POWERTEC UT1012C 13 Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer, 6 Inch Benchtop Jointer with Flip Top Tool Stand

Why this compact combo earned a spot in my small shop

Space is precious in my shop, so tools that multitask and pack away neatly get first consideration. POWERTEC’s benchtop combo—pairing a 6-inch jointer, a 13-inch planer, and a flip-top mobile stand—hits that brief squarely. After several weeks of milling rough maple, poplar, and some cantankerous construction lumber, I have a clear sense of what this setup does well, where it shows its limits, and who it best serves.

Setup and first impressions

Out of the box, the build quality is solid for the price class. The stand goes together with typical bolt-and-tab construction; it’s wobbly until everything is snugged down, then it firms up nicely. The tabletop footprint (about 25 x 20.6 inches) is generous for benchtop machines, and the 30.5-inch working height is comfortable for feeding stock. The flip mechanism is straightforward, positive, and surprisingly rigid once locked.

The top and shelf are MDF. I sealed both with a few coats of clear finish to fend off moisture and stray glue—worth doing if your shop isn’t climate-controlled. Mounting the machines was simple; just plan your hole pattern before drilling to keep the balance point centered on the pivot. The included caster wheels roll smoothly and lock securely, which matters because once you load this with iron and a motor, you’ll want it to stay put.

A small but important constraint: the stand’s max tool height is 23-3/16 inches. Most benchtop planers clear this with room to spare, and the included machines fit fine, but if you ever swap one tool out, measure before you commit.

The jointer: capable within its envelope

The 6-inch jointer is driven by a 10-amp motor and a two-knife cutterhead that spins fast enough to claim up to 22,000 cuts per minute. In use, that translated to clean, predictable cuts in hardwoods at modest depths. I was able to take up to 1/8-inch passes on straight-grained stock without drama, though I preferred 1/32 to 1/16 inch for smoother surfaces and less tear-out.

• Tables arrived acceptably coplanar; a quick check with a straightedge had me making minor tweaks rather than major shimming.
• The fence locks square and stays there. I checked 90 degrees against a machinist square before every session, and it needed only occasional nudges.
• Rabbeting capability is there and works, though like most small jointers, it’s not a production solution—plan your depth conservatively and keep your pressure consistent.

Two knives won’t match the glassy finish of a helical head, but the surface off the jointer glued up well without a planer follow-up on most boards. On reversing grain, light passes and a sharp set of knives were key.

The planer: plenty of muscle, predictable results

The 13-inch planer is the workhorse of the combo. With a 15-amp (2 HP) motor, three knives, and 9,400 RPM on the cutterhead, it has no trouble chewing through 10–12-inch-wide hardwood boards at reasonable feed rates. I ran a batch of 6/4 maple down to 4/4 and the machine never tripped a breaker or bogged.

Finish quality is what I expect from a three-knife benchtop planer—good, with faint knife lines that sand out quickly. Snipe was present out of the box (again, normal for this class), and I brought it down to a minimal shadow by:

• Supporting long stock with roller stands
• Feeding with firm, even pressure and lifting the trailing end slightly on exit
• Taking lighter finishing passes

If snipe-free boards are mission-critical, you’ll still want to leave an inch to trim on each end, but for furniture parts I could often plane to final length without waste.

Dust collection that actually keeps up

The planer’s transparent 4-inch dust port is a standout. Connected to a 1.5–2 HP dust collector, chips clear briskly and don’t swirl back onto the board. The transparent elbow helps you spot a shaving jam before it becomes a clog. If you only have a shop vac, you’ll move some chips but you won’t keep up—this planer likes real airflow.

The jointer’s chip path is more modest, but paired with the same collector it kept the tables clear and the air reasonably clean.

Noise, vibration, and shop manners

It’s a planer—it’s loud. Hearing protection is non-negotiable, and I wouldn’t run it late at night in a garage with close neighbors. The combo’s overall vibration is well controlled once the stand is loaded and locked. The casters don’t creep when the locks are engaged, and the flip mechanism didn’t rattle loose over time.

Maintenance and knife changes

Knife changes on both machines are straightforward for anyone who has lived with benchtop iron. The planer’s three-knife design spreads the workload; keep the bed clean, wax the tables, and you’ll maintain a consistent feed. The jointer’s two knives aligned easily with the supplied jackscrews. As with any straight-knife setup, sharpness is your best friend—dull knives are the fastest route to tear-out and chatter.

The flip-top stand is the enabler

The star of this package is the stand. Flipping from jointer to planer takes seconds, and the footprint barely changes. In a one-car garage, that’s the difference between workable and frustrating. The mechanism locks in both orientations and stays square, so tools don’t drift out of alignment. I do recommend marking a “home” position for each tool’s fence and height—small habits that make switching tasks seamless.

The stand’s MDF surfaces are the obvious weak link. They’re fine for their purpose but don’t love moisture or repeated screw moves. Seal them, avoid overtightening, and if you expect heavy abuse, cut new tops from cabinet-grade plywood later.

Accuracy and capacity expectations

• Jointer width: 6 inches is the standard hobbyist size. Edge-jointing and face-flattening narrower boards is its wheelhouse. For wider panels, I flatten one reference face with a sled on the planer.
• Planer capacity: up to 13 inches wide and 6 inches thick covers most furniture projects. Take lighter passes on wider hardwoods to minimize scalloping and motor strain.
• Table flatness and fence squareness were both within what I consider acceptable for benchtop gear. A few minutes with a straightedge and hex key on day one pays off.

What I liked, and what I’d change

What works well:
- Space efficiency: two essential milling operations in one solid, mobile footprint
- Real dust collection: the 4-inch port on the planer makes a noticeable difference
- Predictable performance: both machines cut cleanly within their limits
- Flip mechanism: quick, secure, and repeatable

Could be better:
- MDF tops: functional but fragile; sealing is a must, plywood would be nicer
- Two-knife jointer head: fine results, but a third knife or helical upgrade would reduce tear-out
- Noise: unavoidable for a planer, but be prepared with hearing protection and good dust collection

Who it’s for

This combo makes the most sense for small-shop woodworkers who need to surface stock reliably without dedicating separate floor space to a jointer and planer. If you work primarily with boards under 13 inches wide and 6 feet long, and you value mobility, it’s a strong fit. High-volume shops or anyone flattening wide slabs will want heavier, stationary machines.

Recommendation

I recommend this POWERTEC combo to space-conscious woodworkers who want a practical, integrated milling station. The jointer and planer deliver clean, predictable results; the stand’s flip-top design genuinely saves room without sacrificing stability; and the 4-inch dust port on the planer elevates chip management above typical benchtop standards. You’ll need to treat the MDF surfaces with some care and accept the usual trade-offs of straight-knife cutterheads, but within those bounds, the system is efficient, capable, and easy to live with. For a small to mid-size shop that values flexibility, it’s a smart, well-balanced choice.