Best Jointer

The Festool 574432 Domino Joiner DF 500 is our best jointer which has a dust extractable design to give you better adhesion with glue and also a cutting capacity that is remarkably longer and also gives you holes for mortising that are of high quality and super neatly done. Its positive stops at 22.5 degrees, 67.5 degrees and 45 degrees are included in the pivoting fence feature so you can make mortises that are angled in design from a span of 0 to 90 degrees. This joiner uses a patented cutting technology to oscillate and rotate to give you a perfect mortise in every touch of the jointer.

Our step-up pick is the Festool 574447 XL Domino Joiner Set and its tenons can be used for larger projects due to the approximate length of 5 1/2 inches. The cutting action is patented so it can oscillate and rotate to the way you want it to give you the most precise mortising action in every step of the way and the adjustment of the mortise width can be a breeze due to the easy turn of a dial to give you comfort when you are joining the panels and get a better alignment all in all.

The budget pick is the TruePower 01-0102 Biscuit Plate Joiner Carbide and it has a carbide tipped blade. The motor runs at a speed of 11,000 RPM at 120 volts and the cutting angle ranges from 0 to 45 degrees. Moreover, the motor runs at 60 Hz with 1,010 watts of AC power and the jointer has a max cutting depth of 0.55 inches.

A Little Background

A jointer is used mainly for woodworking. It is much like the other industrial and home shop tools out there but it is primarily used in processing lumber and similar materials to make high quality wood finish. Like most power machines, a jointer requires skill and practice to operate and great results cannot really be achieved if you do not know the basics on how to operate the jointer properly.
Jointers are never really cheap because they are intended for heavy duty use. Only those with really important needs for a jointer such as a woodworking shop or an industrial furniture factory will typically have a jointer in their work area. This is because they are quite expensive to have but are a great investment if you consider the jointer to be a source for your creativity and productivity for your business or work nature.

How We Picked

In choosing the best jointer, we considered the following criteria:
A jointer should have a good cutting capacity such as great cutting width and cutting depth. The jointer’s cutting depth and width is crucial and the adjustability of both of these features must also be present so that they can produce high quality results in the long run.

The jointer must be made from heavy duty material so that it can stand up to years of use. The base must be made from cast iron so that it is sturdy to be held down on the ground with little to no vibration at all to disturb your work’s overall quality.
A jointer with stops on its fence should be a great jointer to consider. These stops are usually measured in angled degrees so you can freely and precisely adjust to your liking and needs.

The motor of the jointer should run smoothly and should be heavy duty and powerful enough. Check out the horsepower and the voltage, wattage and other specs of the motor and make sure you buy a quality jointer that runs on a good motor.

Our Pick

Festool 574432 Domino Joiner DF 500
The Festool 574432 Domino Joiner DF 500 is our best jointer and it has a dust extractable design to give you better adhesion with glue and also a cutting capacity that is remarkably longer and also gives you holes for mortising that are of high quality and super neatly done. The dial turn can easily adjust the mortise width so you can be at ease with this jointer when using it to join panels with a very good alignment.

So far, the Festool Joiner DF 500’s alignment is done easier and quicker due to its indexing pins that are laid against the edge of anything you are working on to give you more accuracy and pinpointing. Moreover, this jointer comes with everything you need such as a trim stop, a support bracket, the jointer itself, a power cord with a plug-it feature, a storage container, a DOMINO cutter with a 5 mm measurement and other accessories.

Running on a very powerful motor that runs at 420 watts, the Festool Joiner has a speed of 23,400 RPM on its spindle. Moreover, you can choose from 3 different width adjustments for mortising and fitting joints. As a matter of fact, there will be no kickback when you turn and oscillate to cut longer shaped mortises. In fact, the vacuum systems of Festool can help you to remove debris from your work as 95 percent of the chips are sucked in by the dust port which measures 11/16 inch.

When it comes to strength, the tenons it uses are solid beech DOMINO tenons to give you industry strength quality as they were pre-fabricated to ensure quality. Also, positive stops at 22.5 degrees, 67.5 degrees and 45 degrees are included in the pivoting fence feature so you can make mortises that are angled in design from a span of 0 to 90 degrees. It can effectively work on a variety of thicknesses of materials due to its fence height adjustment and it is ideal for work pieces with small, 1 by 5 inch capacity or larger furniture work.

This joiner uses a patented cutting technology to oscillate and rotate to give you a perfect mortise in every touch of the jointer and the material of the jointer is heavy duty metal and long fiber plastic. The Festool Joiner DF’s motor runs at a voltage of 120V while the depth control is very precise and can let you choose between 5 mortising depth options. Also, its routing principle is patented. The weight of the jointer is only 7 lbs and it is very portable and easy to store and use in the long run.

Added features include the fact that the dust extraction feature eliminates wasted time on cleaning the job site. It cuts not just angled mortises for window shutters but also other types of mortises. So far, the Festool DF 500 Joiner is backed by a 3 year limited warranty.

Flaws but Not Dealbrakers

The only known issue about the Festool 574432 Domino Joiner DF 500 is that you cannot adjust the mortise specifications while the motor is not running. Other than that, the jointer works fine.

Step-up Pick

Festool 574447 XL Domino Joiner Set
With the Festool 574447 XL Domino Joiner Set as our step-up pick, its tenons can be used for larger projects due to the approximate length of 5 1/2 inches. The adjustment of the mortise width can be a breeze due to the easy turn of a dial to give you comfort when you are joining the panels and get a better alignment all in all.

What’s more, the cutting action is patented so it can oscillate and rotate to the way you want it to give you the most precise mortising action in every step of the way. Moreover, the specific jointer comes with cross stops as well as an optional trim so you can facilitate edge joining and narrow stock better. In addition, it also comes with convenient indexing pins so you can align your work against the edge and give it more accuracy.

Take note that this is a larger version of our top pick because it has been modified to suit the high demands of the industry when it comes to jointers. Compared to regular chisel mortises that are too large and bulky for your shop, this jointer is a space saver. In addition, it also has a max tenon size o 140 mm or 5 1/2 inches.

Overall, the Festool Joiner Set is strongly applicable for bigger jobs such as doors, slabs, gates, beds, tables and many more. It gives a perfect fit for any solid hardwood that will go under its process and it also comes with a convenient system light so you can see in the dark and in gloomy places without compromising your work’s quality and brighten up the jobsite, especially if you want to pull up an all-nighter. It includes a support bracket, a power cord, a D12 cutter, a wrench, a trim stop, a T-loc systainer, a cross top and the jointer itself (Domino XL 700).

Adding to that, the Festool 574447 Set uses a patented routing principle and the depth control is a breeze due to the ability to choose between 5 mortising depths. In fact, its miters are from 0 to 90 degrees. It also has various positive stops on its pivoting fence feature so you can create the best looking angled mortises and the width of the mortise can also be easily adjusted when you join the panels together. In terms o the measurements, it has a mortising depth of 19/32 inch up to 2 3/4 inches and it has a spindle speed of 21,000 RPM to meet the hectic needs of the industry.

Furthermore, it also has a cutter range of 8, 10, 12 and 14 mm and you get less cleaning time on the job site due to its dust extraction feature. The voltage depends upon where you live but most people agree that they use the 110 volts as the jointer runs on 720 watts of power. The jointer has an overall weight of 22 lbs and is backed by a 3 year limited warranty.

Budget Pick

TruePower 01-0102 Biscuit Plate Joiner Carbide
Our budget pick is the TruePower 01-0102 Biscuit Plate Joiner Carbide in which the motor runs at 60 Hz with 1,010 watts of AC power. It has a max cutting depth of 0.55 inches and has a carbide tipped blade. The motor runs at a speed of 11,000 RPM at 120 volts and the cutting angle ranges from 0 to 45 degrees.

You can easily cut butt joints, T-joints and miter joints with the TruePower Joiner Carbide which measures 4 inches on its tungsten carbide tipped blade (6T C2). It also has a biscuit specification of #0, #10 and #20.

You can easily perform any edge-to-edge cut without much hassle. It also comes with a fence that is highly adjustable and you can easily clean up your workspace due to its convenient dust port which already comes with a dust collection bag.

Super convenient, the TruePower Biscuit Plate Joiner weighs only 8 lbs and the jointer’s blades can cut really thick. A tip by an Amazon user is that if you add glue to the biscuit, it adds more snug to the jointer. It is backed by a limited warranty of 1 year and it definitely makes for an affordable solution to having a handy jointer.

Best Helical Jointer

Powermatic 1791317K 54HH 6-Inch Jointer
A jointer which has a helical cutter head, the Powermatic 1791317K 54HH 6-Inch Jointer is a great machine in which the in feed and out feed tables are long and adjustable at 6 inches in length. It steadily provides you with a better working surface in which the cutter head has 4-sided knife inserts to provide you a finer finish, smoother cutting and quieter operation compare to competitors.

The jointer stands at a height of 37 inches and a depth of 66 inches and you can easily put the table surface with a convenient height of 32 inches above the floor. The dust collection is also integrated with the base so you can easily evacuate dust and debris to keep the work area clean and the hosing is also kept away due to its 4-inch diameter port that is placed near the floor to prevent tripping on the hose.

With the Powermatic 1791317K Jointer, the belt tension adjustments are controlled by the motor mount which also gives you more precision on cuts due to its adjustment lever for a fine tuning and quick adjusting. This jointer also runs on a motor that is at 115 volts / 230 volts at 1-phase and 1 HP.

As a matter of fact, its fence controls have also been mounted on the center for easier access. Also, the cast iron table has a width of 7 1/2 inches and is highly durable to support any work piece, specifically larger ones. In fact, an extended life is given to the inserts due to the low impact cutting action and the carbide mixing together.

The Powermatic 1791317K jointer has an overall weight of 328 lbs and it also has fully adjustable stops at 45 degrees and 90 degrees on vertical. When you order, it comes with a dust chute, a user’s manual, a hardware bag, 2 push blocks, a warranty card, a fence handle, a belt, a pulley cover, a fence assembly, mounting hardware for the dust chute, a door with mounting hardware and a stand, which all support the jointer. Like most expensive but high quality jointers, it is backed by a 5 year warranty.

Jointer with Dust Collection

POWERTEC BJ600 Bench Jointer 6-1/8 Inch
A great jointer with dust collecting feature is the POWERTEC BJ600 Bench Jointer 6-1/8 Inch which has a cast iron fence which can tilt outward and inward up to 45 degrees to give you high quality bevel and chamfer cuts. It is a jointer which has a safety switch lock. It has a full size dust bag is included for its built-in dust collection mechanism to remove wood chips faster than ever before.

The jointer runs on a universal 120 volts motor under 12 amps at 1 3/4 HP peak power. As for the sizes, cast iron fence measures 4 3/8 by 22 7/8 inches while the cast iron table measures 28 1/2 by 6 1/4 inches. It also has a 1/8 inch cutting depth capacity with a max cutting width of 6 1/8 inch. The overall weight of the tool is 79 lbs.

Ideal Jointer for Beginners

Lumberjack Tools Home Series Beginner’s Kit
A jointer that is meant for beginners, the Lumberjack Tools Home Series Beginner’s Kit can cut a 1 1/2 inch diameter tenon that has a profile of a radius shoulder. It is very easy and safe to use and because it is ergonomically designed, it is also very light to carry and it has a low RPM but a high torque.

It can run on a corded drill that runs on a single speed at 1/2 inch and it is super ideal for home owners, DIY crafters, hobbyists and the like. It is a great jointer for rustic furniture and log furniture and it has a mid-sized joint. The Lumberjack Beginner’s Kit is currently backed by a 3 month warranty for parts and labor.

Jointer with Knive System

JET 708457DXK JJ-6CSDX 6-Inch 1-HP Jointer
Equipped with a quick set knive system, the JET 708457DXK JJ-6CSDX 6-Inch 1-HP Jointer has a rabbeting capacity of 1/2 inch and has stops on 45 degrees and 90 degrees for the long fence which spans at 33 1/8 inches in length. It runs on a 1 HP motor that has push button controls made with industrial strength and feature. It is a jointer that has a cast iron table that is extra long to give you higher amount of accuracy and better control for your work.

Running on 115 volts / 230 volts at a single-phase motor, the chip and dust disposal is not a problem due to the dust port that measures 4 inches. The cutter has 3 steel knives that run at high speed. You can easily change the knives due to the quick set feature as the jointer spans at a length of 56 inches and has a cutting width of 6 1/6 inches.

The cutter runs at 6,000 RPM / CPM (cuts per minute) and it also has a cutting depth of 1/2 inch. The motor runs at 13 amps of power and it is ideal for use on home shops and the like. Also, the jointer comes with an automatic limiter to keep your workplace safe and can also be overridden manually. You can easily adjust your setup using the hand wheels as the motor is also fan cooled to give you ease in performance and consistency and uses a TEFC build (totally enclosed fan cooled). As for the lightweight factor, the jointer weighs 256 lbs.

When you order the JET 6-Inch 1-HP Jointer, the package includes fence assembly, mounting hardware with dust chute, stand cover with mounting hardware, stand and motor, cutterhead guard, v-belt, belt guard, lock handle 4 flat washers (1/4 inch), 4 pan head screws (1/4-20 inch by 1/2 inch), fence handle, fence flat washer and lock nut, 2 push blocks, 3 lock washers (3/8 inch), 2 hand wheel assemblies, 3 lock bolts, warranty card, user’s manual and a can of touch-up paint.

Best Benchtop Jointer

Shop Fox W1829 Benchtop Jointer 6-Inch
The Shop Fox W1829 Benchtop Jointer 6-Inch runs at 1 1/2 HP at a single phase motor with 110 volts of power and 12 amps. It is a jointer that provides excellent power which runs at a speed of 10,000 RPM which can make 20,000 cuts per minute on its cutter head. Clean cuts can be achieved using its HSS cutter that has a two-knife design. Stops are included with the fence that is highly adjustable.

Easily keep your work area clean due to its dust port which measures 2 1/2 inches as it can be tilted and used for bevel jointing up to 45 degrees. It has a table knob which has a fine adjustment to control the cutting depth while in-feed and it has a quick adjustment knife design. The motor runs as 60 Hz.

In the long run, the Shop Fox Jointer 6-Inch is ideal for edge jointing, surface planning, bevel cutting and the like and the fence can turn up to 135 degrees, with 45 degrees inward and outward and 90 degrees. It also has a max cutting depth of 1/8 inch while the cast iron table measures 28 1/2 inches by 6 1/4 inches. The jointer weighs about 80 lbs and you can mount it with ease onto any work bench or table. Adding to that, the cast iron fence spans at a length of 22 7/8 inches by 4 5/16 inches.

Best Heavy Duty Jointer

Delta Power Tools 37-071 Bench Jointer
For heavy duty joint working, the Delta Power Tools 37-071 Bench Jointer is a jointer which has a max cutting depth of 1/8 inch. The cast iron construction is extremely durable and can make the jointer steady without the risk for vibration. The fence support is made from cast iron to give you accuracy when it comes to heavy duty jointing and the table and fence have also been precision-machined to give you the highest quality possible.

It has positive stops at 90 degrees and 45 degrees (inward and outward) which are all adjustable on its fence system while the cutter head speed runs up to 10,000 RPM which can make up to 20,000 CPM. The max cutting width is 6 inches and the universal motor runs at 12 amps at 120 volts 60 Hz single-phase. The chip chute opening measures 2 1/4 inches inside and 2 3/8 inches outside.

Overall, the jointer weighs 76 lbs and the longest length that the machine can allow to safely pass over is around 4 to 5 feet, according to Amazon users. The base stands at dimensions of 11 1/2 by 21 inches and the machine is backed by a 5 year limited warranty.

Awesome Jointer Planer

JET JJP-12 12 Inch Jointer Planer
With the JET JJP-12 12 Inch Jointer Planer, the induction motor runs at 3 HP and is powerful enough to take on heavy tasks when it comes to planing and jointing. There is easy and hassle-free changeover between planing and jointing functions because it does not require you to remove the fence. It is a jointer that is also a planer at the same time. It has a parallelogram design which smartly keeps your cutting depth precise and highly adjustable and improves the finish of your cutter head.

Rapid cutting is the big advantage of the 3 steel knife cutter heads which run at high speed to give you a quality finish as the fence is made from ebytrutded aluminum which runs extra large and like most jointers, have adjustments due to its centered controls. Safety is assured due to its self-engaging locks while it has a precision flattened top and can be turned for making bevel cuts up to 45 degrees.

Overall, the JET Jointer Planer has a cutting width of 12 inches and can make 5,000 cuts per minute (CPM) and the jointer measures 55 inches in length. The motor runs at 12.5 amps and it has a cutting depth of 1/8 inch. The fence measures 43 by 6 inches and it also has an automatic shut down feature when you run the machine for long hours. It is at this time backed by a 5 year warranty.

The Competition

There are only a few jointers out there that have less expensive prices and great features as well as clearer instructions but these were the ones that stood out with their affordability and space saving as well as great features.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a jointer and what does it do?
A: According to Wikipedia, a jointer is also known in other places as a surface plane which is used for woodworking and similar works. In fact, most jointers are used for edge-to-edge work as they are ideally used for making boards with flat edges. Jointers are typically used for the industry.

Q: Any tips on using jointers?
A: According to Wood Magazine, it is important that join joint downhill and away from the rotation of the knive on your out feed table. You should joint the face first so you can get a jointed edge that is very neat and you can try edge jointing a board with the good face far off from the fence so you can edge join more perfectly. Always use a guard when performing any jointing process. The out feed should be adjusted because an out feed that has been misaligned will not produce good cuts. Always wear safety gear such as ear protection and safety glasses.

The knives should be precisely sharp and you should always use push blocks when surfacing any stock and keep your hands on the work. Do not make super heavy cuts which can make the cutter head jam and always put the fence on and don’t try to manipulate it by freehand means.

Wrapping It Up

To wrap it up, the Festool 574432 Domino Joiner DF 500 is our best jointer for just about any level of woodworking, whether you work at a big furniture shop or just a regular small home shop.