What's the Difference Between a Jointer and a Planer
A jointer and a planer are both woodworking machines used to prepare and shape wood, but they serve different purposes and perform different tasks in the woodworking process. Here’s a break down of the differences between the two:
Jointer:
1. Purpose:
A jointer is primarily used to flatten one face of a board and create a straight edge along its length. It’s used to prepare the surface of rough lumber before moving on to other woodworking processes.
2. Operation
A jointer has a rotating cutter head with knives that remove material from the wood’s surface. The infeed table and outfeed table are adjustable, allowing you to control the depth of cut and achieve a flat surface
3. Result:
After using a jointer, you’ll have one flat face and one straight edge on the board. This makes it easier to run the flat face against the fence of other tools like a table saw or planer.
Planer:
1. Purpose:
A planer is used to create boards with consistent thickness throughout their length. It takes rough or uneven lumber and produces smooth, parallel surfaces on both sides of the board.
2. Operation
- A planer features a set of rotating blades that remove material from the top surface of the board as it passes through the machine. The thickness is adjusted using the planer’s controls.
3. Result:
After using a planer, you’ll have a board with uniform thickness. This is crucial for various woodworking projects where consistent thickness is necessary, such as creating flat panels for furniture.
In summary, a jointer is used to flatten and straighten one face and one edge of a board, while a planer is used to achieve a consistent thickness on a board’s entire surface. These two machines are often used in conjunction: you would typically use a jointer first to create a flat reference face and edge, and then use a planer to achieve uniform thickness on the entire board.