Four benchtop jointers by their makers' figures
| Jointer | Width | Cutterhead | Table | Shortest stock | Motor as stated | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JET JJ-6HHBT | 6 in | 14 inserts in 2 spiral rows | 28-5/8 in | 8 in jointing; 12 in surfacing | Brushed DC, 115 V, 15 A | 71 lb |
| Grizzly G0945 | 6 in | Straight knives | 30 in | 10 in | 1-1/2 HP, 120 V, 10 A | 43 lb |
| Grizzly G0946 | 6 in | Spiral, 12 inserts | 30 in | 10 in | 1-1/2 HP, 120 V, 10 A | 43 lb |
| Grizzly G0947 | 8 in | Spiral, 16 inserts | 34 in | 10 in | 1-1/2 HP, 120 V, 10 A | 50 lb |
Each figure is the maker's own; all four take 1/8 in at most per pass. JET's manual gives a shorter minimum for edge jointing than for surfacing. Not a ranking.
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6-in benchtop helical jointer
JET JJ-6HHBT
JET's JJ-6HHBT from the table above: 6 in wide, 14 four-sided inserts in two spiral rows, a 1/8 in deepest cut and 71 lb, by its manual.
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Matching a benchtop jointer to the work
| Work | What suits it | Why, from the documents |
|---|---|---|
| Faces up to 8 in wide | An 8 in machine | G0947: 8 in; the 6 in models stop at 6 in |
| Longer boards | The longest tables, plus support | G0947's 34 in against 28-5/8 to 30 in; JET calls for roller stands or a helper on long work |
| Short parts | The shortest stated minimum | JET: 8 in for edge jointing; Grizzly: 10 in on all three |
| Fewer knife changes, nicks turned out | An insert head | JET and Grizzly's G0946 and G0947: four-sided inserts, each turned to a fresh edge |
| Thicknessing too | A combination machine | Grizzly's G0958: 8 in, also a planer — see the combination guide |
Built from the makers' statements. Not a ranking.
What to compare
- Width. The widest face the machine can flatten in one pass.
- Table length. Short tables are the main limit of benchtop jointers: a board much longer than the tables rocks and needs support at both ends.
- Cutterhead. Straight knives or inserts; the names differ — JET says 'spiral rows', Grizzly 'spiral' — and inserts are turned rather than reset. More in planer knives and inserts.
- Minimum stock. Grizzly sets 10 in and 1/2 in; JET's manual gives 8 in for jointing but 12 in and 3/8 in for surfacing without a fixture. Follow the stricter.
- Power. All four run on 120 V or 115 V; JET states amps for a brushed DC motor, Grizzly horsepower and amps. HP and amps are different measures and are not compared.
- Dust. Ports of 2-3/8 to 2-1/2 in on the 6 in models and 4 in on Grizzly's 8 in; a port's size is not a collector's rating.
- Mounting. JET's jointer must be bolted to a firm, level surface with its brackets; a 'benchtop jointer stand' must hold it the same way.
Safety— The benchtop manuals' rules
Bolt the jointer down; keep the guard in place; disconnect power before adjusting or clearing shavings; feed with the grain, cupped side down; use push blocks below the stated sizes; keep hands at least 3 in from the cutterhead and never over it; no cut deeper than 1/8 in (JET, Grizzly).
Before choosing a benchtop jointer
- Widest face you need to flatten
- Longest board, against the table length
- Shortest part, against the stated minimum
- Straight knives or inserts
- A circuit and outlet that match the nameplate
- Dust hose to fit the port; a bench to bolt it to
How a jointer works is in the jointer guide and how to use one in how to use a jointer; floor models are compared in choosing a jointer, and benchtop combination machines in choosing a combination jointer-planer. The overview is the planer guide.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own. JET's manual gives two different minimums for the same jointer, and both are shown. Makers count speed differently — JET gives rpm, Grizzly also gives cuts per minute, 66,000 for a spiral head turning at 11,000 rpm — and the figures are not converted. 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: brushed DC motor, 115 V, 60 Hz, 15 A, a 15 A circuit; 10,000 rpm; 14 four-sided inserts in 2 spiral rows; 1/8 in deepest cut; 6 in wide; 28-5/8 × 6-1/4 in table; fence tilting 45° each way with stops; a 2-3/8 in dust port for a 2-1/2 in hose; 92 dB; 71 lb; bolted to a firm, level bench with the brackets supplied; jointing minimums of 8 in long, 3/4 in wide and 1/4 in thick, and surfacing minimums of 12 in long and 3/8 in thick without a special fixture; 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 (6 in, straight knives, 22,000 cuts per minute), G0946 (6 in, 'spiral', 12 inserts) and G0947 (8 in, 'spiral', 16 inserts), the spiral heads given 66,000 cuts per minute; all 1-1/2 HP universal motors, 120 V, 10 A, a 15 A circuit, a 5-15 plug, 11,000 rpm, 1/8 in deepest cut, 10 in minimum length and 1/2 in minimum thickness; tables 30 in (6 in models) and 34 in (8 in); fences 19-3/4 in; dust ports 2-1/2 in (6 in) and 4 in (8 in); 43, 43 and 50 lb.
- 3.
Model G0958/G0959 8" & 12" Jointer/Planer with Helical Cutterhead owner's manual (for models manufactured since 03/23). Grizzly Industrial, 2023.
Used for: A benchtop combination machine for comparison: the 8 in G0958 with 29-1/4 in tables, 120 V, 15 A, 48 lb, that also thickness-planes.
About this buying guide
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