How to Make Perpendicular Wood Edge

It's may be necessary to straighten the edge of your wood with a saw or plane before jointing, especially if it has extremely rough or irregular edges. Once you've prepared your stock to achieve a straight edge, you can produce a smooth cut perpendicular to both sides by using your jointer.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Determine that the fence is perpendicular to the jointer table by using a try square. Make the necessary adjustments on your particular machine as suggested in your owner's manual.

2. Adjust the infeed table for the correct cutting depth for the wood you're working on. A depth of less than 1/16 inch works best for softwoods and 1/32 inch for hardwoods.

3. Expose just enough of the cutter head's surface to cut the required amount. It's safer and you'll have better results if you take a little bit of wood off at a time; make several passes to achieve the desired result.

4. Use a hold down or push block for safety if your wood is less than 3 inches wide or less than 1/2-inch thick. Your hand should always be at least 12 inches away from the cutter head. Push with your right hand holding the stock against the fence with your left hand.

5. Feed your stock through the jointer so the cut is with the grain. This ensures a smooth cut on both sides with fewer tears. Make as many passes as necessary to achieve the desired results. The number of passes required depends on how straight the first cut was.

Tips & Warnings

• Run some scrap wood through your jointer to make sure you have the correct adjustments.
• Always wear approved eye and ear protection when working with a jointer.
• Make sure all safety guards are in place and that your blades are sharp and adjusted properly to prevent kickbacks.