6 Features to Check Before Buying a Jointer | Woodworking

6 Features to Check Before Buying a Jointer | Woodworking

A woodworking jointer is rarely the first tool purchased by a woodworker and many woodworkers can get by without one. But if you want to work with rough-sawn lumber, then a jointer is an important tool to have in your workshop.
What should you consider when you’re shopping for a woodworking jointer? Your budget is an obvious consideration, but there are also six features or options that are important to consider, including the board capacity, the cutterhead style, the fence, the type of infeed and outfeed table lifts, if it has casters or a mobile base, and the drive belt tensioning system. In this video, Chris Marshall goes over the pros and cons of different options available. Jointers make it easy to flatten a face or square two edges of a board.

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44 Comments

  1. Reedith Graham on January 7, 2022 at 8:39 pm

    Excellent explanation thank you trying to buy a used jointer problem is I knew nothing about them before I came across this video



  2. Jb B on January 7, 2022 at 8:41 pm

    Great video!  Learned a little more about jointers.  I have been considering one of the table top models but with this new information I might just save my money a little longer for one like you have presented here.  Thank you



  3. jeff b on January 7, 2022 at 8:42 pm

    An excellent job!



  4. BIG JOE 245 on January 7, 2022 at 8:42 pm

    It appears that you are promoting Powermatic jointers? At one time Powermatic was to be top of the line. most high school shops bought them. I have heard that in recent years they are not turning out the best quality equipment because Jet bought them out. Can you relate to this? I have a 6" Powermatic Artisan jointer that I have had for over 25 years that I am looking to replace. It’s been a good one but I’m looking to upgrade



  5. MondoRockable on January 7, 2022 at 8:47 pm

    Read the Amazon reviews on the Powermatic (1610082 PJ-882HH 8-Inch Parallelogram Jointer with Helical Cutterhead). Apparently, if the two planes are not coplanar and need adjustment, you are in for a hell of a time – the "adjustment mechanism [for the outfeed table] is extremely coarse". Hard pass.



  6. Brendan Chatt on January 7, 2022 at 8:47 pm

    Cool, thank you!



  7. Bernie Parent on January 7, 2022 at 8:49 pm

    Great information to consider, specially for someone who is new to woodworking like me who is in the market for a jointer. I just picked up a Dewalt DW735 planer and I am deciding on buying a new vs used jointer. There’s lots of used ones for sale on kijiji – Craigslist etc.
    What is your position on buying new or used when starting out? When buying used, other than what you mentioned in your video, anything else to look for and any brands to stay away from? Thanks



  8. Evelyn Mueller on January 7, 2022 at 8:51 pm

    brilliant video, thank you



  9. Ryan Mortensen on January 7, 2022 at 8:53 pm

    At 4:30 you talk about the fence not having twist. How do you check that?



  10. smashgordon on January 7, 2022 at 9:00 pm

    I dont believe any of this. Someone should probably send me a jointer so I can test this out….



  11. Doug C on January 7, 2022 at 9:02 pm

    Excellent video, thanks.



  12. Money Mills on January 7, 2022 at 9:02 pm

    Great info thanks. I’ve been looking at that exact Powermatic and although my mind was made up already now it’s even more solid. That’s what I’m getting



  13. Luis Sanchez on January 7, 2022 at 9:03 pm

    Thank you so much for this video!



  14. xorbodude on January 7, 2022 at 9:05 pm

    Is there a good second hand market on these?



  15. Lazio on January 7, 2022 at 9:05 pm

    I am seriously considering buying a jointer! I work with old reclaimed wood and never is anything straight on this wood! It makes it very difficult to get anything lined up straight. But I think a jointer might help out with this problem I have!
    Thanks for sharing the great info you put out! Very helpful



  16. Dariush Milani on January 7, 2022 at 9:05 pm

    Thank you. Always good advise.



  17. Robin G on January 7, 2022 at 9:06 pm

    Thank you, very informative



  18. Bill K. on January 7, 2022 at 9:07 pm

    Thanks Chris.



  19. Markus Patients on January 7, 2022 at 9:08 pm

    I made my own 4×42 inch jointer out of 3/4 solid bond maple plywood and plexiglass.



  20. Kaijin C on January 7, 2022 at 9:10 pm

    Thankyou!



  21. Anom Amos on January 7, 2022 at 9:10 pm

    Possible tip.
    On a straight blade cutter head don’t put all the blades in parallel.
    Angle one blade a fraction down on one end and the next blade a fraction down on the other and the next parallel
    Then when you feed do so slow enough to ensure each blade has rotated at least three times on the one spot.
    This should reduce chip out and make shorter chips that don’t clog the dust extraction system.



  22. John Coltrain on January 7, 2022 at 9:10 pm

    You should have MANY, MANY more subscribers; high quality video! Thank you for taking the time to provide the videos and content.



  23. tripillthreat on January 7, 2022 at 9:11 pm

    Great, informative video. Thanks.



  24. MathGuy on January 7, 2022 at 9:11 pm

    Hi Chris, great video! Very informative and helpful.



  25. Gary Knable on January 7, 2022 at 9:13 pm

    Very informative vid thanks for all you all do.



  26. Joseph Consuegra on January 7, 2022 at 9:14 pm

    One important decision he did not address is price.



  27. SimParadox on January 7, 2022 at 9:15 pm

    Is it normal to make the "t" silent when pronouncing "jointer"?



  28. 1bcordell on January 7, 2022 at 9:15 pm

    This is a great review. Thank you. Anyone have opinions on the Rikon?



  29. glen schumann on January 7, 2022 at 9:16 pm

    Thanks



  30. Peter O'Brien on January 7, 2022 at 9:16 pm

    I can’t wait till I can afford to put an 8 inch jointer in my shop.



  31. Ariel Erlanger on January 7, 2022 at 9:17 pm

    excellent and helpful overview, thank you for this video



  32. MIKE LILLEJORD on January 7, 2022 at 9:20 pm

    Excellent overview of jointers. I’m making my first purchase and your video was an excellent overview. Thanks!



  33. Rob Munro on January 7, 2022 at 9:20 pm

    brilliant



  34. coolinken on January 7, 2022 at 9:21 pm

    That was extremely informative. Thanks!



  35. Stan Kolodin on January 7, 2022 at 9:22 pm

    The audio was weird at the end.



  36. Nick Kropat on January 7, 2022 at 9:23 pm

    Something else to consider is power consumption – As far as I have seen, there are no jointers on the market (Other than benchtops and very small 6" stand models) that operate on 110v. For those of us without 220v in the shop, the options are severely limited



  37. michael on January 7, 2022 at 9:23 pm

    Is there a specific reason why these ‘American-style’ jointers have limited width? Most jointer planer combos tend to have at least 10 and more often 12 inch capacity. And those are not even that much more expensive.



  38. Alex Reid on January 7, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    So what can you do about it if you find that your fence isn’t square?



  39. Austin goodwyn on January 7, 2022 at 9:25 pm

    "As the cast iron continues to cure" uh what?



  40. Keith's Shop on January 7, 2022 at 9:27 pm

    Good thoughts Chris. I love my very old 12" jointer, but certainly could not afford to replace it. Some day I will replace the cutter head and Babbit bearings with a Helix cutter head and ball bearings.



  41. Manny Yabar on January 7, 2022 at 9:27 pm

    Great video!



  42. Mark Burgess on January 7, 2022 at 9:34 pm

    Great video , didn’t know about anything except the straight blade cutters . I have a 6 inch jointer because I have a 14 inch planer .



  43. LoveTheSun on January 7, 2022 at 9:34 pm

    Great informative video



  44. Ace Many on January 7, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    You look like a man who take great care of his equipments. May I buy a used jointer from you for a great price 😁