Jointer vs Planer 2021 Reviews: What’s the difference?

by Jul 25, 2020

Jointer VS Planer: What’s the difference? The Best Jointer and Planer You Should Buy

As a woodworker or just a regular handyman, you must be familiar with the dilemma and seemingly everlasting debate of Jointer vs. Planer. While both tools come in very handy in woodworking, it is prevalent to be confused about which is best, if they are separate and distinct tools or should complement each other, and which one comes first and or is more effective?

These are very salient questions every good woodworker is familiar with and have asked themselves, especially as a novice, it could constitute a severe professional dilemma. Should you make use of a jointer to adequately get your lumber prepared for the next big project, or will a planer do the job just as well?

Now, of course, as earlier mentioned, this dilemma is mostly common among novice or inexperienced woodworkers, however, if you ask a pro, their answer as regards this debate may be to correct the unfortunate misconception that a jointer and planer should be viewed as separate machines that do very different things and should be treated as such.

There may be other different or diverse opinions on this matter, but mostly, both machines are very much needed and equally important.

If you are into woodwork or want to purchase a particular wood, it would be wise to be abreast of this Jointer vs. Planer thing so you can make well-informed decisions and be on top of your game as far as these machines are concerned.

Ultimately, the decision is yours to make, but we would help you provide a guide, clarity, and well-informed information concerning these machines.

We would adequately elaborate on jointers and planers, address the debate on what they are precise, what they are used for? Which one is better? How they should be used, the differences between the two machines, among others.

Best Jointers Reviews on the Market.

1

Powermatic 1610086K Jointer

The Powermatic 1610086K is arguably the best jointer in today’s market. Also called The Powerful 60HH is a jointer made for professional woodworkers.

It has a long front and back tables that makes it perfect for long planks. Even with its length, The Powermatic 60HH is easy to adjust.

With this jointer, you don’t have to worry about noise because it’s versatile four-sided helical cutter head helps it run smoothly and quietly.

The only drawback with this jointer is that it is a pretty heavy tool with its weight at 490 pounds. Nonetheless, this jointer makes up for this drawback by working smoothly and efficiently.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble and start
  • Auto lubrication
  • Automatic tensioning system
  • Chain brake

Cons

  • Oil leakage is common
  • Kickback brake is oversensitive

2

PORTER-CABLE PC160JT Jointer

Do you know how the Powerful 60HH is for professionals and maybe too grand for you? The Porter-Cable PC160JT jointer is your best option if you’d prefer a light and affordable jointer. The Porter-Cable is an excellent choice for woodworkers who don’t want to use too much space while conserving money at the same time. Additionally, this jointer allows you to alternate power between 12,000 and 22,000 cuts per minute, depending on your working material. However, various customer reviews on the Porter-Cable PC160JT indicate that difficult re-adjustments are required too many times. It is important to note that this model is strictly a benchtop jointer.

Pros

  • Easy to start
  • Automatic oiling system
  • Handle for cutting in many directions
  • Great quality-to-price ratio

Cons

  • Leaks when stored with oil

3

Delta 37-071 Jointer

The Delta 37-071 jointer is excellent for beginners because it is easy to use. This jointer has a cutter head that allows up to 20,000 cuts per minute, which is also really fast. The Delta 27-071 Jointer has features like infeed and outfeed tables that help to reduce vibration. And it’s very light too. You can move it conveniently. Even with a built-in dust blower, this Delta jointer still has a poor dust port and can cause one or two dust-related problems.

Pros

  • Easy to start
  • Automatic oiling system
  • Handle for cutting in many directions
  • Great quality-to-price ratio

Cons

  • Leaks when stored with oil

4

Jointers Ridgid JP0610 6 1/8”

The Jointers Ridgid is now discontinued, and as a result, the ‘new-in-box’ price is much higher. All of that doesn’t reduce the quality of this jointer because it’s a real quality product. It has a wide bed and an adjustable fence that can stop at any of 45, 90, and 135 degrees for beveled edges.

Pros

  • Easy to start
  • Automatic oiling system
  • Handle for cutting in many directions
  • Great quality-to-price ratio

Cons

  • Leaks when stored with oil

5

WEN 6560 6” 10 Amp Corded Cast Iron Benchtop Jointer

This benchtop jointer has a wide table that allows you to put any sized piece of wood on top. Like the most powered jointers, the WEN 6560 has a 10 Amp motor that can run at 20,000 cuts per minute. This model is one of the cheapest in the market and cuts wood in a straight and beautiful manner. The WEN 6560 jointer is not very easy to operate, and it’s probably not the best choice for beginners. But for those who can figure it out, this jointer has excellent power and will be super useful.

Pros

  • Consistent, easy start
  • Good battery life
  • Speed trigger for speed control
  • Little noise

Cons

  • Chain oiler can cause problems

THE BEST PLANERS REVIEWS

1

DEWALT DW735X Thickness Planer

A planer is one of the essential tools in any woodworking shop, so it’s recommended that you get one. Good planers are excellent tools for achieving a uniformly thick material and for refurbishing old wood. The DeWalt DW735X is one of the best thickness planers, and you should get one. It’s got a 15-AMP motor that runs at 20,000 RPM with the 13-inch three-knife cutter head. With these features, this planer can handle a wider plank than almost any other planer you can find on the market. The DeWalt DW735X planer is expensive, so it isn’t recommended if you aren’t entirely devoted to quality woodworking.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble and start
  • Auto lubrication
  • Automatic tensioning system
  • Chain brake

Cons

  • Oil leakage is common
  • Kickback brake is oversensitive

2

WEN 6552T BENCHTOP THICKNESS PLANER

This is an excellent benchtop thickness planer for woodworkers who aren’t ready to spend a fortune on a tool like DeWalt’s planer. The WEN 6552T has a solid cast iron base that makes it possible to sit steadily on a bench. It comes with a 15-AMP motor that delivers 25,500 cuts per minute, which planes are sniping issues through its front and back extendable tables that support your material. The WEN Planer is affordable, exceptional, and with super helpful features. However, compared with more expensive models, the WEN lacks some stand out features.

Pros

  • 6300 RPM
  • Weather-resistant
  • Long battery life

Cons

  • Oil drips when stored

3

DEWALT DW734 BENCHTOP PLANER

This DeWalt Benchtop Planer is also one of the best models of planers to work with. Its 15-AMP powerful motor provides enough power to cut through the hardest of hardwoods. Like with most DeWalt products, this planer has the excellent quality, but it’s expensive.

Pros

  • Low maintenance
  • Easy to use
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Doesn’t have safety measures

4

Delta Power Tools 22-555 13″ Portable Thickness Planer

This Delta planer is an excellent choice for you if you’re working with a tight budget. The apparent effect of purchasing small budget tools is that you may have to let go of some features. Even with this in mind, the Delta planer is good enough for whatever loss you may feel from the lack of some features. It can take stock up to 13″ wide and 6″ thick with great infeed tables and outfeed support. This planer is easy to operate, affordable, and user friendly.

Pros

  • Can start in any weather condition
  • Easy to start
  • Anti-vibration

Cons

  • Not durable

5

Makita 2012NB 12” Planer with Interna-Lok Automated Head Clamp

Remember the DeWalt DW734 planer? This one is slightly better than that. The Makita planer can’t take boards as wide and long as the ones the DeWalt can handle. But it has such excellent quality of cut because of its active 2-knife cutter board. The Makita planer is even more expensive than the DeWalt DW734.

Pros

  • Powerful
  • Durable
  • Easy starting

Cons

  • You have to tighten the chain with a tool

WHAT IS A JOINTER

Defining a jointer and explaining its features and functions is very important in the all-to-popular Jointer vs. Planer debate. Perhaps the best way to figuring your own opinion is to understand how each of them works separately. Here’s the thing with jointers:

What Does A Jointer Do?

The jointers job is to make twisted pieces of wood smooth. Wood jointers are used for flattening the surfaces of damaged boards, and once those boards are flattened, the jointer can then be used to smooth out the edges. To perform its duties, a jointer has a rotating cutter head that may contain two or three blades between two flat tables.

What A Jointer Cannot Do?

Just as important in the wood planer vs. joiner debate is understanding the limitations of a wood jointer. A jointer can set the thickness of a cut you’re working on, but it can’t set the finished piece’s width. A jointer is also unable to make opposite faces of a board parallel.

Tips to Use the Jointer

Using a powerful tool such as a jointer can be dangerous. Here are some tips to ensure your safety when working with a wood jointer;

  • Stay away from the blades. The blades are very sharp and can cut through flesh and clothes.
  • When you work with thin pieces of stock, it is recommended that you work slowly.
  • These tools come with safety rules and instructions that should be read. It is even more important for a beginner to read these instructions carefully before using a jointer.
  • Wear protective gear. It’s never safe to underrate the power of safety gear even if you’re an expert.

WHAT IS A PLANER

Whether it’s the hand planer vs. jointer debate or the wood planer vs. jointer debate, your best bet at making the best decision is to know the specifics of each tool. You need answers to certain questions:

What Does A Planer Do?

A wood planer is used to adjust boards to a leveled thickness, before the current machines that are planers now used to exist handheld planers. A planer and a jointer have a similar role. It’s possible in theory for a planer to do the job of a jointer (i.e., to even out a piece of wood). But it’s easier to use a planer to reduce the thickness of the board.

What A Planer Cannot Do?

Smoothening edges can be tough if you’re using a thickness planer instead of a jointer. It is practically impossible to flatten out the edge of the wood with a planer.

Types of Planers
There are two major types of planers. The handheld planer is used for wood that is too large to fit through a thickness planer. The thickness planer is used when the wood is adjustable. Some other forms are Benchtop planers, Floor Standing Planers, and Electric Hand Planers.

Tips to Safely Use A Planer

The safety tips for using a planer are the same as that of a jointer. The wood planer vs. jointer debate doesn’t extend to safety measures. Safely operating and wearing safety gear remain very important.

WHICH COMES FIRST: PLANER OR JOINTER

The most likely reason for the planer vs. jointer debate is about saving money. You probably want to choose between the two because you don’t see the point in buying two very similar tools. Then you ask the all-important question – Which one comes first?
The answer to this planer vs. jointer question depends on the nature of the work you need to be done.

However, if a choice must be made, you probably want to buy a planer first. The jointer has minimal functions and will most certainly not do what a planer would do. If you have pre-milled stock, you’ll be able to make the boards any thickness you want with a planer.

If it’s the case that your stock is not pre-milled, the planer can work too. So long as your rough boards are relatively straight, you can send them through the planer slowly. Likely, you’ll still have rough edges, but some options can take care of that other than a jointer.

You can get smoother edges if you:
Trim with a circular saw and a saw guide. Trim at the table saw with a jointing jig. Trim with a hand plane. Trim at the router table.
None of the above solutions are perfect replacements for a jointer, and they should be considered temporary.

If you want the best work, you’re still going to need a jointer.
Therefore, in Planer vs. Jointer, if one needs to come first, we suggest a planer.

JOINTER-PLANER COMBOS

The great thing about planer vs. jointer is that you don’t always have to choose one when you can get both. Not two separate machines but a two-in-one tool. This incredible combo is referred to as a jointer-planer combo.

An original jointer-planer integrates the features and functions of both jointer and planer while using the same cutting head for both. This combo looks like a very wide jointer, but it can smoothen out edges, and it can give you the exact thickness any planer would provide you.

Here’s a list of quality jointer-planer combos:

JET JJP-12 Jointer-Planer, RIKON Power Tools 25-210H Jointer-Planer, Jet JJP-8BT Jointer-Planer.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are Jointer-Planer Combos any good?

Yes, jointer-planers are great. But they can be cumbersome and expensive.

2. Can a table saw be used as a jointer?

A table saw can help with smoothening edges, but it doesn’t do it as well as a jointer.

3. Can you use a jointer on plywood?

Technically, you can use a jointer on plywood. However, there is a strong possibility that the glue in plywood can damage the jointer blades.

4. Should I buy a planer or a jointer first?

As we said, this is highly dependent on the work you wish to do. If you are particular about smooth edges, use a jointer. If your primary concern is thickness, use a planer.

5. Is a thickness planer worth it?

Sure, a thickness planer is worth it. It is of great help because of its speed and efficiency.

6. What to do if you don’t have a planer?

If you haven’t got a thickness planer or benchtop planer, you can use a hand planer. They are instrumental too. If none of these options is available, you can try a table saw, or a router, or a jack plane.

7. Will a planer fix warped boards?

A jointer is perfect for fixing warped boards. Nonetheless, it’s possible to use a planer to fix warped boards by following specific procedures.

8. When would you use a planer?

If you wanted to smoothen the face and back of a board or ensure that the surfaces are precisely parallel or achieve a precise thickness, then a planer would be the best option.

9. How can you reduce the planer snip?

Sniping is when a board is cut on the beginning or end when going through the planer. If you want to prevent planer snipe, you can cut the snipe off the ends, adjust the infeed and outfeed tables up. Then use a board that can be wasted before and after to be lifted in and out of the planer.

Conclusion

Planer and Jointers are very different tools with different functions. It is kind of like how a knife and a blade can cut through things but will not cut through something in the same fashion. Deciding between a planer and a jointer is a temporary fix, and if you’re serious about getting the best from the woodwork, you should undoubtedly get the both of them. If you have to choose one, this article has provided you with all you need to make the best decision.
<a href="https://woodcraftmaniac.com/author/admin/" target="_self">James S. Avila</a>

James S. Avila

Author

Millions of injuries are caused by chainsaws on a yearly basis. Lack of proper research and guidance on how to buy the most suitable chainsaws for projects are among the factors responsible for these accidents. These unfortunate accidents are pathetic and this is the reason why this website is created. James Avila is a professional who understands chainsaws and various machinery, and willing to share in-depth information about chainsaws and enable our readers to make informed decisions when they want to purchase the right chainsaws for their projects. His expertise in the industry has brought well-researched reviews that have saved our readers thousands of dollars