Why check a jointer fence under pressure? A jointer fence can look square and still move when you push a board against it. A small shift changes the angle of the cut, which can leave a face that is not square to the edge or a beveled edge where you wanted a straight one. The…
A jointer’s outfeed table should sit level with the knives at their highest point of rotation. Set it too low and the board’s trailing end dips as it leaves the cutterhead, producing a snipe or a tapered cut. Set it too high and the board catches on the table edge or rocks over it. The…
On a jointer, tearout happens when the knives lift and split wood fibers instead of slicing them cleanly. It is most likely in figured or reversing grain, near knots, and when the cut runs against the grain. You can’t always eliminate it, but you can reduce the damage with a lighter cut, a suitable feed…
Why narrow edges tip Jointing a narrow edge is simple in principle: hold one face against the jointer fence and feed the edge across the cutterhead. The trouble starts when the board is so narrow that your hands cannot keep it steady. A small roll can make the edge bevel instead of square; a bigger…
Why flatten one face before planing A thickness planer makes the opposite face parallel to the face riding on its bed. It does not reliably straighten a board that rocks, bows, or twists. Put a twisted board straight into a planer and the rollers can press it flat for the cut, then let it spring…
What “wide” means on a jointer A stationary jointer is primarily an edge-jointing machine. It can flatten one face, but only when the board is narrower than the cutterhead and stable enough to stay flat on the tables. “Wide” should be measured against your machine’s actual capacity, not the board’s label. A 6-inch jointer cannot…
Short boards are awkward on a jointer: there may be too little length for a stable grip, and your hands can get close to the cutterhead. A push block helps control the board, but it does not make every short piece safe to joint. Check your jointer’s manual for its minimum workpiece length and follow…
A jointer fence is square when a reliable square shows no gap between the fence face and the cutterhead table. Check it at both ends of the fence: a fence can be square near the knives and still be twisted along its length. A small error can turn into a beveled edge or a board…
What fence height does A jointer fence supports the workpiece as you guide an edge across the cutterhead. For edge jointing, the fence needs to contact enough of the board to keep it upright and prevent it from tipping, without getting in the way of your hands or the cut. The right setting depends more…
Birdseye maple is beautiful, hard, and unusually prone to tearout. The small eyes interrupt the grain direction, so a conventional planer knife can lift fibers instead of cutting them cleanly. The result is often a surface that looks acceptable across the board but has deep, fuzzy craters around individual eyes. The best planer for reducing…