Nine jointer models by their makers' figures
| Jointer | Class | Width | Tables | Cutterhead | Rabbeting | Supply as stated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JET JJ-6HHBT | Benchtop | 6 in | 28-5/8 in | Inserts, 2 spiral rows | Not described | 115 V, 15 A |
| Grizzly G0945 / G0946 | Benchtop | 6 in | 30 in | Knives / spiral | Not described | 120 V, 10 A |
| Grizzly G0947 | Benchtop | 8 in | 34 in | Spiral | Not described | 120 V, 10 A |
| Powermatic 54A / 54HH | Floor | 6 in | 66 in | Knives / 40 inserts | 1/2 in, 54A only | 1 HP, 115/230 V, 1-phase |
| Powermatic 60C / 60HH | Floor | 8 in | 73 in | Knives / 54 inserts | 1/2 in, 60C only | 2 HP, 230 V, 1-phase |
| Powermatic 1285 | Floor | 11-3/4 in | 84 in | Knives / 42 + 2 inserts | 3/4 in | 3 HP, 230 V 1-phase or 230/460 V 3-phase |
Each figure is the maker's own; every machine here cuts 1/8 in at most per pass. Weight runs from 43 lb (G0945) to 762 lb (1285). Not a ranking.
Equipment notePaid link
6-in benchtop helical jointer
JET JJ-6HHBT
JET's 6 in benchtop JJ-6HHBT from the table above: a 28-5/8 in table and 14 inserts in two spiral rows, bolted to a bench, by its manual.
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Matching a jointer to the shop
| Shop | What suits it | Why, from the documents |
|---|---|---|
| Small shop, household circuit | A benchtop jointer | JET and Grizzly: 115–120 V, bolted to a bench, 43–71 lb |
| Long boards for furniture | Long tables | Floor jointers: 66–84 in, against 28-5/8–34 in on benchtop models |
| Wide boards | 8 in or wider | G0947 and 60C: 8 in; 1285: 11-3/4 in |
| Rabbets on the jointer | A machine rated for it | Powermatic's straight-knife 54A and 60C, and the 1285; the insert-head 54HH and 60HH cannot |
| Thicknessing as well | A combination machine | See the combination guide |
Built from the makers' statements. Not a ranking.
What to compare
- Width. Wider jointers flatten wider faces; boards wider than the jointer have to be ripped, or flattened another way.
- Table length. Powermatic asks for support once a board is more than twice the table length; longer tables flatten longer boards with less help.
- Knives or inserts. Powermatic offers the same jointer both ways; on its 6 and 8 in models, choosing inserts gives up rabbeting. More in planer knives and inserts.
- Supply. Benchtop machines run on 115–120 V; the 60C needs 230 V, and the 1285 can be three-phase — to be wired as its manual says.
- Dust. Ports run from 2-3/8 in to 4 in; Powermatic states at least 800 CFM for the 1285 alone. A port's size is not a collector rating.
- Minimum stock. 8 in long for jointing on JET's and Powermatic's jointers (JET: 12 in for surfacing without a fixture), 10 in on Grizzly's benchtop models — check against your shortest parts.
Safety— Rules the jointer manuals share
Guard in place; power disconnected for every adjustment; push blocks below the stated sizes; hands at least 3 in from the cutterhead and never over it; no pressure directly over the head; no more than 1/8 in per pass (JET, Grizzly, Powermatic).
Before choosing a jointer
- Widest face you need to flatten
- Longest board, against the table length
- Supply: voltage, phase, circuit
- Knives or inserts, and whether you need rabbeting
- Dust collection for the port
- Space for the machine and its infeed and outfeed
Benchtop models are compared in more detail in choosing a benchtop jointer, and combination machines in choosing a combination jointer-planer. How a jointer works is in the jointer guide; the overview is the planer guide.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own. Motors are stated in different units — amps, horsepower, phase — and are not compared. Rabbeting is listed only where a manual rates it; Powermatic's procedure requires the guard off, and BenchRoot does not describe it. No jointer was tested and none is ranked.
- 1.
Operating Instructions and Parts Manual, 6-inch Bench Top Jointer, Model JJ-6HHBT (M-718600, edition 3). JET, 2025.
Used for: The JJ-6HHBT: 6 in, 28-5/8 in table, 14 inserts in 2 spiral rows, brushed DC motor at 115 V and 15 A, 2-3/8 in port, 71 lb, bolted to a bench; no rabbeting described.
- 2.
Model G0945/G0946/G0947 6" & 8" Benchtop Jointers owner's manual (for models manufactured since 12/23). Grizzly Industrial, 2023.
Used for: The G0945, G0946 and G0947: 6 or 8 in, 30 or 34 in tables, straight knives or a spiral head, 1-1/2 HP at 120 V and 10 A, 2-1/2 or 4 in ports, 43 to 50 lb; rabbeting mentioned only as the exception to running with the guards on.
- 3.
Operating Instructions and Parts Manual, 6-inch Woodworking Jointer, Models 54A and 54HH (M-1791279DX, edition 07). Powermatic, 2025.
Used for: The 54A and 54HH: 6 in, 66 in tables, three knives or 40 inserts, 1 HP single-phase 115/230 V pre-wired for 115 V, 1/2 in rabbeting on the 54A only and with the guard off, a 254 lb bed and an 80 lb stand.
- 4.
Operating Instructions and Parts Manual, 8-inch Jointer, Models 60C and 60HH (M-1610084, edition 8). Powermatic, 2025.
Used for: The 60C and 60HH: 8 in, 73 in tables, three knives or 54 inserts, 2 HP single-phase 230 V, 1/2 in rabbeting on the 60C only, a 4 in port, 295 and 297 lb plus a 114 lb stand.
- 5.
Operating Instructions and Parts Manual, 12-inch Jointer, Models 1285 and 1285T (M-0460216, edition 7). Powermatic, 2023.
Used for: The 1285: 11-3/4 in, 84 in tables, three knives or 42 inserts plus 2 for rabbeting, 3/4 in rabbeting, 3 HP single-phase 230 V or three-phase 230/460 V with a contactor bought separately for 460 V, a 4 in port, at least 800 CFM, 762 lb.
About this buying guide
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