JustME wrote:

Hi all,

I'm fairly new to the woodworking world so I need some help with
this one. I'm wanting to purchase a planer or a jointer, but not
sure which one I should buy FIRST? I would like to purchase both
at the same time, but I can only afford one at the moment. I would
like to build small to medium furniture, so each of these tools is
a neccessity, but we can't always have what we want. As far as the
value of each tool is concerned which would offer me the most
starting out? Which models would be good for a beginner as well?
Thanks for all your help.

Matt in Benton, AR


Assuming you build relatively simple stuff using standard board
lumber, I would say in order of importance, a jointer is more
important. It's most useful function would be to clean & true up board
edges.

That said, a pretty decent jointer for that purpose can be made with a
3/4" straight bit and a router table. So, if you were to make a
jointer and buy a planer, you'd basically have both tools.

Unfortunately, while you can make a decent homemade jointer, you can't
really make a decent homemade planer. Unless you want to screw around
with planing surfaces by hand or go at it with a belt sander... if
your works demands a planer, you pretty much need to buy a planer.

So, my advice is to buy a planer and make a jointer. Later, you can
always buy a "real" jointer.

Joe Barta