It Worked for Me: Homemade Portable Jointer

By Todd Brotherton

Originally published in American Lutherie #110, 2012



My 24˝ Northfield jointer doesn’t travel so well, nor does it break down to store under a bench. Long before the days of benchtop jointers, I made my own with a large portable power plane (PP). If you already have a PP, it can become an instant jointer, thus saving the cost of investing in more tooling. Like the benchtop models, PPs are not extremely accurate, but they can inexpensively serve the basic needs of milling smaller stock, are small and lightweight, and can be easily stowed away. Common sense, some photos, and these few suggestions should get you going.

A careful examination of your PP will identify what is needed in the profile of the base to create a stand to hold it upside down. Find the construction details of your specific model that will best “lock” it in place; stability is important. For example, the tool shown has webs cast into the tables. I cut tabs that fit snugly in between the webs so it holds nicely in place. I made mine from scrap 3/4˝ hardwood plywood. My 6˝ PP is 21˝ long; accordingly, I made the base 32˝ in length to provide a broad foot for stability and sufficient clamping area to secure to a bench, sawhorses, or other supports.