How to use a Jointer SAFELY and EFFECTIVELY

In this video, I show you how to use a jointer safely by covering the placement of guards, how to setup and operate the machine, and what to watch out for. I also show how to use it properly by showing you common mistakes people make while machining timber and how to avoid this.
DISCLAIMER
I am not responsible for any injury or damage caused as a result of this video. There are simply guidelines that have been taught and worked for me over the years. Do not use the machines if you are not 100% confident in what you are doing.
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• 118 - Jointer Setup
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🕵️‍♂️ WHO AM I?:
My name is Matt Estlea and I’m a Woodworker from Basingstoke, England. My aim is to make your woodworking less s***.
I come from 5 years of TRAINING at Rycotewood Furniture Centre in Oxford, 5 years of experience WORKING at Axminster Tools and Machinery in Basingstoke, and 3 years TEACHING both day classes and evening classes at Rycotewood Furniture Centre. All while trying to get this KZbin thing off the ground.
By September 2021, I packed it all in to focus on KZbin and my business full-time.
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[@MattEstlea]

If you found this video useful, don't forget to press the *LIKE* button. It really helps me out! Like the look of the workbench? Watch me make it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fImuiqqDZctojbc&t

[@torque9889]

This is by far the most practical and easy guide on KZbin to a jointer, most KZbinrs might as well be describing how to find a unicorns prostate the way they explain stuff, well done on making this vid idiot proof! Thank you

[@billmagnusson9916]

Firebaugh HS Woodshop here. I enjoy seeing another man do what I do. It SHARPENS me. Love Coach Mag

[@VanNelleX]

This is the 2nd time I'm watching this video. The 1st time was, when I didn't have the jointer, the 2nd time is when I've finally bought my dream machine. Thanks Matt !!

[@mversantvoort]

Finally a good, simple and easy to remember explanation of grain direction on the jointer, thanks! Also, I love how you’re super conscious about safety, that’s always a good thing.

[@charlesthomas9294]

This was great, Matt. I've watched 1000 videos of people using jointers and nobody has ever taken 1/2 these suggestions into consideration. Has totally changed the way I look at jointing. Cheers!

[@wb_finewoodworking]

Very well done Matt. Now I see why the European guard is safer than what we use here in the States. When doing surface jointing it prevents the hand from going across the cutter head.

[@ignorantforager]

I'm American, but I've been watching loads of British/English youtube videos and it will always be a planer and thicknesser to me. I don't use the term jointer anymore. haha. Great vid as always.

[@egonmilanowski]

Turncoat!

[@billhaughenberry2917]

Perfect timing mine was delivered and set up yesterday! Running the first board today I feel much better about it thanks.!!!

[@egonmilanowski]

I just fall in love with this machine more and more every time you show it.

[@kashioable]

Spectacular video. Totally priceless. My brother has purchased the same model and we have spent all day using it and we got it all completely wrong!

[@emmacarina73]

Excellent,clear, informative.... professional. An articulate description Thank you

[@dorsetdumpling5387]

Great vid as always 👍Explanation of grain was good - if I could only get the image of you putting a cat through the machine out of my head!

[@kevinprice6035]

Many thanks Matt for the advice and great tutorial. My AT310SPT arrives next week so I will be watching this again no doubt. Please keep making these great videos.

[@ericandresen680]

As i commented on the other video, just ordered a thick plainer* from Axminster my self and these two videos were so good to watch and really explained a lot. Thank you so much and please continue with theses things! :D

[@BryceTron]

I just started a big project that will require a lot of jointing - really helpful tips! Thanks

[@robeverywhere7414]

A well explained tutorial. Thanks Matt. Love the cat fur analogy.

[@Monticello28]

Thank you. Came here for the set up bit, worked like a gem 👍🏻

[@philipswan1016]

Some very simple and safe tips

[@AimconCoUk]

Love the anology of timber grain and a cat 🐈 😻

[@mitchstavely1]

Very useful and thank you! Getting my jointer in a few weeks.

[@markjarman7819]

Great advice given there. Thanks for a good watch. I’m so tempted with that machine .

[@blackbird-25]

Very nice, clear explanation. Reminded me of when I was taught this machine over 30 years ago when doing my City and Guilds. Quite jealous of your helical block machine, its been on my wish list for a while. Does sound very quiet.

[@Mastering3d]

Great video matt thanks ..I just got myself an axminster planer thicknesser and was getting end snip now i'll go try what you just said and make some adjustments .

[@stevenhughson1346]

What a great video just got this machine and it really helped me set my machine up properly. Cheers Steve.

[@ChristopherZizzo]

Love it! Jointing a cat! Watch out for PETA!! Keep the vids coming! Thank you so much Matt!

[@The_Ol_Bizzaroo]

Really helpful, engaging and informative video. Thanks for posting!

[@mickleblade]

thanks Mat, that explains why I now have snipe after having my blades sharpened, I need to tweak the outfeed table. I have the model down from yours, though a different supplier, it came from the chinese factory beautifully set up.

[@adriansteer33]

This is the best video I've seen on how to use a jointer, awesome job Given that this video is 5yrs old, would you still recommend that wax for the cast iron top? Is it good for rust protection? Thanks

[@gomakeit5254]

Some great advice here! I learnt a lot. Don’t think my lovely Titan Planer/Thicknesser has as many features as yours though. I’ll credit you when I do my walkthrough though, as you’ve explained it well!

[@nick_t777]

Great channel mate I quite enjoy it every day is a learning day and love learning on this channel. Also appreciate your ethics with sponsors read your note on that as well. Good professional advise not salesman advise is always good. Thanks heaps keep it up.

[@markarmstrong2592]

Cheers again Matt safety 1st at all costs

[@tommorton7736]

Matt! Well done mate well explained I’ve been so hyped for this video for your take on the joiner safety and usage, so well done !!!

[@stevenhughson1346]

great video just about to buy a planer thicknesser and really like the look of the axminster with the small cutters , also enjoyed the video as far as the safety aspects are concerned . many thanks Steve..

[@davep5829]

Really good video Matt, superbly explained.

[@rayadelic4327]

Excellent tutorial!!

[@SourcePortEntertainment]

Great video Matt! Keeping people safe out there on the interwebs is a great thing. Loved your wax finishing crayon video btw! Reminds me of a video Peter Brown did with affordable alternative to expensive epoxy resin dyes. - Danny

[@babthooka]

You make very good videos, Matt. The content is good and practical, and your editting skills are very good too. The videos are informative and pleasant to watch. This is an excellent guide for me, since I have just gained access to a jointer, and I am eager to put it to use. I've been looking at different videos on the Youtub-sphere, and there is one thing I could not find practical information on: is it possible to joint long boards with this machine? I see that most of these machines are no more than 1,5 meters long, and I think I'd like to joint and plane boards that are up to 3 meters long. Will it be necessary or possible to extend the top surface of the machine for this purpose?

[@DoubleRhonRhon]

would like to see jointing long boards like 2meters . Would be very useful for making workbench!

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

I'm glad you clarified that we are not running the cat over the jointer.

[@heatoncustomwoodworkingflo1769]

I hate to say, but i wish this video had come out about 2 months ago. I love your videos, and have a trip planned to Europe for next year in which I plan to stop by Axe, but since I cut my pointer finger off with a jointer last month, I fear that if you release a video about bandsaw safety, it may mean I cut my head off with one the weekbefore....😐

[@jimwilliams2682]

I love it when my wood purrs!

[@steenfraosterbro3268]

Great video Matt. Watch out for that microphone wire 🤓

[@martenveldthuis]

Note: Do not put your cat over a cutter block. It does not like it in either direction. :)

[@SquareTheBagel]

Very good and handy video 👍🏻

[@JordanStClair-fi2ev]

BOOOOOOM FIRST LIKE! Love the videos man you rock.

[@SteveZodiac777]

Thanks Matt - good info!

[@AtchoumeCompagnie]

hello, I'm french and I just discovered your youtube channel ! you are mading good job!! your material appear very well! I am looking for the AP129PT but I have one question about it. The tungsten carbide cutters, what are their dimensions please? (sorry for my english I can't write or speak all days... )

[@Steve-dr7rr]

Hi Matt hope you ok. I like the thicknesser and planer you have would you be able to recommend one that would work in a wooden workshop/ shed with wooden floor possibly something 100kg or lower cheers steve👨🏼‍🦽

[@wilkbor]

A great video, although I have a couple of questions for anyone who has firsthand experience with a jointer/planer/thicknesser combination tool. Does the jointer portion work as well as a stand alone jointer? Does the thicknesser/planer work as well as a stand alone tool? Is the cost of the combined machine less than buying two separate machines? THanks again for the video and for any response.

[@HanYou2]

The reasons you might want combined are cost and space. You want 2 separate machines to save time setting up. You can do face and edge on jointer then put it through thicknesser directly, or 2 persons can work at the same time

[@trevor33jan1]

excellent info mate, thanks

[@rtgray7]

Splendid!

[@nick_t777]

Question : Can you remove or reduce bow in timber buy just placing heavy weight on it for a period of time. May be I need to to do a test. Likely depends on moister in timber and soft or hard wood. Might be a good lab exercise.

[@GrahamOrm]

Excellent!

[@paweg1157]

Hi Matt cool tutorial :) but i saw you had a microfone cable hanging from you when you were jointing at 17:55. It’s not safe ;)

[@TheWhiteLily44]

Please do a how to use a thicknesser safely video.😁

[@cbolt4492]

Pretty good 😎

[@paultay23]

Super advice Matt...now all i need is a decent Jointer Thicknesser or is it a planer..... :}

Thanks Jon Snow!

[@bryangoodwin6579]

He does know something!

[@finison1]

In your next video (I assume discussing the thicknesser portion) it would be good to explain to folks why you square only one edge to one face on the jointer not two edges. Also mention why you joint or plane the face first then use that against the fence to correct the one edge. Mentioning that you need to run that jointed face along the table saw fence now to rip to desired width and how the table saw fence will now register the fresh straight edge you made and that task can take place before or after the thickness if process. Great job by the way!

[@GrahamOrm]

Click here 1:00 then here 0:29

[@TedHopp]

Regarding grain direction, what about when grain changes direction partway down a board (perhaps several times) or even across the board? Any recommended strategies for avoiding tear out in that situation other than reducing the depth of cut?

[@MattEstlea]

Slow feed rate, sharp cutters and as you say, reduced depth of cut!

[@lewskinner6642]

1. Go very very slowly 2. Take very very amount off

[@jamsand3]

When planing rough sawn lumber and you're unable to see the grain how do you tell grain direction? Do you just do a first super shallow pass to make the grain visible and then go from there or is there a trick to it?

[@MattEstlea]

Yep! It’s usually a shot in the dark the first time around :)

[@AJ-ln4sm]

Now I want to run a cat thru my jointer. 😆

[@andersod2yt]

I wonder why they don't just provide some kind of pressure rollers on the back plane to provide the pressure?

[@NV..V]

Matt, is that type of guard mandatory (or the default type) in your neck of the woods? Maybe I'm just used to our "pivot spring-back" type, but it looks like it could get a tad bit annoying. Another great video, thanks brother.

[@campbelldeeming9509]

Nick Vitale Bridge Guards are the standard over in the UK, they are always like the ones on Matt's machine, some are attached on a post in line with cutter block, see Watkins and Sedgwicks, the guard needs to be sturdy enough in order that if you knock it with your hand accidently it does not reflect and expose the cutter block. The Pork Chop or Boomerang guides that you have in the colonies is illegal here for that reason, if you push or knock it the cutter block can be exposed. To be honest setting up the guards is not a hassle, it's what we are trained to do from the first time we use these machines. Some more info at these links below www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis17.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiD65zR39HcAhXILcAKHViMCVQQFjACegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw3riB-IS_tpmAWCgZSWWmxM www.hse.gov.uk/woodworking/planer.htm

[@thatcrazyguy1971]

Trevanion: Bingo! I am all for safety features but they have to be user friendly otherwise they get pushed completely out of the way. I've seen it too many times, and the pork chop in that respect is better because it is no hindrance. I plane (joint! heck..) my wood the way Matt shows doing the edge BUT I have made special pushers that hook the wood at the end hence I don't need to push it down for it to be pushed forward. And I have two handles on these (several lengths) "pushers" one towards the front and the other hand that is at the end of the pusher. The only time the cutter is exposed is before the wood and after the pass. Unless you have your long Tshirt or Matt's mike cable hanging, I see no real danger. Position yourself properly in front of the machine, keep focussed and balanced and all goes well. And I never had issues jointing/planing and edging my boards with that technique, and I never got even close to scaring myself. And even a thin piece blowing up wouldn't affect my hands (I don't plane anything less than 15mm and even that is way too thin for my liking). For long boards I use a slightly different technique but it pretty much is the same. Matt you should demonstrate planning long boards as Trevanion suggests for the reasons he (she?!) mentions. For me that was the trickiest to learn (by myself) at the beginning.

[@thatcrazyguy1971]

Ohh and here we go, HSE in UK has a very good word for jointing/planing: FLATTING! Enjoy your flatter / thicknesser ! :-P

[@NV..V]

Campbell Deeming thank you my friend. Very detailed response; much appreciated.

[@Dr.H_Woodworks]

A safety question:At what thickness there is a risk of snapping and should we avoid using a jointer?

[@boanchen589]

Hello why adjustment of outfeed table with 5 mm ? how it's work?

[@Kikilang60]

Thanks.

[@raysmith1992]

Good video, very informative do hope you are a cat lover, as for gloves I use Carpenters gloves, and on some construction sites they are mandatory, just a point what about a dust mask, not all extraction systems are 100% effective.

[@MattEstlea]

I most certainly am a cat man. As for a dust mask, shouldn’t need one at all. Planers/jointers produce chips, not fine dust. Shouldn’t be any harm at all!

[@raysmith1992]

Matt Estlea My Triton fills my Karcher shop vac up in minutes purchased the Triton bucket, if I had a bigger workshop I would have a complete extraction system, love your videos.

[@eitantal726]

Practical reason to never push against the cutter: You'll create a snipe (aka low point, a dip). Wood is slightly bendy

[@SHARPEYSWORKSHOP]

Is it a jointer or surface planer I keep getting told off lol

[@HanYou2]

i think in the end, when you planed the edge, you placed the cat the other way (wrong) but somehow it turned ok, am i right?

[@rybiesemeyer]

I'm a little late to reply, but essentially he only marked the grain orientation of the wide faces (on the edges), and would have separately read the grain orientation of the edges (likely skipping the marking step).

[@epicmovies4423]

The why your holding it while jointing my friend i saw a guy losing 3 fingers like that

[@aleksamaker8118]

Safety first

[@joesbarbecue1]

I always joint my cats (well, not MY cats) before I finish them up at the bandsaw. We don't call it jointing though. We call it peeling!

[@GageDrums]

3:38 you mention in the beginning of the video that you have a video discussing the differences between a jointer and a planer but then you call a jointer a planer.. Oh Matt.. Maybe you should watch that video!

[@MattEstlea]

God dammit 😂😂

[@Obscurity202]

wow such a cool intro I really needed to rock out and be manly. jesus.

[@mattkeayes6627]

"The wood that is, not the cat"

[@jimbo2629]

I would not surface plane out a bow on a piece of wood as thin as you demonstrate. If there is a shake or knot in it, or the grain changes it will be liable to break and maybe draw your hand in. Stick to pieces thick enough to not flex. How do I know this? I’ll let you guess. If you are spending thousands on a jointer, consider adding a power feed. Using your hands to feed its going to be jerky and there will be bounce. In the antipodes a jointer is termed a buzzer. Very appropriate. It is possible to flatten boards with a thicknesser. Lots of videos showing this. It’s easy to square edges with the table saw. Both can give better results with much more safety. I have a jointer, but only use it as a last resort.

[@tommoores1531]

You can just use water to dampen your hands instead of spit

[@chinsawjosh]

O so that's what the safety covers is for, I must take mine out of the draw,🃏

[@james5426]

Took mine off, didn’t use the push blocks, now I’ve got a large skin graft on my right palm. Guard never comes off now lol

[@paulrobinson3042]

It is and always will be a planer.

[@doubledarefan]

Thicknesser? More like thinesser, because it aways makes wood thinner, never thicker.

[@GrahamOrm]

It makes it the thickness you require. Thicknesser is the correct and universal name for it.

[@andy0ne310]

spit on your hands or use rock climbing chalk {""}