Don’t you just hate it when you have to deal with the inconvenience of bent, twisted or misleading lumber? After all you cannot build anything with twisted or warped piece of lumber. Fortunately, jointers exist to flatten and straighten bent or warped lumber.
A jointer is a must have for any serious carpenter or woodworker. Problem is the market is flooded with all kinds of jointers. Some are pretty impressive while others are a waste of time. Differentiating between the two especially when on a tight budget can be difficult.
However there are many great budget jointer options. And here is my list of the best budget jointer. I have selected these jointers based on a number of features, which I will share later on in the article.
best budget jointer Reviews
Grizzly Industrial G0725-6" x 28" Benchtop Jointer
It is easy to mistake this for a large industrial benchtop jointer when you first lay your eyes on it. It has a beefy build and has the power to match. It is one of those jointers that will surprise you with its performance.
Speaking of performance, this one is fitted with a 1-1/2 HP motor that runs at 20,000 RPMs. It is probably the most powerful Jointer of its size I have used. With this kind of power, its cutter head makes light work of any piece of wood you feed it.
The cutter head has two adjustable knives that turn at 10,000 RPM. This was to be expected of a jointer of its kind. And so is the 1/8 inch maximum cut depth. These are features that I have come to associate with jointers in this price range.
There is a built-in dust exhaust pipe that comes with a bag collection system attached to it. This is an excellent addition. Its rather small 19 by 11-inch footprint is also a pleasant surprise given the kind of power it outputs.
Specifications
- 1-1/2 HP, 110v motor
- 1-7/8 inch cutter head with two adjustable knives
- 28-1/2" x 6-1/4" cast iron table
- 22-7/8" x 4-1/4" cast iron fence
- 10,000 RPM cutter head speed
- 1/8 inch cutting depth
why i like this model
- Made from steel and cast iron it is a sturdy and durable tool
- It is more powerful than almost all other similarly sized jointers in this price point
- The cast-iron fence is solidly built
- Is fitted with a 1-7/8 inch cutter head with two adjustable knives
- Comes complete with a dust port and a dust collection bag
Drawbacks
- It is not easy to adjust the infeed table height, and you will require tools
- Both the table and cast iron fence are not well machined
verdict
Weighing 76 pounds, this isn’t the most lightweight Jointer out there. However, do not let this discourage you as it is a capable tool. It is more powerful than most of its competitors hence why I have given it the number one spot. And with its small size, it is the best Jointer for a small shop.
RIKON Power Tools 20-600H 6" Benchtop Jointer
Compared to other power tool manufacturers, Rikon is not the most well-known brand. However, the company does have a slew of high-quality power tools. One of them being the RIKON Power Tools 20-600H 6″ Benchtop Jointer.
With a 10 amp motor that delivers 20,000 RPM, this is a pretty standard jointer. Nevertheless, it is powerful enough to flatten and square most types of woods used in small workshops. One unique feature of this Jointer is the cutter head.
It boasts of a three-inch helical cutter head with 12 high-speed knife inserts. It has two insert cutters and can handle flattening boards of up to 6 inches in width. As for the cut depth, it stands at ½ inches in a single pass.
Measuring 19 x 9-3/8, this benchtop jointer does not take up a lot of space on your workbench. And apart from being small and compact, it is also very lightweight. It weighs 36 pounds, which is like a feather compared to some of its competitors.
You can check more 6 inch jointers from here – Reviews of the best 6 inch jointer.
Specifications
- 10 amp motor
- 6-row helical style cutter head
- Two insert cutters
- 30" x6-3/16" long table
- ½ inch depth cut
- An adjustable fence that tilts up to 90 degrees
why i like this model
- Is constructed from steel guarantying its durability
- Offers easy access to the two blades of the cutter head
- Is powered by a powerful ten amps motor
- Compared to other models it is very compact and lightweight
- Has a long table and can accommodate up to 6-inch wide wood
Drawbacks
- The fence adjustability is not the best I have seen
- The dust collection mechanism could also do with some improvements
verdict
This is one of those jointers that deserve more recognition than it gets. If you want a change of things, then this will be a great option. It is not expensive and is lightweight enough for carrying. Also, it has plenty of power to handle almost any task you throw its way.
POWERTEC BJ600 Bench Jointer
One of the less mobile jointers available for purchase is the POWERTEC BJ600 Bench Jointer. The latter weighs about 79 pounds. However, the reason for its weight is its cast iron construction, which makes it durable and very stable when in use.
But apart from being durable and stable, what else does it offer? For starters, plenty of power courtesy of the 12 amp motor that it comes with. This motor gives the cutter head a speed of 10,000 RPMs.
The table is not the only thing that is made from cast iron, though. The fence is also made from this sturdy and durable material. Unlike some of the other options available at this price point, with this unit, you can adjust the fence to 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 135 degrees.
The cutter head features two blades capable of making 20,000 cuts per minute. At these speeds, you can cut up to 1/8 inch deep. The Jointer can comfortably handle 6-inch boards.
Specifications
- Dust collection system built-in
- 12 amp motor
- 2 blade cutter head
- Adjustable fence with adjustments of 45 degrees, 90 degrees and 135 degrees
- Cast iron infeed table and outfeed table
- 1/8 inch cut depth
why i like this model
- The fully cast iron construction makes it durable and sturdy
- Comes with a dust collection system complete with a dust bag
- The fence can be adjusted from 45 degrees to 135 degrees
- Comes with a powerful 12 amp motor
- The Jointer is large enough to handle 6-inch boards
Drawbacks
- Weighing 79 pounds it is not a lightweight tool
- Comes with only a 12 month warranty
verdict
This is a model that has some fantastic features key among them the fence. It is not common in this price range to find jointers with its kind of fence. Furthermore, the Jointer is very well built and is why it is bulky. But despite its heft, it is not a large tool.
Cutech 40160H-CT 6" Bench Top Spiral Cutterhead Jointer
If you have a big workshop, then this Cutech 40160H-CT 6″ Bench Top Spiral Cutterhead Jointer will delight you. It has one of the best aesthetically pleasing designs I have ever seen on a tool of its kind. But beyond its good looks, it’s also a capable benchtop jointer with the features to prove it.
As its names suggest, it comes with a cutter that moves in a spiral. This cutter head moves at a speed of up to 11,000 RPMs. Slightly higher than its Shop Fox competitor. Also, this speed is enough to do most tasks you throw at it. In terms of size, the cutter head is 2 inches in width.
As for the countertop, it provides plenty of room for you to move around the wood. It measures 30 inches in diameter and is 6-1/3 inches long. And in regards to weight, it weighs 40 pounds, which is manageable considering some of its competitor’s weight double that.
The source of the jointers power is the ten amps motor. With this motor powering it the jointer is capable of cutting up to 1/8 inches deep. As such it can handle thicker wood with no problems.
Specifications
- 10 amp 120v motor
- 11,000 RPMs for the spiral cutter head
- Adjustable fence up to 135 degrees
- 1/8 inches maximum depth of cut
- 2.5-inch dust port
why i like this model
- Weighing 40 pounds, it is significantly lighter than some of its competitors
- It is offered at an affordable price
- The tool runs on a 120v power plug and can thus be used with standard home power sources
- With a 10 amps motor, this jointer is capable of making 1/8 inch deep cuts
- The fence on this model can be tilted up to 135 degrees
Drawbacks
- The height is a bit too low for some
- The fence is not of the best quality
verdict
The best joiners are those that offer quality at an affordable price. And with its set of features and price, this is definitely one of the best. One surprising thing is its weight. While some weigh up to 80 pounds, this weighs only 40 pounds.
Triton 962537 TDJ600 710W Dowelling Jointer
Another double dowel jointer from Triton that is worth a look at is the Triton 962537 TDJ600 710W Dowelling Jointer. As with the other Triton models on the list, this is also a double doweling jointer.
It comes with a 710w motor and also has 32mm spacing. This helps simplify tasks such as shelving and furniture construction. Also, just like its other counterpart, it comes with an adjustable fence from 0 to 90 degrees.
A precision rack and pinion system are also included in this jointer. This is one of the best small jointers around. As such, it is easy to set up, especially for rapid repeat operations. The handle is insulated and features a hex key storage. You get 2 8 mm diameter drill bits as well as a heavy-duty carry bag for when you need to take this jointer with you.
Specifications
- 2 8 mm diameter drill bits
- 0 to 90 degrees fence adjustments
- 710 w motor
- 0-38 mm fast setting drill depth
- 32 mm spacing
why i like this model
- Is easy to set up
- Comes with a heavy-duty carry bag for easy transportation
- Features an all-metal construction for durability
- Has a precision rack and pinion system for
- easy height adjustments
- It is lightweight and compact
Drawbacks
- The fence is only adjustable up to 90 degrees
verdict
This model is durable and offers excellent performance. It is a particular favorite of carpenters for use in shelving and furniture construction works. Blade changing and installation is easy, which adds to the allure of this jointer.
Why you need a jointer instead of a planer
Jointers and planers are two different tools that are often used together. Which begs the question, which one is more important? For serious carpentry works, both tools will be ideal. However, one will be of greater importance.
A jointer is used to flatten or straighten a warped piece of wood. It can also be used to square edges. On the other hand, a planer is used to create a uniform thickness throughout an entire board. As such, a piece of wood has to be passed through a jointer first then through a planer second.
This is generally the order in which these two tools are used. Thus if you are looking to flatten or straighten warped pieces of wood, you will need a jointer. While a planer can be an excellent addition, a jointer will have to come first.
Final Verdict
Ultimately the best budget jointer depends on your needs. There are all kinds of jointers on the market, and not all are suited to your needs. From the list above, you will be able to pick out one that best suits you based on your needs.
Last update on 2020-08-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
