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Do I need a planer?

27623 Views 18 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  Verndog, 
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Do I need a Jointer?

I have a major project in my future doing a complete remodel of our kitchen. I will be doing raised panel doors and have a table saw, radial arm saw, router table, biscuit joiner, planer, Kreg jig etc. Do I really need a jointer if I purchase 4/4 stock that is supposedly flat on one side and one edge? I have heard of using the router table as a jointer for the panels etc. I ran into a gentleman at the woodworking show this weekend and he claimed that the jointer and the planer were the most important tools in the shop. It really got me thinking? Do I really need this monster? The jointer he recommended was a Delta DJ-20 and is around 6 Feet long and probably a couple feet wide. I feel that my shop is full now and I haven't even started to fill it with materials. There is obviously a lot of good advice on this forum and I definitely need some! Thanks in advance for your assistance!
Vern:smile:
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Jim Tank
Sold my joiner 12 years ago

I found a good ripfence and a great carbide finish blade will give me straight boards with no tearout on nasty grained lumber much faster than a joiner. The joints are so good I use this method to join table tops and all other glue up projects. First rip with crown edge to blade and it's already straighter than several passes on joiner. Flip and rip with straighter edge to fence. It's the same principal as using a joiner from here, straightest edge goes to fence to cut straighter edge on blade. If you're straightening alot of lumber, use a rougher cut blade for first few cuts on all pieces first, then finer blade for finish cuts. Happy joining!!
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Jim Tank
The few boards that are cupped beyond what the planer fixes, I use for mouldings or thinner strips. The success lies in the remarkable blades that are availiable these days. I sold my joiner 12 years ago, because I hadn't used it in two or three. I have built many table tops of cherry or other woods that require perfect joints, with great results. If your joiners make your job easier and you get great results, I think you should keep them & be happy. If some Saturday you have nothing to do, you might try the method. If it works for you, you could sell your joiners and buy a great sliding table saw to put in all that space the joiners took up. Oakland county is a great place, my wife and I got our marriage license in Pontiac in '73. Hope all is well there and your enjoying your craft.
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Jim Tank
So Verndog, what kind of joiner did you buy?? Let us know how your project goes and how much you had to buy in new tools.
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