The jointer is an essential tool in the workshop for creating perfectly flat surfaces. Mastering the jointer is important because properly milled wood is not only easy to work with, but also key for producing quality woodwork. However, when working with a jointer, safety precautions are crucial to avoid your hands contacting the spinning cutterhead. Here, we have put together four of our favorite articles and videos on jointer safety and operation, plus one bonus article on planer safety.

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Safety Manual: Jointer

Synopsis: The jointer does one important thing very well. It creates a perfectly flat surface, either on the face of a board, or on the edge (with the face of the board riding against the jointer’s fence). When milling rough lumber, the jointer represents the first step, producing one flat face and one straight edge for reference. The board then moves to the planer for thicknessing and the tablesaw to be cut to final width. In this article, Fine Woodworking Editors give tips for properly using a jointer and their list of safety precautions for operating a jointer.

by Fine Woodworking Editors

Master the Jointer

Synopsis: The jointer is one of the least understood tools in the workshop, and one of the most dangerous, according to teacher Marc Adams. It’s also a critical machine to master, because properly milled wood is not only a joy to work with, but it is essential to quality woodworking. Here, he gives you everything you need to know about how a jointer works and how to get the most out of it, from setup, to basic technique, to tricks for oversize boards.

by Marc Adams

Safety Week: Beware of Jointer Dangers

Synopsis: The jointer is essential for milling rough lumber but its spinning cutterhead will chew up your fingers if you ignore safety precautions. Fine Woodworking magazine editor Asa Christiana shares basic tips on how to stay safe and get great results.

by Asa Christiana

Push Sticks for the Jointer

Synopsis: Keeping your hands a safe distance away from the spinning knives of a jointer is an important safety concern for woodworkers. In this short video, Fine Woodworking contributing editor Gary Rogowski demonstrates a variety of jointer push sticks that he uses in his shop to stay safe. Whether you’re cutting thin stock, long boards, or jointing an edge, these jigs will keep your fingers out of harm’s way.

by Gary Rogowski

Safety Manual: Benchtop Planer

Synopsis: The benchtop planer is a relatively recent woodworking invention, taking the place of a large industrial planer in most shops. In this article, Fine Woodworking Editors provide their recommended safety precautions to consider when using a benchtop thickness planer.

by Fine Woodworking Editors

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