How to Straighten a Board Edge Without a Jointer

Straight and square lumber is required for all woodworking projects. Here's how to get it without a jointer.

To square up your wood boards you'll need to start with at least one straight edge. That's easily done using a jointer or tracksaw, but when you have neither of those tools, you can still get a straight edge by with just a table saw.

Start by finding a piece of wood that has a factory edge on it. These aren't always 100% straight but they are usually good enough. This will serve as a guide to cut the edge for the workpiece. Cut the wood with the factory edge to roughly the same length as your workpiece, and keep the width around 5 to 6 inches.

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Put the factory-edge piece on top of your workpiece so that the factory edge and the edge you want to straighten are on opposite sides. Secure it in place using screws on both ends. Make sure the screws are short enough that they don't punch through the bottom of the board.

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Set the fence on your table saw to trim off just enough wood off the workpiece to get a new edge, then place your factory-edge piece against the fence and run it through the saw.

Once you're done, you should have one side that is completely straight, so you can remove the guide piece and then flip the wood around to straighten the other side. Two straight edges and no need for another tool! It's not the quickest solution, so if you're doing this often you might want to invest in a jointer. But in a pinch, it'll get you through a project.

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