Planing and Jointing
How to Use a Benchtop Planer
How to use a benchtop planer: prep your stock, set the depth of cut, feed boards at a steady rate, and manage snipe for a smooth finish.
Planing and Jointing
Thickness planers, helical cutterheads, benchtop jointers and planer sleds for turning rough boards into flat, square stock.
Planing and JointingWEN JT630H 6-Inch Benchtop Jointer Review
WEN JT630H review: spiral cutterhead, table size, fence and depth of cut, plus who should buy this 6-inch benchtop jointer and who should look elsewhere.
Planing and JointingSurface Planer vs Thickness Planer: What Differs?
Surface planer vs thickness planer: see how each flattens or sizes boards, what order to use them and which machine earns its bench space first.
Planing and JointingWhat to Look for in a Benchtop Planer
What to look for in a benchtop planer: cutterhead type, motor power, width and thickness capacity, snipe control, feed speed, tables and dust collection.
- Planing and Jointing
How to Use a Benchtop Jointer
How to use a benchtop jointer: set the depth of cut, joint the edge first, then the face, and keep the fence square for flat, straight boards.
Planing and JointingDeWalt DW734 Planer Review
DeWalt DW734 planer reviews explained: how its 15-amp motor, three-knife head and four-column lock suit everyday board surfacing in a home shop.
- Planing and Jointing
How to Sharpen Thickness Planer Blades
Learn how to sharpen thickness planer blades at home, when dull knives need attention, safe removal, grinding and honing steps, and how to set them back.
- Planing and Jointing
Best Benchtop Planers for a Home Workshop
Compare the best benchtop planer picks for a home shop, from two speed cutterheads to compact setups. Match width, feed options, board support and dust collection to your work.
Planing and JointingBest Helical Planer
Compare the best helical planer options by cutterhead design, feed speeds, width and useful shop features to find a benchtop model that fits your work.
- Planing and Jointing
DeWalt DW735 vs DW735X: Is the Kit Worth It?
Compare the DeWalt DW735 vs DW735X by included tables, extra knives and shared planer features to decide whether the kit fits your shop and workflow.
Planing and JointingDo I Need a Jointer If I Already Own a Planer?
Do you need a jointer if you have a planer? Learn when a planer sled works, how to choose a jointer, and which setup suits your lumber and home shop.
- Planing and Jointing
How to Use a Jointer Safely: Habits That Matter
Learn how to use a jointer safely with practical setup, feeding, and shutdown steps, plus tips for choosing the right benchtop model for your shop.
- Planing and Jointing
How a Planer Sled Flattens Boards Without a Jointer
A planer sled for flattening boards supports twisted or uneven lumber so a thickness planer can create one flat face before you plane the opposite side.
Planing and JointingWEN PL1326 vs DeWalt DW735: Spiral Head or Knives?
Compare the WEN PL1326 vs DeWalt DW735 by cutterhead, feed speed, finish options and setup features to choose the thickness planer that fits your shop.
- Planing and Jointing
What Does a Thickness Planer Do in a Home Shop?
Learn what a thickness planer is used for, how it makes boards evenly thick, what it cannot fix on its own, and which planer features suit home-shop work.