Using a Level as a Jointer? Woodworking Tips and Tricks #Shorts

Using a Level as a Jointer? Woodworking Tips and Tricks #Shorts

I’ve jointed boards without a jointer for years just using a table saw and a level. Let me show you how! #shorts Amazon and other affiliate links are used in this description and they help support this channel.

*Videos To Watch Next*
5 Ways to Joint Boards Without a Jointer: https://youtu.be/UFfj8qGVxZ0
How to Cut Straight with a Circular Saw: https://youtu.be/KszoEbvCzNs

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Jointer I Use: https://amzn.to/3nVipAM
Good 48″ Level: https://amzn.to/3nSiwgr

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50 Comments

  1. Shane Cateriny on May 18, 2023 at 10:48 am

    Jesus paid my debt too!!

  2. roguejediwil on May 18, 2023 at 10:48 am

    Yes i used your trick. It worked. Thank you Matt

  3. Celticty on May 18, 2023 at 10:48 am

    Mind….. BLOWN!!

  4. John Coops on May 18, 2023 at 10:50 am

    Or you can just use the fence, which is already fitted to the saw and just as straight as the level. DOH

  5. Dave Klassen on May 18, 2023 at 10:52 am

    Nice shirt 👍🏽

  6. Ware Wolf on May 18, 2023 at 10:52 am

    Damn still s.o.l.I need a fkn table saw

  7. Brent Jackson on May 18, 2023 at 10:55 am

    Great tip.

  8. Scott Climer on May 18, 2023 at 10:57 am

    Brilliant!

  9. Joseph Lipetzky on May 18, 2023 at 10:57 am

    Thanks you, very good info

  10. Scott's Woodworking on May 18, 2023 at 10:58 am

    Short and sweet advice! Another tip with this method is to put the bowed side towards the blade and not against the level, otherwise it will have a tendency to keep the bow as you pass the wood through the blade.

  11. Anthony Jeffers on May 18, 2023 at 10:59 am

    I tried it, and it worked great.

  12. Mike Sullivan on May 18, 2023 at 10:59 am

    Currently in the process of Trying it for a side board top Getting there

  13. John Cline on May 18, 2023 at 10:59 am

    Haven’t tried it yet but this is the second time I’ve watched the video. I only have one shot to get it right and not ruin the log. It’s really straight so I think I can accomplish it with this method. Thanks for helping out, great tip!!!

  14. James Lucas on May 18, 2023 at 11:01 am

    Great tip! Thanks!

  15. David Tolentino on May 18, 2023 at 11:01 am

    I’ve done this and even if it’s not perfectly “jointed” you still get way better of an edge than otherwise without a jointer. Definitely a sweet tip!

  16. John Anthony on May 18, 2023 at 11:02 am

    Yep it works 👍

  17. George M. on May 18, 2023 at 11:06 am

    Seamos is open

  18. Hiram Harrison on May 18, 2023 at 11:08 am

    I don’t understand. Isn’t the fence a straight and true reference? You’re referencing the level which is still referencing the fence.

  19. Adam chesis on May 18, 2023 at 11:09 am

    that’s pretty dangerous and you’re asking for a kickback. learn how to tune and use a hand plane if you don’t have a jointer

  20. James Wheeler on May 18, 2023 at 11:10 am

    Used this for cutting a post in half to go against a wall. The post had two points of contact, but the rest of the post was round. Worked like a charm.

  21. John Corrall on May 18, 2023 at 11:10 am

    Good tip.

  22. John Brown on May 18, 2023 at 11:11 am

    If your fence is parallel to the blade and you put another thing that is between the fence that has 2 parallel sides how does this change anything?

  23. haskel bowen on May 18, 2023 at 11:12 am

    I tried it after I watched you doing it, it worked perfect.

  24. Barry Schutz on May 18, 2023 at 11:15 am

    I tried this, and I modified it at one end of the level drill to holes with threads and bolt down a flat piece of flat stock that comes out of the level about a quarter of an inch.

  25. Tim M on May 18, 2023 at 11:16 am

    I’m missing the concept of why the level is needed? Is the fence not good (i.e. flat, parallel? I have a three piece fence whereas the sides are made of a durable plastic material. I use a .001" indicator to ensure the fence is true to the table saw miter slot and can generally keep it within ± .002 inches. Should the plastic wear they can be flipped, reversed and/or replaced.
    When processing sawmill hardwood I plane top and bottom on the planner then I use a 8′ Jig that clamps the board in place and I run that through the saw to get a true straight edge. I use a professional saw blade with a .125 kerf (Ridge Carbide, CMT) so the rip cut is always smooth and defect free (no blade chatter, no burn, no blade marks).

  26. garrett Fleming on May 18, 2023 at 11:16 am

    Works but make sure you have a semi to very flat top and bottom. Can mess with perpendicularity. Rough sawn can be done this way but requires more cuts and limited by blade size.

  27. Tim Oliver on May 18, 2023 at 11:17 am

    I don’t see a difference between using the fence and the level?

  28. Bud Audas on May 18, 2023 at 11:18 am

    Works great thanks Matt..you just saved me a ton of.money..

  29. Joe Pope on May 18, 2023 at 11:19 am

    Great tip thanks dude

  30. randymc61 on May 18, 2023 at 11:24 am

    I’ve done this before, but you’ve got to make sure the piece of wood doesn’t rock against the level. If it does, you still might not get a strait cut.

  31. Phil Murphy on May 18, 2023 at 11:28 am

    My level often falls into the mitre slots. Very annoying😢

  32. wrightnotright on May 18, 2023 at 11:28 am

    I have a jointer but I still generally do this method, poor jointer isn’t collecting any dust but regular dust

  33. Dus Bus on May 18, 2023 at 11:29 am

    I’ve been doing this with my 6’ level and can confidently joint 8’ tubasixes all day. Been doing it since I saw your first video a while back and already had the level so worked great and was able to make a large desk table top for the mrs. as a COVID lockdown project.

  34. Kyle Oldbury on May 18, 2023 at 11:31 am

    im a carpenter but it took me a minute to figure out what the difference between using the fence and the level was. i can do this to straighten a crooked board also.

  35. Chris P. on May 18, 2023 at 11:31 am

    I can’t figure out why you need to do this if your fence is straight and parallel to the blade? Wish someone could explain this.

  36. Chris Fallara on May 18, 2023 at 11:31 am

    Thank you for saving me $800. Great content!

  37. Tioga Fretworks on May 18, 2023 at 11:33 am

    This only works if the board is shorter than the level and contacts it in a way that can’t move or rock. (Crown toward the blade). Otherwise build a jointing jig – it’s cheaper than a level and much safer and more accurate.

  38. Eric Melancon on May 18, 2023 at 11:34 am

    Tried it out last night it was a night and day difference thank you!

  39. Scott Sanders on May 18, 2023 at 11:38 am

    Yes I have tried it and it works great.

  40. James Rowland on May 18, 2023 at 11:39 am

    Great tip!!! Wow, so simple… Ironically I just bought a joiner. Lol

  41. Ross 2077 on May 18, 2023 at 11:42 am

    Huh, I never thought of this method, I have a jointer jig but this would be much quicker

  42. T Rex on May 18, 2023 at 11:42 am

    Track saws are worth the money. They make jointing wood way better.

    When you use a level as the gimuide, make sure you put the cup side on the side of the level. That way, 2 points make a stable reference. If you use the other side, it will not work.

  43. Mike Merc on May 18, 2023 at 11:42 am

    Ty

  44. Dexter Butler on May 18, 2023 at 11:43 am

    I have a jointer. But use this method most often.

  45. baranquillero12 on May 18, 2023 at 11:44 am

    Mind blown…. I use an already straight board with the curfe already in it. It works, but this tip will be used very soon.

  46. J Horton on May 18, 2023 at 11:44 am

    I bought a 72” level for this exact purpose and use it all the time 🙂

  47. DW DW on May 18, 2023 at 11:45 am

    Thank you for this tip. My Wife thanks you too that I don’t have to go a purchase a beautiful jointer lol

  48. mr_zappa on May 18, 2023 at 11:45 am

    I see Matt posts a video, I click like, and then I watch 🙂

  49. Al Gibson on May 18, 2023 at 11:45 am

    ok…i think i understand. If the board is short, as in short enough to fully be in contact with the fence when in contact with the blade during the cut, the trick is not needed. But if the board overhangs the fence at any time it is in contact with the blade, you will need the trick. A few of the example boards in the video were short and probably didn’t need the level trick.

  50. Jake Mobley on May 18, 2023 at 11:46 am

    You could also possibly drill a handful of small holes in the inner edge of the level to fix the board to the level with some tiny screws for that 1st pass. This is a good trick.

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