When setting up your workshop, the jointer is often one of those dream tools: useful, efficient, and expensive. But what if your current lineup only includes a thicknesser and a table saw? Fear not! You can still achieve square, accurate timber without investing in a jointer. In this post, we’ll walk you through practical workarounds that’ll have your timber squared up and ready for joinery or furniture making.
Why Square Timber Matters
Squaring timber ensures that your joinery fits snugly and your finished pieces are structurally sound. With rough or reclaimed timber, especially those “under the house” finds, you’re likely starting with wonky, bowed, or uneven surfaces. Getting one face flat and square is the foundational step to success.
Option 1: The Table Saw Sled Method
If you’ve got a table saw, you can build a simple sled with MDF and adhesive (CA glue or hot glue). Tape your timber and the sled, then use accelerator spray to bond them temporarily. The idea is to secure the timber safely while you pass it over the blade, using the flat MDF edge as a guide.
By trimming one edge, then flipping and trimming the opposite, you get two flat, parallel faces. From there, rotate the timber and repeat to achieve square edges on all four sides.
Option 2: The Thicknesser Trick
Have a thicknesser but no table saw? You’re still in luck. Mount a rough face of your timber on an MDF sled using wedges and hot glue to stabilise it. This setup allows you to flatten one face. For squaring an adjacent face, use more wedges to create a perpendicular reference. Once you’ve got two square faces, you can thickness the rest.
A Note on Safety and Patience
Both methods require care—check your blade height, avoid cutting through thick sleds unnecessarily, and always ensure your timber is securely mounted. Also, remember: this isn’t the fastest process. But it is effective.
Final Thoughts
Even without a jointer, you can turn rough, wonky timber into usable stock. Whether you're building chairs, cabinets, or anything in between, a few smart jigs and a little patience will take you a long way. You don’t need every tool to do good work—just the right mindset and a bit of creativity.