Newbie questions

gpotwin · Post by **gpotwin** » Fri May 23, 2008 12:12 pm

What is the difference between a joiner and planer? Explain difference.

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » Fri May 23, 2008 12:30 pm

That is a question that has a long, long answer. I suggest going to the SS owners website and looking at the listings and photos as a start.

A quick answer is:
A jointer smooths and squares the edges of a piece of wood...
and a planer is used to dimension a piece of wood.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri May 23, 2008 1:34 pm

Good Question! Glad you asked it! The difference definitely needs to be understood by woodworking folks. I'll give it a try with the short answer.

A jointer is used to straighten and flatten one side (plane)of a board.

A planer (aka thickness planer) is used to make one side (plane) of a board parallel to the other side. Also you can control the thickness of that board.

A jointer - - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jointer

A planer - - or called a thickness planer - - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thickness_planer

gpotwin · Post by **gpotwin** » Fri May 23, 2008 2:50 pm

Ok so time for check my learning...

Planer - smooths out one side in accordance with the other parrallel side.

Joiner - smooths out one side of the board independantly.

So Planer is for thickness control and joiner is for straigness control on one side, so you don't have to sand down so much on a board that is not so straightly cut.

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Fri May 23, 2008 3:19 pm

gpotwin wrote:Ok so time for check my learning...

Planer - smooths out one side in accordance with the other parrallel side.

Joiner - smooths out one side of the board independantly.

So Planer is for thickness control and joiner is for straigness control on one side, so you don't have to sand down so much on a board that is not so straightly cut.

A jointer will give you one "flat" surface, once you have that you can put that surface against the fence of the jointer to give you 90 degree edge. With one flat face and an edge at 90 degrees you can move to the table saw to cut the other edge parallel and square. Then the planer will make the last side square to both edges and flat.

The other thing the jointer will do is give you an excellent edge for glue up. Sometimes the tablesaw will give you a less then perfect edge and the jointer will clean it up. With modern ripping blades this should not be required as many new blades are advertised as glue ready.

RobertTaylor · Post by **RobertTaylor** » Fri May 23, 2008 3:27 pm

if you were to run a warped or twisted board through a planer that has not been flattened on a jointer first you would have a board that has parallel surfaces but is still warped or twisted. people who try to plane boards on a jointer often find that the surfaces are not parallel as there is no means to keep it flat from side to side or end to end. bob

gpotwin · Post by **gpotwin** » Fri May 23, 2008 3:55 pm

Brilliant thanks everyone.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri May 23, 2008 4:50 pm

Hey there gpotwin! We aren't through yet! The jointer is also capable of making rabbets (mentioned in the wikipedia article) and straight smooth edges at an angle to another face, for example 45 degrees. It is not limited to making 90 deg. edges.

How can we address you? pot? or win? We are also curious as to the part of the world you call home. Example: "Boston area" or "Southern Alaska"

Wishing you success!

chiroindixon · Post by **chiroindixon** » Fri May 23, 2008 6:51 pm

The jointer is the cats' ass for cutting a long taper.......

Doc

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri May 23, 2008 9:22 pm

Cats' meow???

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Planer vs Joiner