Woodmizer MP360 4 side planer 2-1/8” x 3-1/2” review feeding procedure and cutter heads

[@Grunt49]

Heck of a machine!

[@HutOffice]

Hi Rich, I'm looking into buying an MP 360 to S4S Sugar Pine 5x5 x10' and 5x6x10' rough sawn into 4.5" x 4.5" and 4.5" x 5.5" finished timbers. In your opinion, can this machine handle this on a very regular basis? Thanks for any insight you can share with me. Timon

[@theMainetimberframer]

Hi Timon I think the MP360 is a rugged machine. I have the 4” side cutters but I have not run a lot ‘tall’ height material like what you are describing. My 360 works and feeds best when I make blanks (pre size width and plane one side) on the Woodmizer MP 220. I think I’m an experienced sawyer (30 + years), but my sawing still isn’t consistent enough to have easy feeding into the MP 360 without first sizing on the MP 220. I have a helical planer head on the MP220 and it does a great prep job and very smooth planed surface. I have straight planer knives in the top and bottom of the 360 so I can insert molding cutters. The helical head does not allow the molding cutter options. We plane mostly Eastern White Pine, so we clean and remove pitch from the heads, chip breakers and cutter knives every 8 hours. Bottom line: I’m not sure that the MP 360 would meet you needs unless you have an option to pre-size your material before the 360 operation.

[@HutOffice]

Thanks Rich! I have a Felder AD 741 Jointer/Planer combo. I suppose I could first pass our timbers through the planer to get a smooth face to register on the bed of the MP360. Would that be a similar process to what you describe as "sizing" the piece first?