Tool of the Week

JOINTER-PLANER

When glueing up stock to make wider pieces of material, square and smooth edges for the butt joints are essential. The jointer-planer (or sometimes referred to simply as a jointer) is a power tool that can accomplish this job with speed and accuracy. In addition to edge jointing, the fence can be tilted from 90-45 degrees for bevelling. They also can be used for surface planing stock. Some models have a provision for making rabbet cuts with the addition of an auxilliary table at the front of the main table.

Available in benchtop and floorstanding models they come in several sizes to handle stock from 4-16 inches in width. A particularly model by Delta ( JT160 6" Variable Speed Bench Jointer) is ideal for the home shop woodworker. It sets right on the workbench and can handle stock up to 6" wide and is small and light enough to be easily moved out of the way when not in use.

For heavy applications the wider capacity models are recommended. They not only have more powerful motors but also longer tables (typically from 46"-99"). The longer table is ideally suited for handling longer stock with less tendency of the workpiece tipping upward as the foremost part of the wood passes the outfeed end of the table.

Previous Tool Tips of the Week:
5/7/06 - Radial Drill Press
4/7/06 - The Tenoning Jig
10/7/05 - The Mortiser
8/5/05 - Hammer Drills
6/20/05 - The Corner Chisel