# Why are "Thicknessers" called "Planers" in the US ? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 28, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657 "2013-01-28T21:34:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/21 "2013-01-29T01:36:38Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > I worked in cabinet shops in the US for several years, and not once did I ever hear the machine referred to as a “joiner”, it was invariably called a “jointer.” > > I would be really intrigued to see any cite for an instance of the machine having been being called a “joiner” at any time, either in the US or elswhere. If you look at [this page](http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f5/help-joiner-10805/)you’ll see both terms are in use. Lately the name jointer has been more common on products, possibly to distinquish it from plate joiners. ---
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/22 "2013-01-29T09:27:05Z")
I’m not sure that qualifies as a valid cite, tripolar. What I see there is a woodworking newbie using the term “joiner”, and the old hands being too polite to correct him openly, although the first respondent does heavily capitalize the\*\* T\*\* in joinTer …it all seems to go over the head of the newbie, however, who carries on in blissful ignorance . It’s a bit like these posts where someone uses “there” instead of “their” six times in the same sentence…suddenly its not just a typo anymore, it’s an irritation. ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/23 "2013-01-29T16:01:11Z")
If you look at the early history of lumber processing in the 1700’s, the first surfacing machines were often called simply “planers.” These had rollers and were self-feeding in the same way as modern thickness planers. Jointer planers with an exposed cutter and manual feed came later. As for “joiner”, you might call it a misspelling but it is a common one at least in the southern US. The same person who pronounces “painter” as “painer” tends to pronounce “jointer” as “joiner” and spell it accordingly. “Biscuit joiners” add to the confusion: [Biscuit joiner - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscuit_joiner) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/24 "2013-01-29T16:06:35Z")
“Thicknesser” is a silly name, almost Monty Pythonesque. Is a circular saw called a “roundabout-sawdust maker” over there? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/25 "2013-01-29T16:11:25Z")
> [@awldune](#): > > “Biscuit joiners” add to the confusion: [Biscuit joiner - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscuit_joiner) AKA “cookie thicknesser”? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/26 "2013-01-29T17:32:17Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > I worked in cabinet shops in the US for several years, and not once did I ever hear the machine referred to as a “joiner”, it was invariably called a “jointer.” > > I would be really intrigued to see any cite for an instance of the machine having been being called a “joiner” at any time, either in the US or elswhere. I don’t if it’s an official name, but it’s common in the vernacular. I haven’t seen a cite for ‘thicknesser’ yet. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/27 "2013-01-29T18:13:15Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I agree with this terminology. I guess you could say that I’m down with the thickness. I have two fireplaces in my house with decorative carpentry around them. I thought about removing them, but I decided against it. That’s because mantles are the gift that have been given to me. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/28 "2013-01-29T18:39:24Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > Every wood machinist in the UK will refer to the machine he uses to bring timber to a finished parallel dimension as a “thicknesser”. Behold! The Finished Parallel Dimension-inator! I considered calling it the “Thickness-inator”, but that doesn’t sound at all impressive, does it? /Dr Doofenshmirtz ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/29 "2013-01-29T18:49:37Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I think that’s what they call a tablesaw in the UK. I’m pretty sure it’s a Narrowerator… or maybe that’s what they call a band saw? ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vegetable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Space\_Vegetable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vegetable)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/30 "2013-01-29T19:09:24Z")
It makes boards thinner, not thicker. Calling it an inthinerator is the thenthible option. Otherwise there could be confusion. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/31 "2013-01-29T19:22:08Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > And rememvber this: There is no more important safety rule than to wear these (tap, tap) safety glasses. ~Norm Abram~ Aw. Now you’ve got me thinking of my mom who always quoted that, complete with the tap, tap. My parents got my a couple of tools over the years and she made sure to recite this every time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/32 "2013-01-29T20:43:06Z")
This reminds me of when I was in elementary school back in the midst of time. I took violin classes. Our teacher told us that in the U.K., the didn’t call it a 16th note a semiquaver and a 32nd note a semidesiquaver. It sounded like a joke to my American ears. Nope, it was true. They don’t still do that, do they? ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/33 "2013-01-29T20:55:02Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I don’t if it’s an official name, but it’s common in the vernacular. I haven’t seen a cite for ‘thicknesser’ yet. My cite is my Dad, does that count? He’s Aussie and I know he has a thicknesser out in the shed, but please don’t make me visually identify it! ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/34 "2013-01-29T20:56:21Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Our teacher told us that in the U.K., the didn’t call it a 16th note a semiquaver and a 32nd note a semidesiquaver. I… think… I’m parsing this sentence correctly…? 🙂 If so, too bad she didn’t talk to you about the hemidemisemiquaver! ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/35 "2013-01-29T20:56:42Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > semidesiquaver Demisemiquaver. The next one down is hemidemisemiquaver, then semihemidemisemiquaver. All the notes have names. The eighth note is, predictably, a quaver. Heading up from there, it’s crotchet, minim, semi-breve, breve, and longa. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/36 "2013-01-29T20:57:29Z")
Ooh! An actual cite! [http://www.carbatec.com.au/planers-thicknessers\_c410](http://www.carbatec.com.au/planers-thicknessers_c410) It says planer and thicknesser refer to the same device and goes on to call them all thicknessers, bar one. I wonder why? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/37 "2013-01-29T21:03:21Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I… think… I’m parsing this sentence correctly…? 🙂 > > If so, too bad she didn’t talk to you about the hemidemisemiquaver! Holy Moley did I mess up that sentence! Thanks for understanding me, folks. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/38 "2013-01-29T21:52:57Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > I’m not sure that qualifies as a valid cite, tripolar. > > What I see there is a woodworking newbie using the term “joiner”, and the old hands being too polite to correct him openly, although the first respondent does heavily capitalize the\*\* T\*\* in joinTer …it all seems to go over the head of the newbie, however, who carries on in blissful ignorance . Here is your cite, the [Wikipedia entry for Jointer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jointer#Linguistic_note). > [@](#): > > “Planer” is the normal term in the UK and Australia for what is called a “jointer” in North America, where the former term refers exclusively to a thickness planer.\*\* Also some of the older woodworkers use the term “joiner”\*\*. > [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > It’s a bit like these posts where someone uses “there” instead of “their” six times in the same sentence…suddenly its not just a typo anymore, it’s an irritation. It’a bit like a noob who doesn’t realize old guys know a lot of things they haven’t lived long enough to learn. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/39 "2013-01-30T10:17:46Z")
I always thought the name “planer” was used because the machine creates a flat and level surface on one side of the board in relation to the flat and level surface on the opposite of the board that was created with the jointer. This coincides with the general definition as well as the geometric definition of the word “plane”. ---
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657/40 "2013-01-30T18:02:02Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > I always thought the name “planer” was used because the machine creates a flat and level surface on one side of the board in relation to the flat and level surface on the opposite of the board that was created with the jointer. This coincides with the general definition as well as the geometric definition of the word “plane”. The thickness planer cuts a duplicate of the surface on the reverse side of the board …it does NOT , of and by itself, create a plane surface. If the reverse side of the board is warped, or twisted, then the thickness planer will produce a warped or twisted face on the freshly machined side. If the reverse side of the board is plane to start with, then, of course, the thicknesser will produce a plane surface on the freshly machined side. My beef with the nomenclature is that you cannot take a roughsawn board, feed it straight into a so-called _PLANER_ [US] , and get a plane surface. Hence the reason why we don’t call them "planers " over here, and why we call the machine which actually generates an initial plane surface a “planer” (which in the USA you term a joinTer) I just know somebody is going to jump in and explain that you \*\*\*can \*\*\*actually generate an initial plane surface using a _PLANER_ [US] and yes, you can, but it’s a bit of a longwinded procedure … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thicknessers-called-planers-in-the-us/648657.md?page=3)