Best Jointer for Hobbyists – Review in 2023

A jointer is an essential tool for any woodworking project. Hardly any piece of wood will be completely straight and flat. Whether you’re a professional contractor or a hobbyist, you’ll need a good jointer to flatten the faces, correct the edges, and smoothen any roughness in your wood.

Choosing the right jointer for a hobbyist can be difficult as they’re pretty expensive and because there are so many models and brands to choose from.

We’ll take you through our top 10 picks for the best jointer for a hobbyist. These are especially appropriate for hobbyists, as you’ll find out.

Our in-depth analysis of these jointers and a comprehensive buying guide will help you in making the right decision.

10 Best Jointers for Hobbyists 2023

Let’s find out what makes our picks for the best jointers. We hope you’ll find the perfect one right here.

PORTER-CABLE PC160JT Variable Speed 6″ Jointer

This low-cost, budget-friendly jointer is perfect for the DIY woodworking enthusiast. Its compact size will make it easy for you to place it anywhere in your garage or workshop.

When it comes to power, it has a 2 HP single phase 10 amp motor that can deliver 12000-22000 cuts per minute. The cutter head has two knives on it, which means your cuts will be smoother and more precise.

You can adjust the speed of the cutter head between 6000 rpm and 11000 rpm. There are 5-speed settings so you can choose according to the material and size of the piece.

It is a 6-inch jointer with a 30-inch table that gives you ample space for any type of home project. You can easily flatten and straighten any piece of wood twice the length of the table.

A great thing about the knife of this jointer is that you can easily level it using the jackscrew system. And the replacement is also quick and easy with the built-in lock of the cutter head.

The aluminum body makes it lightweight at 35 pounds, which means it has excellent portability. You can move it around your workspace or store it once you’re done with your work.

Moreover, the fence is center-mounted, which means it’ll give great support and accuracy when you’re joining edges. Whether it’s a table, fence, chair legs, or frames, this jointer will help you make some unique pieces to decorate your home with.

Festool 574432 Domino Joiner DF 500 Q Set

A joiner like the Festool 574432 can speed up a dull and monotonous job like joining. It’ll also increase efficiency and accuracy in your woodworking project.

This revolutionary product’s motor runs at 420V with a cutter speed of 24,300 rpm. An impressive biscuit joiner, it’ll make sure you get some of the finest work done quick and fast.

You can choose from 5 different sizes of depths when mortising according to the tenon that’s needed for the joining. When doing miters or bevels, you can use any angle from 0 to 90 degrees. This will also make positive stops at 22.5, 45, and 67.5 degrees, which are used for repetitive work.

Adjusting the mortise width is easy with the dial turn, which will give you good alignment. You’ll be getting indexing pins that are placed at the edge of the wood for quicker and more accurate adjustment.

There’s no need to worry about dust and debris as Festool uses a dust-extractable technology that removes almost 95 percent of sawdust. This gives you clean holes for mortises, smooth surface for better adhesion of glue, and increases the cutting life.

The dust extraction design also ensures a cleaner workspace and better air quality where you won’t have to breathe in harmful toxins.

Moreover, this Festo Domino joiner gets its name from the beech DOMINO tenons that are used to give you the strongest joints. The cutter on this thing is a spiral one that oscillates to perfection and creates flawless mortises.

With this joiner, you’ll be getting an open-ended spanner WAF8, cross top, and 5mm cutter. This joiner is reliable and efficient and will increase the quality of your work dramatically while reducing the amount of time spent on joining.

Related Guide: Best 8 Inch Jointer

Festool 574447 XL DF 700 Domino Joiner Set

The next on our list of best jointers is the bigger and better version of the previous model. It is the choice biscuit joiner of professionals and hobbyists alike.

This is no ordinary jointer. It gives you premium, unrivaled precision, and quality to your pieces. Not only that, but you’ll also see a significant reduction in the amount of time you have to spend in joining work.

What we love about this product is that you can adjust the mortises according to the tenons you want to work with. You can choose between mortise sizes of 8, 10, 12, 14 mm.

Adjustment of the depth of mortises is also easy. Depending on how you want to apply it, you can choose between 19/32 inch to 2-3 /4 inch or 15-70 mm with increments of 5mm. This gives your mortises perfect precision every time.

And the fence on this thing is pivotal, which means you can make miter, bevels, chamfers with it. You can use it to create mortises angled from 0 to 90 degrees.

Like the previous model, the cutter’s patented rotation and oscillation are unique and almost impossible to find in any other joiner. It gives you clean and perfect mortises, which are also repeatable.

You won’t have to worry about woodchips anymore when using this joiner. The dust extraction system guarantees a clean and debris-free workspace.

If you’re an extreme woodworking hobbyist and like to experiment with heavy-duty work like beds, gates, tables, or anything that requires big pieces, you’re sure to benefit from the Festool DF 700.

Furthermore, the set comes with cross top and trims accessories along with D12 cutter, Plug-it power cord, wrench, T-loc sustainer sys 5, and support bracket.

Grizzly Industrial G0814-6″ x 48″ Jointer with Cabinet Stand

You can’t have a list of the best power tools without including a Grizzly product. Simple usage, versatility, and great performance make up this product. Combine that with portability and durability, and you have the perfect jointer at a competitive price.

This Grizzly jointer features a cabinet stand, which makes it even more desirable for hobbyists and small shop owners. The 3- knife high-speed cutter head is powered by a 1 HP single-phase motor. And the steel blades have an rpm of 5000. This allows you to make cuts as deep as 1 /8 inch.

Moreover, the smooth table is made of cast iron, and the beds on the table slide on dovetail ways. You’ll love the infeed table that has a lever for adjusting the height quickly and efficiently.

Also, this jointer has a center-mounted fence, which is made of cast iron. It’ll help you measure your wood piece correctly for better and more accurate cutting. The fence features angle stops at 45, 90, and 130 degrees.

This will allow you to shape repeatable miters and bevels with precision and accuracy.

Another great thing about the Grizzly G0814 is the built-in mobile base. All you have to do is push on the lever with your feet, and you can easily move it anywhere you like. It is this feature that stands out and is a winner among hobbyist woodworkers.

Working with wood means you’ll have to deal with woodchips and dust. This cabinet jointer has a 4-inch dust port, which will keep your workspace clean and debris-free. You’ll get a decent 15000 cuts per minute on this thing, which will allow you to efficiently flatten and straighten any piece of wood.

Related Topic: Cordless Circular Saw vs Corded

JET – JJ-6HHDX 6-Inch Long Bed Helical Head Jointer

If you’re a serious woodworker and in need of a jointer that’ll give you quality work and professional finish, then this is the one for you.

It is a cabinet style jointer that is made of sturdy yet lightweight steel, which gives this jointer great stability. The height of the table is at a comfortable 31 inches above the ground. And the back of the cabinet has a large door for you to access the motor or the belt should you need to.

This jointer boasts a 1 HP, single-phase motor that makes the helical cutter heads spin at a consistent speed of 6000 rpm. The motor is also completely enclosed and cooled by a fan to make sure that it doesn’t overheat during operation.

Dust collection is also easy with the angled dust chute that starts from under the cutter head and ends at the side of the cabinet. You can attach a hose to the 4-inch port to keep your workspace dust and debris-free.

The cast-iron table on this thing measures 54-3 /4 inch in length and 7-3 /8 in width. This will give you a maximum of 6-1 /16 wide cut. With the handwheels that are mounted at the front of the table, the height of the infeed and outfeed tables can be adjusted quickly, easily, and accurately.

What makes this jointer special is the helical cutter head giving you a finer finish. It uses 27 inserts that are made of carbide and are 4 sided. The 3 thick knives used by the cutter head gives you superior cuts every time.

Last but not least is the roomy cast-iron fence. This fence can be adjusted to two angles, 45 degrees inward and outward and 90 degrees. It is the perfect jointer for both light and heavy-duty work and easy to operate for both newbies and professionals.

Powermatic 1610086K Model 60HH 8-Inch 2 HP 1-Phase Jointer with Helical Cutterhead

The next jointer on our list is a reliable and trusty product. Designed for heavy-duty work, this jointer is equipped with a 2HP motor. If you plan on working with a large load of wood efficiently and quickly, this jointer will give you an effortless and consistent performance.

And the helical cutter on this thing has four-sided inserts. This will make sure that your work is done much faster, quieter, and smoother. You really can’t beat the superior quality you get from these helical cutter heads.

Also, the dovetail style table is a whopping 73 inches, which means you get a lot of support for boards that are larger than usual. You can adjust the height of the infeed table by a lever and then use the handle to set the depth of the cut.

Tilting the fence is also made efficient by the inclusion of the hassle-free worm gear method. Also, you’ll be getting a non-mar insert, which will prevent scratches on the table when adjusting the fence.

What’s unique about this product is that it gives you the option to choose either a three-knife cutter head or a four-sided insert helical cutter head. You can choose according to your preference.

Jet 718250K JJ-8HH 8 Jointer with Helical Head Kit in Woodworking, Jointers

Another excellent product by Jet, the 718250K model, is a quiet one despite running on a powerful 2 HP motor. If you plan on working with heavy and thick wood, this machine will serve you well.

The helical cutter head and the carbide inserts are again responsible for the superior quality finish you’ll get on your piece. This, along with the powerful motor, will help in joining the toughest wood together.

Jet has extra-large cast-iron tables that include the infeed and outfeed tables. It uses the name ‘long-bed jointers’ for this feature. This table is perfect for heavy-duty work that requires you to cut, shape or flatten large pieces of wood.

Adjusting the height of the table is made easier with handwheels that are mounted on the front of both the infeed and outfeed tables. This ensures correct and precise height adjustments of the table.

Probably the important feature of a jointer is the fence of the table. If it’s not stable or sturdy enough, none of your work will be up to standard. Jet makes extra strong and extra tall fences that tilt both ways. This tilting will allow you to make cuts at 45 degrees inward, 90 degrees, and 45 degrees outward.

Moreover, Jet jointers guarantee quality performance with every cut and shape. Its powerful motor allows hard and rough wood to cut smoothly and precisely. The helical cutter heads reduce noise, and the dust chute significantly decreases clean up time.

Powermatic 1791317K 54HH 6-Inch Jointer with Helical Cutter Head

This is another jointer that will give you excellent accuracy in your cuts while making this monotonous work smooth and quick. Powermatic’s jointer has a solid steel base that suppresses the vibrations during operation. It’s 21×13 inches (W×D) and puts the table on a comfortable height at 32 inches above the ground.

You can use this jointer for all types of tough and dense wood. Its 1 HP motor that runs on 115/230 V will cut through whatever you put through it.

Like all other cabinet style jointers, the Powermatic has a dust collection system that’ll efficiently remove woodchips and dust from under the cutter head through the 4″ port. This way, you won’t have to deal with a hose getting in your way.

Powermatic also features helical cutter heads with spiraling carbide inserts. This spiral design is what makes the cuts so effective and quiet.

The best thing about this product is the cast-iron table that measures 66 inches lengthwise and 7 and a half inches in width. This gives you sufficient space for large wood pieces to stay flat on it. Handwheels below the table are used to adjust the height of the tables accordingly.

A 38-inch long cast-iron fence which is also ground to ensure straightness is attached to the table. The tilt mechanism allows miter and bevels as you can set the angle 45 degrees inward and outward. Along with the 90-degree stops, these positive stops make for accurate, repeatable, and durable cuts.

All in all, this is an excellent jointer for any hobbyist as it provides you with a motor powerful enough to make tough cuts as well as sufficient room for large pieces on the table.

Grizzly Industrial G0813-6″ x 48″ Jointer with Economy Stand

The next on our list is another Grizzly jointer. It is the smallest jointer on our list. But don’t be fooled by its size, it packs enough power to do its job efficiently. At only 48 inches, you can ‘park’ it anywhere you like. If you’ve got a small garage or a workspace and are worried about adding a jointer, then this is the one for you.

It also features a mobile base. This means you just have to let go of the brake and roll it around your place. And this small cabinet jointer is easy to move around with the three wheels at its base. The fence on this jointer is center-mounted and can perform heavy-duty work with boards as long as 6 feet.

Also, it slides on dovetailed ways giving it stability and perfect flatness. The infeed and outfeed tables can be adjusted using simple handwheels. With three positive stops of the fence at 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 130 degrees, you won’t have to worry about miters or bevels.

Although it runs on 1 HP motor, you can set it for 230V, and you’re sure to get sufficient power all types of work. The three-knife cutter head allows for a much cleaner and more accurate cuts than the traditional two-knife versions. Spinning at 5000 RPMs, the jointer is capable of an impressive 15000 CPM.

Moreover, the standard 4-inch dust port is attached to the cabinet, ensuring dust collection in any way you like. You can attach a shop vacuum or use a central vacuum system, or you can just dump your day-to-day debris in a barrel.

Jet 718200K 1PH 230V 2HP JJ-8CS 8 Closed Stand Jointer

Another great jointer by Jet is this 8-inch long bed jointer. It runs on 220V with a 2HP motor, which gives you a lot of power to work with large wrapped pieces.

The 3 high-tensile steel blades are extremely sharp and make accurate cuts at 16500 CPM. This will ensure that the blades tear through your wood, leaving a clean face and sharp edges. The cut is so smooth, you won’t have to worry about sanding the wood afterward.

Equipped with an extra-long and wide cast-iron table, it can perform heavy-duty work. The table is in a sliding dovetail style with adjustable infeed and outfeed parts. Adjusting the height is also pretty easy, and the chrome handwheel below the table used for it rotates effortlessly.

Also, the infeed and outfeed combine to make the table more than 64 inches long. This gives your wood plenty of support from the infeed, and as it makes its way by passing through the blade towards the outfeed. The extra length assures you that your wood is not going to tip in the outfeed.

It also features a great spring-loaded blade guard. So that even if you let go of it accidentally, it’ll just snap back to the fence.

Coming to the fence of the jointer, Jet gives you a solid, tall, and sturdy fence on the back, which allows for sharp edges to be formed in just a few strokes. The fence tilts both ways with positive stops at 45 degrees and 90 degrees, making bevel operations easy and smooth.

What to Look for before Buying

There are some features you need to take into account before making a decision. In this section, we’re going to discuss them in detail.

Table Length

The length of the table is an important consideration because it’ll tell you the length of wood you can work with. Even though you can work with wood, that’s more than double the length of the bed, but it’ll significantly reduce your accuracy and productivity.

You’ll also have to take into consideration the space that’s available in your garage or workspace because jointers are pretty heavy, and you would want to place it in one place and be able to maneuver the wood smoothly.

Power

A long table won’t be of any help without the required power. Try to find a jointer that uses at least 1HP motor so that you get sharper and smoother cuts in less time.

Even as a hobbyist, you’ll still need enough power that will make correcting warped lumber easier and quicker. Trust us, invest in a high powered jointer and you won’t be disappointed.

Fence

Another major part of the jointer is the fence. The fence has to be rigid, flat, tall, and durable. When you have positive stops in the fence, angling becomes easy.

Most of the jointers out there have a fence that can be tilted to 45 degrees inward and outward and 90 degrees. These angles help in creating miters and bevels.

Knives

The most common types are the two-knife and three-knife jointer. But the three-knife jointers are sharper and more durable than the two-knife ones. So, if you want powerful and sharp blades that will give you smoother and cleaner faces, then opt for a three-knife cutter head.

Cutter Head Type

There are two types of cutter heads: straight knife and helical. Helical cutter heads perform better than straight knife cutter head. They make less noise and are more durable.

The downside is that they are costly, which means a jointer with a helical cutter head will be more expensive. But if you’re a serious woodworker and willing to make a long-term investment, then look for a helical cutter head.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below are the most commonly asked queries regarding the best jointers for hobbyists:

What is the use of a jointer?

Most boards you want to work with will have bow or twist or some type of warp. A jointer is used to flatten the faces and square the edges to make it ready for projects.

Are there different types of jointers?

Yes, there are at least three main types of jointers. The smallest one is known as benchtop jointer. A long bed jointer is a little bigger and perfect for small workspace, and the closed stand jointer is the biggest and provides more stability.

Which size jointer is best for me?

Hobbyists and small shop owners can get the best use out of 6-inch jointers or even 8-inch jointers if heavy-duty work is involved. But professionals may need to get 12-inch jointers for more demanding work.

What is the difference between a jointer and a planer?

A jointer used to flatten wooden boards that are twisted or bowed. It is also used to square the edges. Planers are used to make the thickness of the board uniform throughout the length.

Do I need a jointer?

If you plan on working on tables, chairs, cabinet frames, fences, or gates, then you’ll need a jointer to flatten the faces and squaring the edges of lumber before you can glue them.

Conclusion

There you have our top 10 picks for the jointer for hobbyists. Choose any one from our list, and you won’t be disappointed.

However, as needs are different for everyone, go through our extensive buying guide to see which features are most important for you and choose accordingly.