Best Jointer for the Money | Top 5 Reviews and Buyers Guide
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The jointer is the ultimate workbench tool. This versatile machine can dimension boards, flatten surfaces, square edges, and create joints on the rough lumber. It’s a must-have for any woodworker who wants to improve their craftsmanship and ensure they consistently produce quality projects.
From experienced woodworkers to aspiring beginners, a benchtop jointer is easy to use, ideal for small workspaces, portable, and helps hone skills. A jointer is used to flatten warped, twisted, or bowed boards. Once flat, you can use the jointer to straighten, square edges, cut, and smooth down the wood to a perfect finish which is a crucial part of the job.
A benchtop jointer is reliable, versatile, and with low noise output, you can work from home without disturbing your neighbors with no restrictions on working hours.
But with so many different models available on the market today, it can be challenging to know which one is right for you. To help you to make an informed decision as to which benchtop jointer is suitable for your needs, we have compiled a comprehensive review and buyer’s guide on five quality products.
Here’s what we cover in this best jointer review article:
- First, we’ll showcase our top 5 picks side-by-side in an easy-to-read comparison table
- Then, we’ll look at each model’s features and benefits that you’ll find useful
- Next, we’ll take a good look at their drawbacks we believe you should know about
- And finally, our buying guide will give you much better insight into the product range
Sound good? Let’s begin!
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Our Favorite Jointers | Compared
CLICK any image to see Ratings & Reviews on Amazon
Image Model Price Walts Rating Top 
Powermatic 1791279DXK Check Price 4.9 / 5 (Best Overall) 
PORTER-CABLE Benchtop Jointer Check Price 4.7 / 5 (Best Value) 
Delta 6" Benchtop Jointer 37-071 Check Price 4.5 / 5 
Shop Fox W1829 Benchtop Jointer Check Price 4.6 / 5 
CRAFTSMAN Benchtop Jointer CMEW020 Check Price 4.6 / 5
What is The Best Benchtop Jointer?
1. Powermatic Jointer (Model 1791279DXK) with Quick-Set Knives (Best Overall)
- The Powermatic 1791279DXK is a gem amongst manual jointer options. It's been engineered to perfection and will make your cutting, routing, or assembly task more straightforward than ever before. Oversized infeed/outfeed table mounted on dovetailed ways offers more surface area for smoother cuts and gives you plenty of room for large stock.
- The fence can be adjusted with the positive stops at 90°and 45° right and left to help you get accurate cut lines every time with its 38-inch length for larger pieces of wood. And don't forget about the quick set-up, all thanks to the quick adjustment lever on the infeed table that offers a precision-controlled depth of cut within seconds!
- The Powermatic Jointer is powered by a one horsepower 115-volt motor mounted within a steel cabinet and can be converted to use 230-volt power.
- The cast-iron fence controls are center-mounted, and there is a push-button lockable switch to prevent accidental starting.
- The adjustment lever on the infeed table offers a quick set-up and an an-easy-to read scale that allows quick, precise setting of specific cut changes with a finger-operated gib screw, locking the table into position once it is set.
- The table surface is very large at 66 inches by 71/4 inches providing plenty of support for large pieces of work, is precision ground for flatness, and will stay aligned through height changes. You can adjust the out-feed table height via a handwheel mounted below the table.
- A three jointer knife cutterhead fitted with adjustment cams makes setting knife heights easy and accurate and offers way more versatility than a conventional cutter head.
- For long-lasting performance, each planer knife is made from high-quality steel. The planer knives are secured by four gib screws and a gib plate, making them easy to change and set.
- A dust collection chute evacuates debris from below the cutter-head and guides the debris to the exterior four-inch diameter port located near the floor, and offers an easy connection to any dust collection system.
- The Powermatic has a five-year warranty. It is a little on the heavy side to be portable, but it is a solid, sturdy, robust machine offering accuracy, precision, and dependability. It is a good power jointer for hobbyists, experienced and professional jointers.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
2. Porter-Cable Benchtop Jointer (PC160JT) (Best Value)
- A legend in the tool industry, Porter-Cable has made quality tools and provided excellent customer service for over 50 years. With the newest invention featuring a variable speed range of up to 11 000 rpm, and a cutter head speed of 12,000 to 22,000 cuts per minute, two knife cutter heads with a jackscrew knife leveling arrangement that affords easy replacement and adjustment of knives, it's no surprise this benchtop jointer is taking the joiner market by storm.
- The Porter-Cable Benchtop Jointer is an excellent go-to tool for any hobbyist or professional woodworker who needs to make precision cuts. It features a table with extra-large work support and can handle pieces up to 6 wide, making it perfect for flattening boards and jointing hardwoods.
- The built-in cutter head lock aids in angle adjustments and knife replacement, which means this machine can complete your project quickly with accurate results. And the center-mounted fence provides the needed support throughout each cut you do, so there's no more guessing if you're getting the job done!
- It comes with an excellent manufacturer's warranty and is portable, easy to set up, is an excellent entry-level jointer for hobbyists and occasional users.
- The Porter-Cable Benchtop Jointer is perfect for those who want to show off their creativity with new wooden furniture. No matter the size of your project, this jointer will deliver to make flawless transformations.
- Gaining popularity amongst hobbyists as well as professionals because of its low price point, coupled with the quality performance, the PORTER-CABLE Benchtop Jointer will meet all your needs without breaking the bank! For the money, it's a perfect addition to your set of woodworking tools.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Further reading: Best Biscuit Joiners – Top 5 Reviews and Buyers Guide
3. Delta 6″ Benchtop Jointer (Model 37-071)
- If you're serious about woodworking, you know, you need a jointer. This one from Delta is the perfect balance of precision and stability for the discerning woodworker who is looking to save time and produce great work.
- The Delta 6 Bench Top Jointer saves you time when it comes to preparing wood for a variety of projects. It can be used on the smaller stock with 6 inches of capacity and is ideal for working alone or as part of a small team.
- With its cast-iron structure, it provides both weight and support for increased stability, less vibration, and advanced razor-sharp cutting lines that slice through in seconds thanks to a powerful 12 Amp 120 Volt motor with a two knife cutting head.
- Precision engineering ensures accuracy over years of use, while an adjustable fence guarantees that joints are uniform with no gaps or space between them on your paper size choice.
- The Delta Six Inch Benchtop Jointer is the perfect tool for making accurate and precise cuts. The simple fence adjusts system with adjustable positive stops at 90˚ and 45˚ in and out makes it easy to get your hands on a steady jointer table, no matter what size cut you're looking for.
- Alongside its portable convenience, this jointer also slices through wood like butter at an astounding 20,000 blade strokes per minute! Ideal for cross-cutting boards or finalizing dovetail joints of large wooden pieces.
- Portable, easy to set up, an entry-level benchtop jointer for a beginner and hobbyist. Comes with a 5-year warranty.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
4. Shop Fox W1829 Benchtop Jointer
- The Shop Fox W1829 benchtop jointer is perfect for the woodworker who needs to make up-close cuts on one or two sheets of thicker material. It's also an excellent option for venues where space constraints may prohibit adding manufacturing equipment.
- This 12 amp single-phase motor will help you quickly and cleanly cut through any timber, while its tightly controlled blade spins at 10,000 RPM and 20,000 cuts per minute, making it capable of performing surface planing, edge jointing, and bevel cuts with ease. The two HSS cutter head knives are easy to adjust and provide precise and clean cuts.
- The fine-adjust, infeed table knob allows precise control of the cutting depth. Included are a pair of safety push blocks. The Jointer features a built-in mini impeller that sucks the chips away from the cutter head and blows them out through the dust port.
- The Shop Fox W1829 Benchtop Jointer gets your wood ready for the next step in any project. Whether you're working on a dovetail, reducing boards to a uniform size, or preparing lumber for veneering, this power tool makes it easy and accurate.
- A robust cast iron base supports this workhorse joiner through years of use. The cutter head diameter is 1-7/8 inch which can be easily removed with the quick release handle when sharpening time comes around.
- Your shops first line of defense for all your jointing requirements, this benchtop jointer is packed with features to take any project from start to finish. It includes a free pair of safety push blocks, a built-in mini impeller-driven dust collection fan, and a collection bag so you can work both efficiently and safely.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
5. Craftsman Benchtop Jointer (Model CMEW020)
- Precision and power in one machine. Built for durability, the CRAFTSMAN Benchtop jointer punches through rigid material with its 10 amp motor and 12,000 to 22,000 cuts per minute - letting you handle any project with ease.
- It features a two-knife cutter head that's perfect for edging or face jointing while also being able to produce flat surfaces. With an adjustable jointer blade depth up to 1/4 and 22 of total capacity, this tool is sure to tackle your toughest jobs without complaint!
- Cutting your pieces to size and smoothing off the edges is a breeze because the Craftsman Benchtop Jointer has a variable speed, from 6 000 to 11, 000 RPM. This offers the user flexibility in determining the best-desired starting point based on the material thickness and hardness.
- Designed to be easy to maintain, the CRAFTSMAN is a powerful tool for woodworkers at any skill level. Its excellent knife adjustment allows you to keep things sharp with ease and its dual-knife cutter head provides lengthwise knives that are always ready for use.
- The CRAFTSMAN Benchtop Jointer is perfect for any woodworker looking to get creative! This little powerhouse features a center-mounted fence that'll give you that extra support throughout your cut, keeping you super accurate and on track. It's perfect for cutting hardwoods, and softer woods, so don't let what type of material scare you away from this machine! Whether it's large or small pieces, with the 10 amp heavy-duty motor, tough jobs will be made accessible.
- With endless creativity in mind and no limits to where your imagination can take you, the CRAFTSMAN Jointer truly is your one-stop-shop for all things wood - at a price that won't break the bank!
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
15 Best Types of Planers | What Are They Used For?
Video: How to Use a Jointer
Jointers Buyers Guide
If you are a woodworker or make furniture, you should be well-acquainted with many hand tools. A hand planer or a saw should not be the only tool you know. There are incredible and outstanding tools like a jointer you should as well be well-versed with.
What does a jointer do?
A jointer, also widely known as a flat top or jointer-planer, is a great woodworking tool that gives a wood board a flat surface along the desired length. This machine works perfectly on the narrow edge of boards used to join panels or as a butt joint.
As a woodworker, use this tool to make wood perfectly straight before joining it with other pieces without any problem. If you are using a jointer-planer to make a butt joint, remember to fit the elements without any spacing perfectly. You can use your jointer to straighten out wood and enhance its look without causing much damage.
Type of jointer
There are three main types to choose from:
Benchtop jointers are a particular type of machine installed with a self-cleaning mechanism. These smaller versions can be great for those who have limited space in their garage or workshop as they don’t take up much room at all! This is good for people who have workshops or want to buy a home garage. So, if you are serious about working with wood and operating on a medium to large scale, you will be able to use benchtop jointers. Benchtop jointers can do heavy-duty work.
Most people usually prefer closed stand jointers. They are designed to keep dust and debris away from the motor. Closed stand jointers must be cleaned often for this reason, but they work great. You don’t have to worry about them breaking down or not working right because of dust getting inside.
Open stand jointers are more portable and lighter than closed stand jointers. They are suitable for moving between the workshop and the job site. But they can be loud because you can see their motor. And they have too much vibration because their metal body is not solid like on closed stand jointers.
Table length
Jointers don’t come with a limited table length. As you buy your jointer-planer, ensure the table you will feed into the machine and the height reference table where the wood is floated leave the tool cutting head. The table length will be raised or lowered independently concerning the cutting head.
Table Width
As you purchase your flat top, consider its table width. This is the ability of this woodworking tool to cut different proportions of wood. The width usually determines the cost of your planer. The bigger the width, the more money you will spend on your favorite model.
Max Depth Cut
An adjustable gauge helps set the depth of the cuts in a jointer-planer. Your depth cut will vary depending on the model you choose. The best depth cuts should not be more profound than 1/8 inch per pass. The depth cut helps determine the number of passes to undertake and get your wood piece completely straight.
Cuts per Minute
Cutting speed per minute varies from one jointer-planer to another. For instance, a design with three knives and running at 4000 rpm will produce 12,000 cuts per minute, which is a more pleasing finish for your project.
A woodworking machine with only two knives and running at 4500 rpm will produce 9,000 cuts per minute. You will get the cut per minute of your device by multiplying the cutter head rpm by the number of knives in the specific cutter head.
Number of Knives
Knives in a planer are arranged outwardly and cut into the wood board opposite to the feed. Standard jointer knives last longer than regular steel knives. Depending on your woodworking needs, decide between a 4-knives or 2-knives planer.
Choose between self-indexing or indexed knives for your woodworking projects.
Cutter Head Type
Cutter head types of the available jointer-planer designs will vary. You can decide to opt for a spiral cutter head or helical cutting head.
Adjustable system
A jointer is used to get fine wood boards, and you should keep it fine-tuned. The adjustable system of your planer has to be easy to adjust and help flatten your wood into different angles and with much ease. To adapt your jointer’s fence, loosen the stop screw in the system. Significantly, you can adjust the outfeed table by turning the knob underneath.
Build Quality
Choose a flat top that will give you a reliable sign of capability and reliability. A well-built design will last longer. It is user-friendly and performs better.
Blade Guard Cover
Safety is quite crucial when using your woodworking machine. A blade guard cover will help enclose the cutting blades or the fence except for the working part of the blade. Be considerate when choosing a spring-loaded guard as it easily swings out of the way.
Motor
The cutter head of the latest jointer models is run by an AC electric motor rated at one horsepower. Traditional models used belts running from the line shaft. Pick a model that can produce torque suitable enough to straighten your boards. The more powerful the motor, the faster and accurately it will trim your material.
Dust collection system
The dust collection system is fundamental. This means that the machine you buy must come with an excellent way to collect sawdust and debris produced when working on wood projects. Otherwise, it will spread around your workspace or garage. The best jointers feature an inbuilt dust collector at the bottom of their base for this reason. You can also purchase a dust collection system separately for your jointer.
The price range of jointer
Jointer prices range from a few hundred dollars to thousands. You need to set the budget you have in mind before going out and buying one of these machines. This will help narrow down your choices, making it easier for you to find the best jointer on the market within your price range. It is also important not to go overboard when spending on this type of equipment. You may not need all of the bells and whistles that a more expensive jointer offers.
Warranty
The jointer’s warranty will vary depending on the brand you opt for. Go for a brand that offers a satisfying warranty. Also, ensure spare parts are easy to obtain and not too pricey.
Parallelogram jointer bed vs. Dovetailed ways bed
A parallelogram jointer-planer comes with its beds attached to the head. You can change the shape of this planer to move the beds and up and down. Hence, it’s easy to adjust the beds to desired heights. This jointer’s cam and arc design will make it easy for the woodworker to raise and lower the table using a lever.
On the other hand, dovetailed ways bed will last many years of use and are wedged for easy alignment. You will get what you pay for the model you opt for, but dovetail ways are less-expensive
Power consideration – single-phase or three-phase?
As you shop for the best jointer model in the market, your power choice will matter a lot. You have to decide between single-phase and three-phase models. So, what’s better?
The critical difference is the power output. If you use your jointers in a big factory, you need a reliable and robust power distribution. Three-phase power is the best choice for an extensive woodworking shop, but you only need a single-phase in your small shop.
Buy on AmazonConclusion
The purchase of a jointer is not one you should make quickly. They are expensive, and you will need to consider all your options carefully. We have thoroughly reviewed 5 of what we believe are the best choices.
The Powermatic 1791279DXK won our Best Overall prize. It has all the features you need. It is solidly built, has a great warranty, and will have paid you back your investment 3 to 4 times over its lifespan. However, it is also expensive, so you’ll need to consider how often you will use it. Professional woodworker – no problem. Hobbyist – better value with a different jointer.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The Porter-Cable Benchtop Jointer came out as Best Value. It has a ton of features, is well-built, outstanding warranty, and is portable. This makes it perfect as an entry-level jointer and occasional user.
We hope we have given you all the information needed to go out and make a better buying decision.
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CLICK any image to see Ratings & Reviews on Amazon
Image Model Buy Walts Rating Top 
DEWALT DW682K Click Here 4.9 / 5 (Best Overall) 
AOBEN Click Here 4.7 / 5 (Best Value) 
Ryobi JM83K Click Here 4.6 / 5 
Makita PJ7000 Click Here 4.8 / 5 
REXBETI Click Here 4.5 / 5
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When I’m not testing and reviewing tools, you’ll find me in front of a hot BBQ, cold drink in hand, cooking up something big, and spending quality time with my wife and two boys. I’m also often found in my workshop working on my next project!
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