I've been trying to wrap my head around the different terms used for woodworking machinery in the UK and the US. In the UK, we refer to machines that pass stock over the block as 'planers' and those that take stock underneath as 'thicknessers.' But I've heard that in the US, what we call planers are actually referred to as 'jounters,' and thicknessers are often called 'planers.' Is that accurate, or am I misunderstanding something here?
3 Answers
Yep, you're spot on! Most woodworkers in the US call it a thickness planer. And I’ve noticed that even within the same country, people might use the terms interchangeably based on what they grew up with. A bit of a generational gap, if you will!
That’s basically correct! I’m Canadian, and I've encountered all sorts of names for these machines. It's interesting how the terminology varies even among regions and generations. But you're right, in the US, a jointer is for flattening one side, and the thickness planer takes care of the other side.
Haha, I know, right? Just when I thought I was getting the hang of it, someone pulls out 'cramp' for 'clamp' and I’m like, wait... what?
You’ve got the terminology right! In the US, a 'jointer' is indeed used to flatten one side of the wood, while a 'planer' (often called a thickness planer) is used to make the opposite face parallel. Just remember that 'hand planes' can also refer to manual tools that do similar jobs. It can get confusing!
Totally! It's wild how much the terms can differ. Just when I thought I had it down, someone mentions planing in a different context.
Exactly! In Australia and NZ, they often refer to thicknessers as thickness planers too, which helps clear things up a bit for everyone. And don't get me started on all the names for carpenters!