Why jointers/planers do NOT make boards flat + square

★THIS VIDEO WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY★ My Woodcutters is a small Canadian business that specializes in jointer/planer knives & Helical carbide jointer/planer heads. It is well worth supporting: mywoodcutters.com/ My hand tool collection includes premium tools from Bridge City Tool Works: bridgecitytools.com/ Please help support us by using the link above for a quick look around! (If you use one of these affiliate links, we may receive a small commission) Some other useful links: -More videos on our website: stumpynubs.com/ -Subscribe to our e-Magazine: stumpynubs.com/browse-and-subscribe/ -Check out our project plans: stumpynubs.com/product-category/plans/ -Instagram: www.instagram.com/stumpynubs/ -Twitter: twitter.com/StumpyNubs ★SOME OF MY FAVORITE CHEAP TOOLS★ -123 Blocks: lddy.no/vpij -Mechanical Pencils: amzn.to/2PA7bwK -Lumber pencil: amzn.to/2QtwZjv -Pocket Measuring Tape: amzn.to/2kNTlI9 -Irwin Drill Bit Gauge: amzn.to/2AwTkQg -Nut/Bolt/Screw Gauge: amzn.to/2CuvxSK -Self-Centering Punch: amzn.to/2QvbcrC -Self-Centering Bits: amzn.to/2xs71UW -Angle Cube: lddy.no/10nam -Steel Ruler: lddy.no/10mv7 -Utility knife: amzn.to/3nfhIiv -Center-Finding Ruler: lddy.no/10nak -Bit & Blade Cleaner: amzn.to/2TfvEOI -Digital depth gauge: amzn.to/3mwRf2x -Wood Glue: amzn.to/3mqek6M -Spade Bits: amzn.to/3j8XPtD ★SOME OF MY FAVORITE HAND TOOLS★ -Digital Caliper: amzn.to/384H1Or -Marking Gauge: lddy.no/10muz -Marking knife: lddy.no/10mv0 -Narex Chisels: lddy.no/sqm3 -Stanley Sweetheart Chisels: amzn.to/3y5HDOc -Mini Pull Saw: amzn.to/2UEHBz6 -Gent Saw: lddy.no/ss2x -Coping saw: amzn.to/2W7ZiUS -Shinwa Rulers: lddy.no/zl13 ★SOME OF MY FAVORITE POWER TOOLS★ -Miter Saw: amzn.to/3gqIlQ8 -Jointer: amzn.to/3yc3gfZ -Planer: amzn.to/3mn6BGF -Router: amzn.to/3grD22S -Sander: amzn.to/3DdvD0Y -Cordless drill: amzn.to/3D9ZiIm -Brad nailer: amzn.to/3gsRkjH -Mini Compressor: amzn.to/3mvrmQr -Bladerunner: amzn.to/2Wl0TtJ -Jig Saw: amzn.to/3zetTBY -Scroll Saw: amzn.to/3gq9qDc -Multi-Tool: amzn.to/3muZuMi ★SOME OF MY FAVORITE OTHER TOOLS★ -Drill Bits: amzn.to/3B8Ckzh -Forstner Bits: amzn.to/3kk3wEI -Shop Vacuum: amzn.to/2Wkqnbl -Machine Setup Blocks: amzn.to/3gq7kDh -Counter-Sink Bit: amzn.to/37ZukUo -Featherboard: amzn.to/3DeqHsq -ISOtunes Hearing Protection (Save $10): bit.ly/3BHYdH7 (If you use one of the affiliate links above, we may receive a small commission)

You go through certain aspects that don't always make sense, but then you turn them into easy understandable solutions.

I sincerely appreciate the accurate labeling of "wood" and "hand" along with the bright, friendly arrows indicating which is which. So many woodworking YouTubers get that wrong.

Mate...congratulations on maintaining such consistently high quality presentations over such a long period of time.. This is what YouTube should be!

I was a commercial cabinet maker working entirely in a shop. The jointer was used primarily to give you a straight edge that could be placed against the tablesaw fence providing a consistent desired width and hopefully square edge. Since all the wood we used came directly from mills, it usually came in 4/4, 8/4, 12/4, and 16/4 thicknesses, then planed down to near the desired thickness then sent through a drum sander where the desired finished thickness is achieved. THAT BEING SAID, wood has grain, a mind all its own, which decides how it will bow when material is removed in either the jointing and/or planing process, which IMHO makes this a kind of art knowing through experience how to respond to said variable conditions. I've cut solid walnut on a table saw and literally watched one side or the other bow over the other or away from it as you cut...kinda like crossing your fingers. StumpyNubs is absolutely correct...

This is great, man! So often I will execute a woodworking project based on what seem like reasonable assumptions, only to find that my stuff doesn't line up and being incredibly frustrated at the difference between my "logic" and the reality of how tools and processes work. Sometimes it's subtly malfunctioning machines, sometimes it's my lack of skill, but sometimes it's just that I haven't tested my assumptions thoroughly enough. Discussions like this are a great way to make sure that we actually understand what the heck we're doing! So thanks for helping us all do that without having to ruin our expensive wood or waste our precious time!

I’m a new wood worker and your videos are invaluable! I watch other YouTubers but find myself using Stumpynubs as a gold standard reference to make sure they are right. Thanks a ton for the straightforward and silliness-free content. Keep up the excellent work!!

I love how your videos often answer the hidden questions that aren't at the forefront of woodworking, but that everyone who's used a particular tool has had to deal with and been perplexed by. I've often wondered why my edges would end up not parallel even though all my surfaces were dead flat.. now I know exactly what to do!

That's exactly what a Master Carpenter taught me years ago. Joint a face and an edge, and then finish on the planer and table saw. Excellent explanation. Excellent video.

I totally agree! Jointer > thickness planer > table saw. That produces the best results exactly for the reasons that you stated.

2:50 The second corner proposed here is a 90 degree corner in the cross section, but is already prone to leaving a board tapered along the remaining axis (typically the long direction). This is covered later briefly with the references to the correct tool (table saw) to correct that edge, but I thought it was worth saying that the second thin edge (third face jointed overall) is already a problem. Squaring something like a Newell post requires the same jointer, jointer, planer, tablesaw (or jointer, jointer, planer, planer, if preferred) approach as any other milling, despite having no thin edge to struggle holding against the fence.

Thank you James. You really do make a great point. PLEASE ... continue this series. Thank you!

Love your videos! I just graduated from cabinetmaking, and your videos have helped me learn a lot

you are 100% right. I had to learn this lesson the hard way destroying several boards before it became obvious that high school geometry had some pretty useful knowledge :)

I’ve been a woodworker and licensed contractor for 40 years and I never use a jointer for anything I’m not saying they aren’t useful I just don’t use them! in all my years, not one customer has ever asked me why I did not use a jointer , and the check always clears!

This couldn't have come at a better time. I just got off work, and I got into an argument with our face frame guy about this same thing. I am going to text him this video. Thanks foe doing what you do, James.

I'm trying hard to not fill my shop with every possible machine. But when I finally got a jointer it made it so much easier to get a board ready to use vs. shimming for planing. I love it.

Thank you for this explanation. I’ve tried to do this on the jointer. It doesn’t work! Not only was it scary, it just doesn’t work. So, it’s back to jointer-jointer-planer-tablesaw. But now I understand why. Really appreciate your explanations.

Your illustration makes perfect sense. I didn't understand until you showed each step, and as you was coming to the final step, I already saw the flaw that you were talking about. Excellent tip.

This is an exceptionally good video, explaining the purpose of the jointer/planer v thickness planers as well as the limitations of each. The basics are clearly presented and the pitfalls are layered in as appropriate. Another fine, practical video; thank you for the ongoing shop and technique reviews.