Difference Between A Planer And A Jointer Woodworking Tool – Your
The Jointer’s Job: A jointer creates one perfectly flat face and one perfectly square edge (at 90 degrees to the flat face) on a piece of wood. It’s the first step in milling lumber.
The Planer’s Job: A thickness planer takes the board you just jointed and makes the opposite face parallel to the first one, bringing the board to a consistent thickness. It cannot flatten a board on its own.
Ever bring a beautiful stack of rough-sawn maple or cherry back to the workshop, only to realize your boards have more cups, bows, and twists than a winding country road? It’s a classic woodworking headache. You can’t build a square cabinet or a flat tabletop with lumber that isn’t, well, square and flat.
This is where two of the most foundational machines in any woodshop come into play: the jointer and the planer. But for newcomers, their names and functions can be seriously confusing. They both have spinning cutterheads and they both make wood thinner. So what’s the big deal?
I promise that by the end of this guide, you’ll understand the crucial difference between a planer and a jointer woodworking tool. We’re going to break down exactly what each machine does, why they are a team, and the proper workflow to turn that rough, unreliable lumber into perfectly milled stock that’s ready for any project you can dream up.
What is a Jointer? The Foundation of Flatness
Think of the jointer as the starting line. Its entire purpose is to create your first two perfectly true surfaces: one flat face and one square edge.
A jointer has a long, flat cast-iron bed, split into two tables—an infeed and an outfeed table—with a spinning cutterhead nestled between them. You set the infeed table slightly lower than the outfeed table and the cutterhead. This difference in height determines how much material you remove with each pass.
You place your board on the infeed table and push it across the cutterhead onto the outfeed table. Because the outfeed table is perfectly co-planar (on the same flat plane) with the cutterhead’s highest point, it acts as a reference, ensuring the cut portion of the board is perfectly straight.
The Jointer’s Two Critical Jobs
- Creating One Flat Face: You start by finding the “cupped” side of your board (the side that curves inward like a bowl) and placing it face down on the jointer. This provides stability. You pass the board over the cutterhead until that entire face is perfectly flat. This is now your reference face.
- Creating One Square Edge: Next, you place that newly flattened reference face against the jointer’s fence, which should be set to a perfect 90 degrees. You then run an edge of the board over the cutterhead. The result is an edge that is perfectly square to your reference face.
At this point, you have a board with one flat face and one square edge. The other two sides are still rough and uneven. That’s where its partner comes in.
What is a Planer? The Tool for Consistent Thickness
A thickness planer looks a bit different. Instead of the cutterhead being in the bed, it’s suspended above the bed. You feed a board into one side, and rollers pull it through, passing it under the spinning cutterhead before it exits the other side.
Here’s the key concept that trips everyone up: a planer cannot make a board flat. It only makes one surface parallel to the other.
If you feed a warped board into a planer, the pressure from the feed rollers will temporarily flatten it against the bed. The cutterhead will slice the top parallel to the warped bottom. When the board comes out, it will spring back into its warped shape, only now it’s a thinner warped board.
This is why a planer’s job is always the second step. You must feed it a board that already has one flat reference face, created on the jointer. You place the flat, jointed face down on the planer bed. The planer then references that flat face to make the top, rough face perfectly parallel and bring the entire board to a uniform thickness.
The Jointer and Planer in Action: A Step-by-Step Workflow
Understanding the theory is one thing, but seeing the workflow makes it click. This is a fundamental milling process that woodworkers call “S4S,” or Surfaced Four Sides. Here is a simple, step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Joint One Face Flat
Select your board and identify any cup, bow, or twist. Place the cupped side down on the jointer’s infeed table for stability. Using push blocks for safety, make light passes (removing about 1/32″ to 1/16″ at a time) until the entire face is clean and flat. This is your reference face.
Step 2: Joint an Adjacent Edge Square
Hold your new reference face firmly against the jointer’s fence. Make sure the fence is set to a perfect 90 degrees. Run an edge over the cutterhead until it is also clean and smooth. You now have one flat face and one square edge.
Step 3: Plane for Thickness
Move to your thickness planer. Place the board with the flat reference face down on the planer bed. Set the planer to take a light cut and feed the board through. Continue making passes, flipping the board end-for-end each time to balance the cut, until you reach your desired final thickness.
Step 4: Rip to Final Width
Your board now has two flat, parallel faces and one square edge. Take it to the table saw. Place the jointed square edge against your table saw’s rip fence and rip the final, rough edge off to bring the board to its final width. You now have a board that is flat, square, and ready for your project.
The Critical Difference Between a Planer and a Jointer Woodworking Tool: A Side-by-Side Comparison
Let’s boil down this entire guide into a simple comparison to highlight the benefits of difference between a planer and a jointer woodworking tool. Understanding this relationship is key to avoiding frustration in the shop.
- Primary Function:
- Jointer: To create a single flat face and a single square edge. It creates the reference surfaces.
- Planer: To make the second face parallel to the first and bring the board to a consistent thickness. It uses the reference surface.
- Cutterhead Location:
- Jointer: The cutterhead is located in the middle of the tool’s bed. The wood passes over it.
- Planer: The cutterhead is located above the tool’s bed. The wood passes under it.
- Reference Surface:
- Jointer: The jointer references its own flat outfeed table to straighten the board.
- Planer: The planer references the face of the board that is placed down on its bed.
- Order of Operation:
- Jointer: Always first. You cannot plane a board effectively without jointing it first.
- Planer: Always second. It relies on the work done by the jointer.
Common Problems and How to Solve Them
Even with the right workflow, you can run into issues. Here are some common problems with difference between a planer and a jointer woodworking tool and how to fix them.
Problem: Snipe (on the Planer)
Snipe is when the planer cuts a little deeper at the beginning and end of a board. This happens when the board tips slightly as it enters or exits the machine, causing the cutterhead to dig in.
- Solution: Support the board as it enters and exits the planer, keeping it level with the bed. Many woodworkers also mill their boards a few inches longer than needed and simply cut the snipped ends off.
Problem: Tear-Out
Tear-out happens when the cutterhead lifts and tears wood fibers instead of shearing them cleanly. This is common in wood with figured or reversing grain, like curly maple.
- Solution: Take very light passes. Also, pay attention to grain direction. On a jointer, try to feed the board so the grain is “running downhill” away from the cutterhead. On a planer, you can sometimes get better results by feeding the board in the opposite direction.
Problem: Tapered Boards (on the Jointer)
If you apply uneven pressure, especially at the end of a pass on the jointer, you can end up creating a board that is thinner at one end than the other.
- Solution: Focus on applying even pressure along the length of the board. As soon as the board makes contact with the outfeed table, shift your pressure to the outfeed side to keep the board flat and stable.
Tool Care and Sustainable Woodworking Practices
A good difference between a planer and a jointer woodworking tool care guide is essential for getting good results. Sharp knives are everything. Dull knives will tear the wood and put unnecessary strain on your machine’s motor.
Learn how to check, change, and set your jointer and planer knives. Many modern machines use disposable, double-sided carbide insert knives that are easy to swap out.
For more sustainable difference between a planer and a jointer woodworking tool practices, consider a robust dust collection system. These tools create a massive amount of chips. Proper dust collection not only keeps your shop clean but also improves air quality and machine performance. You can also use these tools to reclaim wood from old furniture or pallets, giving old materials a new life and promoting an eco-friendly difference between a planer and a jointer woodworking tool approach in your shop.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jointers and Planers
Can I use a planer as a jointer?
No, you cannot. A planer will only replicate the surface it references. If you feed it a cupped board, you will get a thinner cupped board. You need a jointer (or a jointer sled for your planer) to create the initial flat reference face.
I have a limited budget. Which one should I buy first?
This is a tough question. Technically, the jointer should come first in the workflow. However, you can build a simple router sled or a planer sled to flatten one face of a board with tools you may already have. This makes the planer arguably the more versatile first purchase for a hobbyist, as it’s very difficult to replicate its function of creating uniform thickness by hand.
What size jointer and planer do I need?
For hobbyist furniture making, a 6-inch or 8-inch jointer is very common and capable. For planers, a 12-inch or 13-inch benchtop “lunchbox” planer is a fantastic and popular starting point. The width of your jointer will be the limiting factor for how wide of a board you can flatten in one go.
Mastering the relationship between the jointer and planer is a true woodworking milestone. It unlocks the ability to use rough, less-expensive lumber and transform it into perfectly dimensioned stock for projects you can be proud of.
Take your time, practice on some scrap wood, and always prioritize safety with these powerful machines. Happy building!
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