I thought I would post this as until now I never tried making a board wider than my jointer flat (in one piece)
Removing the jointer guard and essentially making an 8 rabbit, and then running that side down through my planer first, on a temporary surface I made from a 9 wide piece of melamine particleboard, worked perfectly.
Flip it over and plane off the material that remained untouched by the jointer, and bingo, a flat 12 wide board.
Just thought I would post this to encourage those those who never tried this, to try it if the need arises.
Bill