Jointing and Planing are two of the most important functions within a woodworking shop. As stated in our Jointing & Planing 101 article, jointing & planning is largely about precision-a great work of craftsmanship can be ruined by only a couple millimeters. But to stay accurate to the millimeter, the square footage of your workshop can suffer. A single 8-inch jointer can be over 6 feet long and could take up over 12 square feet of your valuable space! The solution-utilize the same cutting head for both functions within one machine. By integrating two very similar functions into one machine your shop saves space, but is that all you should consider? Let's take a look at the pros and cons of investing in a combination jointer/planer vs separate tools. Finally, the last advantage you'd receive by utilizing a combination machine, is equivalent jointer and planer size. Though this does not seem like a major advantage, having a differently sized jointer and planer can cause hassle and headache on oversized workpieces.  

Pros

The obvious up-side is your savings in space. Though some of us are lucky enough to have upwards of 1000 sq/ft to work with, many of us are restricted to a small garage or corner of our shop. Reducing the number of machines opens the door to larger projects or other, more niche, machinery. The second benefit you gain from having a combo machine is lower maintenance and upkeep costs-mainly cutting heads. Whether you're using standard straight knife heads or helical heads, they are not cheap to sharpen or replace. Thirdly, if you are just starting to expand into a proper woodworking shop, a combination jointer planer can also save you money in upfront costs, that is, if you don't already have a jointer or planer that fits your needs.    Save Space -Utilizing a combination machine reduces the number of bulky machines in your shop, better optimizing your square feet.

1. Save Space - Utilizing a combination machine reduces the number of bulky machines in your shop, better optimizing your square feet.
2. Reduced Maintenance - With only one cutting head and motor, your upkeep and maintenance costs are nearly halved compared to that of separate jointers and planers.
3. Lower Upfront Costs - Combination jointer planers, though slightly more expensive than solo machines, are cheaper than purchasing two separate machines.
4. Equivalent Jointer and Planer Width - When working with oversized workpieces, having a same-sized jointer and planer will save you time and hassle.

 Cons

As it stands, utilizing a jointer planer combo machine is appealing. However, you should also consider the drawbacks of using the space-saving combination machine. Firstly, changing between planing and jointing operations takes time. When switching back and forth between planing and jointing, you’ll need to change the machine settings with every single pass. Doing this not only takes more time, but also increases your chances of making errors.  Secondly, combination machines are notorious for shorter beds than their separated counterparts. Though this may not be a huge downside to smaller shops, as it saves space, it does make it more difficult to handle larger workpieces and can open the door to more operator error. The third thing worth considering is the complex operation of combination machines. In the same vein as the difficult operation changes, combo machines have more moving parts that allows them to stay compact. It is not uncommon to see jointer planer combos on mobile bases to give access to all 4 sides of the machine. This is determined by how the beds move in operation changes, how you raise or lower the cutting head, location of dust collection chute(s), etc. though these machines have a smaller footprint than separate machines, they may need more points of access. 

1. Operation Changes - Switching between planing and jointing operations on a combination machine not only takes time, but it also provides more opportunities for operator error.
2. Shorter Beds - Combination machines generally have smaller beds—this makes working with larger workpieces more difficult and can cause operator error. 
3. More Complex Operation - Combination machines, in order to stay compact, are more complex in nature. With more moving parts and need for access on multiple sides, it may not be feasible for your space. 
   
    

Jointers and planers are fantastic tools to have at a woodworkers disposal. Creating tight fits and beautiful finishes, they can be integral to woodworking processes. For some, the combination jointer planer is a perfect option—utilizing one machine for two operations. But, given its downsides, others sway toward traditional machines with single operations. As many in the industry would recommend, we do the same. If your shop or business is able to accommodate 2 machines, with space or financially, separates jointers and planers are the best option. This is doubly true for high-production shops. When factoring in switching time, this can deal a blow to higher production operations. Inherently, machines that preform a single function will always preform the function better than machines that preform multiple. But if your shop or business cannot accommodate 2 machines, combination machines offer great precision and finish—great brands like Rikon, Jet, Baileigh, and Minimax offer top-quality combination machines.

If you have any questions regarding Jointers, Planers, Combination Machines, or which machine would be best for you or your business, give us a call! Our expert sales team would love to to go to work for you and find the perfect fit. Experience the Elite Advantage.