Planer or Jointer... which is more versatile?

[shipwright]

I do not understand how any craftsman can successfully work without jointing the wood.

A planer is nice but many many precious and finely crafted pieces of furniture was built with wood that isn't uniform thicknes and only jointed on face side.

A planer is nice to have but most wood today is sold already planned. Yes you can make adjustments and I won't argue that all wood is planned to the same thickness.

Many say the tablesaw is the most important piece of equipment in the shop but I believe the jointer is.

Watch any craftsmen build they start out with a level surface and build on it. Without a jointing you can't get the level surface. You have to have a jointer. NOW it can be a power Jointer or a hand jointing plane.

Again if your building with a jointing the wood I submit you build substandard pieces.

Therefore I say a jointer either power or hand is a MUST in the shop.

I built for 30 years without power planner.

I agree, ED. In my training you always started with "face side" and "face edge" and went from there (when fitting straight parts anyway)

Paul M

[dusty]

I do not understand how any craftsman can successfully work without jointing the wood.

A planer is nice but many many precious and finely crafted pieces of furniture was built with wood that isn't uniform thicknes and only jointed on face side.

A planer is nice to have but most wood today is sold already planned. Yes you can make adjustments and I won't argue that all wood is planned to the same thickness.

Many say the tablesaw is the most important piece of equipment in the shop but I believe the jointer is.

Watch any craftsmen build they start out with a level surface and build on it. Without a jointing you can't get the level surface. You have to have a jointer. NOW it can be a power Jointer or a hand jointing plane.

Again if your building with a jointing the wood I submit you build substandard pieces. By whose standard?

Therefore I say a jointer either power or hand is a MUST in the shop.

I built for 30 years without power planner.The rules (standards) are not the same for all craftsmen or for all projects!

[dickg1]

I agree with Ed, the jointer is essential.

When I bought my Goldie back in the 60's I opted to get the jointer and for dimensioning, the Wagner Safe-T-Planer. Both have served me well. I bought a SS planer about a year ago (just upgraded to a Power Planer) however I still revert to the Safe-T-Planer to mill one flat side on rough cut lumber to prep for the planer.

Dick

[Ed in Tampa]

The rules (standards) are not the same for all craftsmen or for all projects!


Dusty
All crafts have to start somewhere. Yes I guess you can start with something that isn't flat and level but whatever you build will reflect that.

Look into a old piece of furniture. I have seen dressers that were built with not one piece of wood that same thickness as the next. The outside was perfectly smooth (jointed) but the inside revealed panels made up of different thicknesses of wood. The drawer fronts were perfectly matched to the front of the dresser but if you examined them each was slightly thicker or thinner than the other.

The craftsman jointed the wood (edge and surface) and built upon it. Because he was starting with flat and level he was able to build the rest of the dresser to be very pleasing to the eye.

[fjimp]

The first project I desired to build after purchasing my first Mark V 520 was two part and screw holders, for use when servicing my equipment. I was unable to purchase wood in the dimensions I desired and none of the big box wood seemed flat. I had purchased the jointer with my second order which came just after the traveling academy. My first planer was not a Shopsmith brand as my budget for tools was shot at that point. Never in my life had I built anything which turned out as nicely as that project. I also got a huge thrill from creating a project to the exact tolerances desired in spite of not being able to buy wood within those tolerances. I truly believe both tools are a must. As to standards; I prefer setting my own level of acceptability. I for one don't give a fig what anyone else thinks of the items I create. Which is why I seldom post pictures of my creations. I intend no ill will in expressing my limited opinions yet doggedly stand by them as I am well known to be an opinionated ole cuss. fjimp

[burkhome]

Like Ed I built decent things for 20 years without a planer. I've got to tell you though, once I got one 10 years or so ago, I was spoiled. It would be hard to do without one now. I don't think it is a must, but it sure is nice.