Actually there are some 4" benchtop models. Not noteworthy.

On 4/9/2012 2:06 PM, Pat Barber wrote:
On 4/7/2012 12:08 AM, wrote:
I've been looking at jointers and planers for a home shop. It seems
that all of the commercially available jointers are 6" and the planers
are about 12". What's the point in having a planer twice as large?

I must be missing something obvious... help a rookie out?

Thanks!

I don't think you have been looking at "commercial grade" equipment if
that's all you have seen.

A 6" jointer is about the smallest you can buy.

A 12" planer is also quite small by commercial standards.

Here are a few examples:

http://www.deltamachinery.com/products/jointers

http://www.deltamachinery.com/products/planers

The size depends on the stock you work with and
the amount of money you have.

The 6" jointer is fine for smaller, shorter stock,
while the 8" is for wider and longer stock. The 8"
jointer normally has a MUCH longer table,ex:
6" jointer 46"
8" jointer 76"

The planers also follow similar patterns.

If you buy s4s lumber, a big jointer is not needed
but if you buy rough cut, the need is there for the
jointer and the planer.

The smaller "lunch box" planer(12") is fine for many shops
and is MUCH cheaper to get into. The next step up is a
15" and that's when price makes a real difference. You
are paying for bigger, much more powerful motors and heavier
equipment. a standard 15" planer is "about" 340 lbs, while the
12" is 76 lbs.