Agreed, but consider the mechanics here when joining at right angles against
the face. If the face board is long related to its width, it'll probably not
stay exactly flat, but will be drawn against the edge of the connected board.
It's when the face board is short and wide that it needs to be really flat, as
it's then difficult to draw it in with fasteners. While a thickness planer is
generally thought to be only making the two faces parallel, it also makes it
flat across the width, and will also make it reasonably flat across the length
of the bed. It's those last two items that make it more useful for many
projects, especially when alternating faces as you suggested.
GerryG

On Thu, 30 Sep 2004 06:54:13 -0400, "George" george@least wrote:

I would guess that those boards would be about as long regardless of the
intended use, wouldn't you? Of course it makes sense to crosscut _any_
stock prior to joining/planing to reduce the amount of adjustment required
to get it flat, which characteristic, by the way, is what allows you to join
it at right angles to the face.

"GerryG" wrote in message
.. .
From another point of view, he's looking to face plane, not edge joint. In
those cases, say with a 6'x10" board, it's rare that you really need a
board
that's flat along the entire length of its face. And, if it were so, it
probably wouldn't stay that way for very long. Other than for a workbench
slab, that is.

As it'll typically be locked down to a frame or other supports, you do
need it
flat across the width, and flat for a short distance along the length of
the
face. Your thickness planer suggestion meets those requirements. I've done
that with quantities of rough lumber.
GerryG

On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 07:40:51 -0400, "George" george@least wrote:

Reason is simple. You really don't _need_ as wide a jointer as you think
you
do. Knocking the high spots off / shimming the low spots up prior to
planing a wide board, or fully supporting it on a planer sled will handle
even the worst case scenario. Most boards plane adequately by taking
light
cuts and alternating properly.

The piddling European machines Andy mentions have jointer tables which,
according to the rec "wisdom" are too short for proper use.

"Eric Anderson" wrote in message
. com...
One conflict that still exists that I have not seen a good solution
for is a jointer that matches the width requirements that an average
woodworker has.