A lot of woodworkers’ wish lists include a 12-in. jointer to match their 12-in. thickness planer. But a 12-in. jointer is a big expense. That’s why, in recent years, combination machines have gained popularity. A 12-in. combo machine gets you both machines in one space-saving package for about the same price as a 12-in. jointer alone. Recently, I looked at two new ones from Grizzly and Laguna.

The machines are functionally alike, and both are excellent. I planed and jointed white oak, maple, and cherry with each machine and the results were impressive. If forced to pick between the two, I’d lean toward the Grizzly, mainly because of the lower price.

As an option on both machines, you can substitute a spiral cutterhead for the standard straight-knifed cutterhead. It adds about $500 to the price but requires less power and produces little tearout, even in very challenging woods. A series of multisided carbide insert cutters, mounted in the head, do the cutting. These edges last much longer than steel blades, and should one get nicked, it’s a simple matter to rotate it to a fresh edge.

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Forrest Woodworker II Blade

A high quality, staple blade for your table saw. With 48 teeth, it is suitable for both ripping and crosscutting.

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Rockler Dust Right 1250 CFM

You’ll need help to get this heavy unit onto its bracket, but if you’re looking for a central dust collector that won’t gobble floor space, this may be the unit for you.

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Shop Fox W1826

The thick, felted bag on this Shop Fox is a plus and a minus. On one hand, it makes the unit much less expensive than collectors with canister filters, and also lighter and easier to hang on the wall. Without a separate plastic bag to catch chips, however, they stay in the felt bag, and the shortish zipper on the bottom makes it tough to shake them out. Otherwise, the W1826 is an excellent value.

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