We deliver in-depth planer and joiner reviews to let you know the best products with the best durability and features for your woodworking projects. If you’re a carpenter, knowing who makes the best planers and joiners can increase productivity. They can also raise the quality of your work. We’ve reviewed everything from the Festool Domino DF500 mortise & tenon joiner to the new Milwaukee M18 planer. Pro Planer and Joiner Reviews Putting tools in the hands of a real woodworking professional lends credibility to our planer reviews and joiner reviews. Doing this allows us, and more importantly—our readers—to get a feel for how these tools perform in the real world. From vibration reduction to cutting and planing efficiency, Pros know what makes a good tool. They also know what makes a great tool. Any good review lets Pros know the skinny on tools from professionals who use them for a living. As we review more and more tools, our knowledge base grows. That means our ability to really distinguish the finer details of what makes a tool great grows as well.
Makita 18V Cordless Planer Shaves Imperfections with Confidence The Makita XPK02 18V cordless planer improves significantly on the 3-1/4″ XPK01. The new tool seems more refined and adds many welcome features missing from the older model. The new tool seems much more suited for anyone looking for a cordless planing solution that frees you up […]
Using glue-ups in joinery is the preferred solution for tables and other surfaces requiring strong adhesion. We asked our Pros for some thoughts on when using glue-ups in joinery is best. Joinery, whether utilitarian or decorative, must always be dependable. Joint failure is annoying at best and dangerous at worst. A carpenter’s skill level, available […]
In the world of joinery, a perfectly executed mortise and tenon joint is the holy grail of woodworking. Many a laborious hour has passed whilst I have fine-tuned an errant mortise or sanded a wayward tenon to perfection. While I find the art of joinery with hand tools to be well ….an art, the more practical […]
Lately, we’ve been working on quite a few custom woodworking projects including pieces such as desks, credenzas, dining tables, even a couple of custom mahogany gates. Each of these pieces requires the use of various hardwoods. In the past, we’ve had our lumber milled and planed at the lumber yard, mostly because our small benchtop […]
One of our favorite tools is a pocket hole jig. It allows us to drill holes for hidden fasteners and strong joints. Our purist side almost feels guilty because it’s so easy. We promise that we’ll spend extra time refining the skill of dovetails and m&ts, but now we need a quick, utilitarian shelf for some […]
You would think that after 35 years in the field of trim carpentry I would have used or owned all of the available tools and equipment on the market. Apparently, I was wrong, with a capital W. This review is about another piece of equipment from the German master tool builder called the Festool Domino DF500. […]
Last June at Milwaukee’s New Product Symposium, our team got to play with the new Milwaukee M18 Planer. Finally, this 3-1/4 inch cordless planer is just about to hit store shelves and you’re going to want to consider it. Let’s take a peek of what this woodworking tool has in store for us. Milwaukee takes a lot […]
The first jointer I ever purchased was a 4” bench top model from Delta. I used it for a handful of projects, including my first foray into furniture making. After starting a furniture company a couple of years ago, I quickly outgrew the Delta and upgraded to a 6” Ridgid from my local Home Depot. I’ve […]
As a furniture maker, I am always on the lookout for new tools, techniques, and jigs that simplify the construction of strong and long lasting joinery. With a couple of face frames to build and a table project in the works, this seemed like a great time to try out the new Porter-Cable PC560 Quik […]
Ever wish your electric planer had a longer stance and better dust collection? Porter-Cable is attempting to meet those needs with its new 6 amp Hand Planer (model #PC60THPK). The brand new planer is actually rather sleek, with a raked back profile and 3 chamfer grooves. The new motor, which is reasonably powerful for those looking to do significant hand planing for finish applications, comes up with 16,500 RPMs. At first glance this planer seems perfect for planing wood planks, shortening doors and joists, and also chamfering and profiling the corners and edges of various hardwoods. The part we liked, however, was that it could chunk out up to 5/64″ per pass. For those who have trouble with fractions, that’s a little over 1/16 of an inch – not terribly deep by planing standards, but this is an instrument meant for finer work, not something with which to replace your circular saw. The planer comes with two blades and you can use either high-speed steel (HSS) or carbide blades. HSS blades are perfect for more aggressive planing – where nails might be encountered, and carbide blades are your tools for finish carpenters or craftsman who don’t risk jamming them up on anything except wood.
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