Thread: Use Jointer as Planer?

Unfortunately your theory is just that- theory. A jointer will dress face and edge but to bring timber to dimension, the other two surfaces will require a planer or thicknesser for accurate sizing.

It's the other way around. You could use a thicknesser as a jointer by use of a sled. You can't really use a jointer as a thicknesser. The jointer makes one face ( or edge) of a board straight & flat. The thicknesser makes opposite faces of a board parallel. You first joint one face to remove cup, twist & bow. Once one face is flat the thicknesser brings the opposite face parallel & to correct thickness - hence the name. you need to perform both operations, usually via two machines or a combo machine ( or hand tool tool techniques using planes)

BTW the sled is not really suitable for jointing edges.

The term planer is used by various cultures to describe either machine.

Is it difficult to make a sled for a planer like this one?
Shop DEWALT 15-Amp 3-Blade Planer at Lowes.com

Thanks.

Originally Posted by RossM

It's the other way around. You could use a thicknesser as a jointer by use of a sled. You can't really use a jointer as a thicknesser. The jointer makes one face ( or edge) of a board straight & flat. The thicknesser makes opposite faces of a board parallel. You first joint one face to remove cup, twist & bow. Once one face is flat the thicknesser brings the opposite face parallel & to correct thickness - hence the name. you need to perform both operations, usually via two machines or a combo machine ( or hand tool tool techniques using planes)

BTW the sled is not really suitable for jointing edges.

The term planer is used by various cultures to describe either machine.

You can use a jointer to size timber many smaller shops in my day only had a jointer(buzzer)
You face and edge as usual then edge the opsite edge then face the oposite face it will take longer because you have to be dilligent and not take too much off or you start again

You can use a portable thicknesser. Check out this video. It's not too hard to work out how to build it. The main points are a stiff, flat frame & stable support for the board being jointed.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/works...ng-lumber.aspx

You can sign up to Fine Woodworking online to get plans
http://www.finewoodworking.com/how-t...a-jointer.aspx

Or find a copy of FWW #175

Or subscribe to sawmill creek & check this thread

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...=planer%20sled

China, while reducing thickness on a jointer is relatively easy, getting opposite sides parallel is not. Having tried it when thicknesser was out of action I can say it is fiddley, dangerous and very difficult to be accurate & actually end up with parallel surfaces ( I ended up using hand planes to get a result). As you point out, you are likely to waste a lot of wood. The sled idea is safe, accurate & relatively quick. Even when you get a jointer, the sled remains useful for boards wider than the typical 150 or 200 mm capacity

Originally Posted by icor1031

Is it difficult to make a sled for a planer like this one?
Shop DEWALT 15-Amp 3-Blade Planer at Lowes.com

Thanks.

I just hot melt glue the timber to a piece of chipboard melamine faced both sides, about 32mm thick, I scavenged from somewhere.
121231glen1-3.jpg121231glen1-2.jpg

Put the timber concave side down and glue it securely enough so it can't rock - otherwise it won't remove the twist. If it has a lot of twist you may need to put a scrap of wood under the corners.

There are more sophisticated sled designs but for occasional use my method works fine.