The Best Wood Jointers to Join Wood Pieces With Precision

Wood jointers are crucial in creating strong and stable joints in woodwork. Whether you want to make chair legs or a paneled tabletop, no other tool is as effective as a wood jointer. Numerous models are available for purchase, and you need to choose the one most appropriate for your needs, which is easier said than done. You might find yourself getting overwhelmed due to the sheer amount of choice and variance between the models. Keeping this in mind, we have created a complete buying guide, so you know what to look for. 

The Main Types of Wood Jointers 

1. Hand-operated wood jointers are portable and don’t need to be set up on a tabletop or need assembly. You connect them to an electrical outlet, set the fence at the desired angle, select the stop mark, and you are ready to work on the wood piece. These jointers create biscuit slots with which you can join two wood panels. 
2. Benchtop wood jointers are used for flattening, edging, and joining wood pieces of varying sizes. They aren’t portable because of their large size and hefty construction, but they offer higher accuracy and can handle large wood pieces with ease. 

Factors to Consider

Motor speed 

The motor speed of a wood jointer determines its performance. Most products feature a fixed speed such as 6000 rpm, 10000 rpm, or more, depending on motor power. A high-speed jointer is ideal for achieving accuracy or cutting harder wood, while the low-speed tool is suitable for beginners or average woodwork where precision is not the ultimate goal. Jointers with fixed speeds have one major drawback — they aren’t suitable for varied materials, which is why you should look for variable speed options if you work with different materials often. Usually, the range is configured between 6000 rpm and 11000 rpm to ensure you can easily cut soft and hardwood without damaging the workpiece. 

Cutter material

Jointers are known for precise and accurate cutting, flattening, and edging, so if you choose a tool with regular cutters, you will either end up with tangled wood fibers at the point of contact or a broken blade. You should look for models equipped with carbide cutters since carbide is a tough material that can resist wear and tear. Carbide blades are also generally sharper, meaning you can cut through wooden fibers without leaving uneven surfaces. 

Workstation

If you choose a benchtop wood jointer, you must ensure the workstation is large enough to meet your work requirements. Usually, most models have larger and broader worktops where you can fit wood blocks of different sizes. Some jointers also come with an extendable rack on either side, offering a larger workplace and more flexibility to deal with longer pieces. While browsing benchtop jointers, you should look for a workstation made from cast iron with a steel top since this combination of materials is highly durable and offers optimal stability. 

Fence

Both hand and benchtop wood jointers come with an adjustable fence that you can tilt to achieve the desired angle and height for cuts. Usually, you can tilt fences of hand jointers from 0˚ to 90˚, while on benchtops, the tilting angle varies between 90˚ and 135˚.

Cutting depth 

Benchtop wood jointers are configured as 6-inch and 8-inch, which determines the cutting depth of the tool. If you want narrow cuts, go for the 6-inch model, while for wider and larger cuts, the 8-inch tool is ideal. 

Biscuit slots

Most hand-operated wood jointers are equipped with pre-set stops, and you can turn the knob to change the biscuit slot size. The three most preferred slot sizes are #0, #10, and #20. 

Knife type

Benchtops wood jointers come with two different knife types — two-blade knives and spiral knives. Two-blade knives cut straight along the wood piece edge smoothly but suffer a lot of wear and tear and need frequent replacement. On the contrary, if you choose a spiral cutter jointer, you can save yourself from the unnecessary hassles of frequent replacements. As a bonus, it also produces smoother and more accurate cuts. 

Safety Precautions to Follow When Using a Wood Jointer

• Place the cupped wood surface down over the workstation of a benchtop wood jointer.
• Always cut along the grain of the wood piece you are using.
• Lock the power button in the benchtop wood jointer to prevent accidents.
• Slide in a bar and check if the bottom fence rack and the blade are equally spaced or not.