Spiral Cutterhead for Wood-Mizer MP180 Jointer Planer Moulder – 72 Carbide Inserts
Upgrade your Wood-Mizer MP180 with this precision-engineered spiral cutterhead, featuring 72 factory-installed carbide inserts. Designed to deliver superior performance, quieter operation, and long-term value, this cutterhead is a must-have for serious woodworkers.
Why Upgrade to a Spiral Cutterhead?
Superior Surface Finish
Spiral cutterheads use staggered, angled inserts that create a shearing cut action. This reduces tear-out and leaves an ultra-smooth, glossy finish—even on figured or knotty hardwoods.
Quieter Operation
The staggered cutting pattern minimizes the number of inserts engaging the wood at once, significantly reducing noise during operation.
Long-Lasting Durability
Fitted with 15x15x2.5mm sintered tungsten carbide inserts, this cutterhead lasts over 10 times longer than traditional high-speed steel. Each insert features four cutting edges—just rotate to a fresh edge when needed.
Minimal Maintenance
Inserts are ground to tight tolerances (+/- 0.01mm or 0.0004") and are fully interchangeable. Replacing or rotating an insert is fast and easy—just loosen the screw, turn the insert 90°, and tighten.
Better Dust Collection
Produces smaller, more manageable chips for more efficient dust extraction and a cleaner workspace.
Cost-Effective in the Long Run
Enjoy reduced sanding, no sharpening costs, and extended service life. The spiral cutterhead quickly pays for itself in both time and material savings.
Woodworkers are increasingly retrofitting their planers and jointers with spiral cutterheads—enhancing performance, saving time, and achieving professional-grade results with less effort.
Kit Includes:
Do I need to replace the original bearings?
If the bearings in your machine are in good condition, they can be reused by carefully removing them with a bearing or pulley puller. However, if the bearings are tightly pressed onto the shaft, removal may cause damage. To minimize this risk, we recommend replacing old bearings with our greased and sealed bearings, designed for long-lasting performance. For a smooth upgrade, we suggest adding the bearings to your shopping cart before completing your purchase.
We provide premium bearings from NSK, SKF, NTN, FAG, Timken. They are renowned for their high quality and performance, designed to provide durability and reliability in various applications
If you add the bearings to your order, we will preinstall them for you when premounting is possible, saving you the hassle of doing it yourself.
Do I need to to Add a Few Boxes of Carbide Inserts
We provide 5 carbide inserts and 5 screws as spare parts. However, many of our customers choose to purchase additional boxes, as the shipping costs for separate purchases can make it less economical.
Do I need a Torque Wrench?
To securely lock the carbide inserts, we recommend applying a torque of 48 to 52 Pound-Inches (or 5.42 to 5.88 Newton-Meters). (Note: 1 Newton-Meter is equal to 8.851 Pound-Inches, and 1 Pound-Inch is approximately 0.113 Newton-Meters.) It is crucial not to apply excessive torque, as this could cause the carbide inserts to crack or explode. On the other hand, using too little torque may result in the inserts not being properly secured, which could lead to cracks, shattering, or uneven height on the cutter block, causing ridges or lines on the board.
If one person is responsible for maintaining the machine, they can typically apply the same torque consistently without a torque wrench. However, when multiple people are involved in machine maintenance, ensuring uniform torque application can be challenging. For consistency and peace of mind, we recommend using a torque wrench.
What kind of steel the cutter block is made of?
The cutter block is constructed using GB/T 40Cr, a structural alloy steel of the same caliber as ASTM grade 5140, AISI 5140, SAE 5140, DIN 41Cr4, BS 41Cr4, JIS SCr440, and EN 41Cr4.The primary components of this steel are as follows: carbon (C) at a range of 0.37-0.44%, silicon (Si) between 0.17-0.37%, manganese (Mn) within 0.50-0.80%, and chromium (Cr) from 0.80-1.10%.
In terms of physical properties, this steel exhibits a tensile strength range of 115-234σb/MPa, a yield strength of 2σ 0.2 ≥/MPa, and an elongation capacity of 65 δ5≥ (%). It also has a HBS range of 123-321 and a HRC rating of 30.
This alloy steel is frequently utilized in low to moderately stressed components for machines, engines, and vehicles.
