A benchtop jointer is basically a device that is used to flatten a wooden surface. It is meant to produce a flat edge on a board, before joining them to produce a larger board.

It makes the wooden surface flat and smooth, and making it free from any kinds of twists. It works through a set of blades that cut a small amount of wood from the surface, thus resulting it in being completely flat and straight.

They come in various sizes and types, and it depends on the size of the wood that you are planning to work on, as to which benchtop jointer would work for you.

To work on a piece of wood, it is very essential that the surface is as smooth as possible, so that you can work efficiently. From the number of varieties of benchtop jointers available in the market, we have reviewed the 7 best of them, so that you can get the product you are looking for.

We also have a buyer’s guide at the end of this article, so that you do not forget any of the important features to look for while buying a benchtop jointer, and end up buying the absolute best.

Powermatic 1791317K 54HH 6-Inch Jointer

This strong and powerful benchtop jointer comes with a helical cutterhead that has a four-sided knife, which gives a smooth and plane wood surface. This helical cutterhead also works in a quite manner, which makes it different from other regular jointers.

It has a 6 inch adjustable in-feed and out-feed tables that give the user a wide and large working space. It provides a stable footing, which makes the product more accurate to use.

It is a steel based cabinet, which is of appropriate height and makes using it very comfortable.

Features

1. Helical cutterhead.
2. Precision ground cast iron tables.
3. High performance fence system.
4. Adjustable in-feed and out-feed tables.
5. Highly accurate product.
6. Assembly required.
7. Power source- corded electric.
8. Dust Collection Minimum CFM Required (CFM):450.
9. Works quietly.

Overall Ratings- 4.7/5 stars.

Grizzly Industrial G1021X2-15″ 3 HP Extreme Series Planer w/Helical Cutterhead

This planer by Grizzly is one of the best performing 15″ jointer. It has an indexable carbide helical cutterhead, which provides the user with fine cuts and a smooth and plane surface.

It has iron in-feed and out-feed tables, that are made from cast iron which makes its working more precise and accurate. Its ball bearing return rollers are extra large in size. It has an internal motor that is mounted with 3 horsepower.

It is coated with powdered paint which lasts for its entire lifetime, and gives it a stylish look.

Features

1. Helical cutterhead.
2. Has a 4″ dust port.
3. Table can be locked to prevent movement while working.
4. Precision ground cast iron table.
5. Lifting handles are retractable.
6. Coated with paint.
7. Feed roller is solid serrated.
8. Two-speed feed control.

Overall ratings- 4/5 stars.

Festool 574447 XL DF 700 Domino Joiner Set

This is an unique jointer, that uses a patented cutting action, which provides the users with clean and perfect mortises. One can easily adjust the width of the mortise with just the turn of a dial.

Indexing pins are available so that the user can align the edges of the pieces he is working on for precise placement. It also has an optional trim and cross stops which gives efficient edge joinings.

It is versatile for any kind of project. Power consumption- 420 Watts.

Features

1. Patented cutting action.
2. Adjustable mortise width.
3. Indexing pins for quick alignment.
4. Pivoting fence.
5. Depth control.
6. Less cleanup time.
7. Lesser dangerous toxins to breathe in.
8. Portable.
9. Precise.
10. Dust extraction.

Overall Ratings– 4.6/5 stars.

Delta Power Tools 22-590 Portable Planer

This portable benchtop jointer has a three knife cutter head, which provides the user with a super smooth and fine finish. Its blades have a longer life than usual regular blades.

The material remover gauge enables the user to utilize the whole width of the cutter head. The user can also select a certain dimension for repeated cuts with the help of its innate micro-adjust depth.

It has a patented cutterhead lock system which reduces snipe. The in-feed and out-feed table also reduces snipe. It has an excellent knife life and produces completely smooth edges.

Features

1. Three-knife cutter head.
2. Long blade life.
3. Material remover gauge.
4. Cutter head lock.
5. Awesome finish.
6. Micro-adjust depth.
7. In-feed and out-feed tables reduce snipe.
8. 30,000 cuts per minute.

Overall Ratings- 4.0/5 stars.

Cutech 40200HC-CT 13″ Spiral Cutterhead Planer

This new model by Cutech has enhanced its productivity by adding carbide inserts to its spiral cutterhead. It has 4 heavy duty guide posts and 2 elevating screws that are designed for heavy duty too.

It has cutterhead snipe locks, and its height can be adjusted with the help of its internal gears. It has large tables and depth repeat cut feature. The cutter tips can be rotated with ease and does not waste much of your time, so that your project doesn’t need to pause.

It has improved chip removal, thus it reduces the scope for wear and tear due to improper chip evacuation. It has a dual sized dust port and comes with all the necessary tools that are needed to change cutter tips.

Features

1. Carbide inserts.
2. Heavy duty guide posts.
3. Heavy duty elevating screws.
4. Cutterhead snipe lock.
5. Adjustable height.
6. Depth repeat cut.
7. Improved chip remover.
8. Large in-feed and out-feed tables.
9. Dual sized dust port.
10. 2 year warranty.

Overall Ratings– 4.7/5 stars.

RIKON Power Tools 25-130H 13-Inch Planer 

This powerful benchtop jointer has a 115V motor and is able to cut wood up to 1/8″ depth. It has 6 row helical cutter head, which produces a smooth and straight finish, and works equally good on soft wood as well as hard wood.

It has 26 HSS inserts, that are double-sided, and can be changed easily.

It has a width of 13″ and thickness of 6″, which gives the user a generous space to use. It planes all sorts of wood surfaces easily.

Features

1. 115V motor.
2. 15 Amp.
3. 6 row helical cutter head.
4. Produces a fine finish.
5. Works efficiently on hard wood and soft wood.
6. 26 HSS inserts.
7. Double sided inserts.
8. 13″ width.
9. 6″ thickness.

Overall Ratings– 3/5 stars.

Ridgid R4330 Planer

This benchtop jointer by Ridgid has a three blade cutterhead, which leaves a smooth finish and gives a blemish-free wood surface.

There is no need for a cutterhead locking system now, since this machine gives consistent thickness of cuts throughout the whole area of the work piece. It has extra large in-feed and out-feed tables which reduce the chance of snipe. The blades are self-indexing and can be reversed for use for an extended lifetime.

It also has an on-board tool storage, where the user can easily store the blades and can also easily change them quickly whenever needed, without having to pause the work they are doing.

Features

1. Three blade cutter.
2. Consistent thickness throughout the width of the working piece.
3. Extra large in-feed and out-feed tables.
4. On-board blade storage.
5. Reversible blades.
6. Self aligning and self indexing blades.
7. Precise cuts.
8. Dust hood rotating panel can be opened simply by twisting.

Overall Ratings– 2.9/5 stars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Buyer’s Guide

Now that you have checked out the reviews for the 7 best benchtop jointers of 2020, you must have selected the product that would suit you the best. Now before making the purchase, make sure to check the following points-

There are a number of jointers available in various sizes. The length, the cutting depth and the width are important factors to keep in mind before buying a jointer.

The selection of the knife size is a crucial step. The size of a knife depicts the widest board that the jointer can handle with ease. The cutting depth also needs to be considered as it denotes the number of times that the wood needs to be passed through to get a straight board.

Another important part of the jointer is its fence, which is the part that is at 90 degrees from the table. The fence should ideally be strong and sturdy and should comprise of superior quality material, since this the part of the jointer that will be under constant pressure and force. You can go for jointers that have adjustable fence angles, as they are more efficient.

The power of most benchtop jointers is 1 HP, which totally fine and doesn’t need much supervision. Single phase outlets of 110-220 volts will be needed.

Ideally, you should select a benchtop jointer that does not create that big of a mess. Making no mess at all is not possible for any jointer, and any manufacturer who claims otherwise is just trying to increase their sale.

To maintain cleanliness, most jointers have the facility to add a vacuum connection to it, which is a necessary feature in all benchtop jointers.

Summary

By now, you have the reviews of the 7 best benchtop jointers of 2020, and a buying guide that will help you in buying the same. So, select wisely, since there are hundreds of varieties and sellers of jointers available in the market, who will guarantee you many different things.

But stay smart, and select the product that will be suitable for the kind of work you are intending to do with it, whether you are a professional or a hobbyist, remember the available space that you have, and check whether the jointer falls under your decided budget.

So, go buy one!

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