Is a jointer the same as a planer?

[Thallow]

Hi All
Thanks for the gr8 info and advice on here - being a newbie to this whole woodworking thing (& a complete convert ) I am looking to make a couple of big purchases - only question is this; I was all set to buy a planer and seperate thicknesser to discover a whole thread on jointers, is a jointer a heavier duty planer ie does it do the same job in getting my wood square? or is a jointer an entirely different beast altogether to a planer?

Sorry for my niaveity!

 

[DaveL]

Hi Thallow,

Welcome to the forum.

You have stumbled into the problem of British or American terminology for tools. :twisted:
The machine that I call a planner, being an English man, the Americans call a jointer. :shock:
To add to the confusion, what I call a thicknesser, across the pond is known as a planner. 8-[

If you search the forum you should find a number of lists giving the differences in our common language.

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Thallow

Welcome to the forum.

The problem Dave highlighted is further compounded when you buy from a US supplier in this country.

These are the US Jointers/UK Planers.

This is the UK Thicknesser/US Planer and this is a combined UK Planer Thicknesser.

HTH.

Cheers
Neil

PS I have no affiliation to Jet, I just used their site to clarify the differences.

 

[Mike.C]

This is just the tip of the iceberg, and one of the funniest is in the bathroom, where we call it the sink, they call it the "Lavatory" http://www.caromausa.com/products/lavs.htm

Cheers

Mike

 

[Thallow]

LOL that whole lavatory thing could get VERY messy! The other classic 'americanism' is the word fanny which I believe means your backside - again could cause problems!! :shock:

Once again VMT

 

[RogerS]

Hi Thallow

You're not the first to be confused. See this threadthat expanded out to discuss separate planers and thincknessers vs a combined unit.