of experience in renovations, carpentry, locks, creation, landscaping, painting, furniture construction, and furniture renovation, works with concrete, plumbing, door repair, and more.

Itamar Ben-Dor has been in the home improvement business for over 25 years. Itamar Ben-Dor is a jack of all trades. He's worked in the renovation field for years, doing everything from locksmithing to carpentry. He's a small repairs specialist. But his true passion lies in furniture construction and renovation - he loves seeing old pieces come back to life with some new woodwork or a fresh coat of paint.

He has taken courses on many topics in these fields at professional colleges in Israel. Over the years, Itamar has also become quite skilled in gardening, carpentry, and renovations. He's worked on projects of all sizes, from massive renovations to small repairs. No job is too big or too small for him!


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Itamar Ben Dor
Itamar Ben Dor

My father is a practical engineer, and as a hobby he was also involved in construction, renovations, carpentry and woodwork at home; So there was always tools, saws, drills and more at home. Already I was a little kid Dad and I would renovate the house. Once we built a shed for garden tools, once we did flooring for the garden, once we renovated the bathroom and that’s the way it is. Long before there was an internet, directories and plans. We would build things, kitchen cabinets, install electrical appliances, do flooring, pour concrete and more ... I in this blog want to pass on to you the experience I have gained over the last 20 plus-minus years since I was a child to this day and give you information about the best tools, project plans, guides and more.

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