Use Your Router Table as a Jointer

The starting point for most projects is creating a perfectly straight, smooth and square edge on your boards. This is especially true when you’re gluing boards edge to edge. Want a seamless glue joint? You need to start with a good edge. If you have a router table, you also have a jointer, the perfect tool for straight edges.

[janetyer]

Thank you for another interesting video. For wood with difficult grain, to better avoid splintering the edges, I would suggest using a "compression" bit in your router, in this joining application. A compression bit combines both an up-spiral at the bottom and a down-spiral at the top, which work together to push the edges toward the center during the cut, in compression, hence the name.

[jt]

I learned something new today about my router table capabilities! Thanks!

[audraschoch]

Oh my, you just saved us some consideration and money on a JOINTER.... Great video and love the channel ✅

[works]

I can't thank you enough for the knowledge you have dispensed in this video, I could not figure out why I was getting snipe at the end of my boards, and you actually took the time to show us 2 scenarios of what can go wrong and for that I am so grateful. I took a couple scrap boards and kept running them through and making micro adjustments on the fence and I managed to get a perfect jointed board, thank you! The trick for me that worked was having the router bit bite the straight edge just enough but that it doesn't get stuck on the edge but just nicks it as you rotate the router bit. Excellent teaching!

[fabiomerlin]

Perfect explanation. The troubleshooting helps a lot in my attempts to execute this. Thanks for the video.

[bruce-le-smith]

Great video as always, super helpful, thank you

[anaphylastiks]

I've been mucking around trying to make guitar bindings.
I have a router table. Your comment about the high RPM and two cuts per rotation, therefore a good cut (even with wood prone to splintering), is highly appreciated. I want to use the router table to make a long thin piece of strangely shaped rimu facier trim flat or squared so can put through thicknesser.

[shanelewickill]

Great video. Helped me a lot and was a total game changer for me. Happier than a pig in sh$t right now…ty

[michaelgriffith]

The more work I do and see videos like this leans me more towards hand tools. How many boards could you edge joint with a hand plane by the time this video ends? I find myself getting very frustrated fiddling with machine setup.

[davidsalenieks]

KREG marketing department does it again!

[liorgoldenberg]

Thanks so much for this video! I tried this on my Bosch router table that comes with a 1/16" shim (on outfeed side) and couldn't get it jointed. Actually gradually went further and further out of square. Would love some insight and tips on that. Thank you!

[Mark-bhzo]

Is there a max. amount you would want to cut off in a single pass (ie. no more than 1/8"?).

[LarryB-inFL]

I've used this on my router table (Bosch tables also come equipped for it) but have not seen a reason to use this over my very simple "jointer jig" on my table saw. Would love to hear why this would be better????

[amohtash]

I do this with my router table and the middle of the board becomes bowed, or higher than the 2 extremity... what do i do wrong?

[ToddThompson-dumx]

fail, wasnt even wearing safety socks. Serious violation Im suprised you didnt loose both of your feet making this video. Very very risky. When Im waking up and heading into the shop, the very first thing I do is put on my safety thong and safety socks before I even leave the bedroom in the morning. Between my helmet safety thong and safety socks Im much safer the all of these bozos on you tube trying to teach without even the most basic of safety gear. Like this guy, he probably hasnt even told the neighbors or anyone else in the area his safe word in case he has an emergency. Mine is "Salsa". Stay safe everyone.