Basic Jointer Operation
NOTE: If you are inexperienced at jointing, use scrap pieces of lumber to check settings and get the feel of operations before attempting regular work.
This section briefly discusses general rules as well as some of the basic cuts using a jointer, such as surfacing, edging, beveling, skewing, rabbeting and taper cuts.
Always use cutterhead guard (except during rabbeting) and keep hands away from cutterhead.
Jointing Short or Thin Work
When jointing short or thin pieces, use a push pad or push block to eliminate all danger to the hands. Two push blocks are included with your jointer. Many users make their own push blocks from scrap material to suit the particular job at hand. Three examples are shown in Figure 31.
Direction of Grain
Avoid feeding work into the jointer against the grain. This will result in chipped and splintered edges (Figure 32). Feed with the grain to obtain a smooth surface (Figure 33).
Hand Placement
At the start of the cut, the left hand holds the work firmly against the infeed table and fence while the right hand pushes the work toward the knives. After the cut is under way, the new surface rests firmly on the outfeed table. The left hand should press down on this part, at the same time maintaining flat contact with the fence. The right hand presses the work forward and before the right hand reaches the cutterhead it is moved to the work on the outfeed table. Follow the 3 inch rule. Never pass hands directly over the cutterhead.
Surfacing
Jointing the face of stock, or surfacing, is shown in Figure 34. The use of push blocks or pads will help ensure against the operator's hands coming into contact with the cutterhead in the event of a kickback, or as the trailing end of the board passes over the cutterhead.
Adjust the infeed table for depth of cut. Cuts of approximately 1/16" at a time are recommended, as this allows better control over the material being surfaced. More passes can then be made to reach the desired depth.
Figure 31
User-made pushblocks
Figure 32
Figure 33
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