Cutting MDF with planer

[MandoDiddle]

I just got a DeWalt bench-top planer and I am wanting to plane a 2 degree surface angle in a 12" wide piece of MDF so I can begin cutting the dovetail in the headblock. The mandolin (without back) will rest on this 2 degree MDF in order to give the bandsaw it's proper angle for the dovetail. My question is: Am I going to be ruining my blades cutting on the MDF? Should I try using a wood such as poplar instead? Thanks for any help.

Bill

[Mteresko]

If you have carbide tipped knives, they will hold up pretty well to mdf. HSS knives will be trashed. However, mdf is not a good candidate for planing as it has a kind of punky interior. I have cleaned up the edges of mdf many times on a jointer with carbide knives, but have never run it flat or near to flat through a planer. Poplar would be a much better choice for this.

[Luthier]

MDF is made under high pressure with all sorts of funky adhesives and additives. I would stay clear of planing it.

Don

[kbatschke]

Sand or route your taper, I don't think you'll be happy with the planer effect on MDF.

Karl

[MandoDiddle]

Thanks for the help guys. I think I'm going to try poplar first. If that does'nt get it done, I'll have to find someone with a sander. What a great forum.
Bill

[Bill Snyder]

I don't know if MDF will run through a power planer very well but it routes very well and the edges plane up slick with a block plane - smoother than some varieties of wood. It does dull blades quickly and I don't know that I would want to send it through your DeWalt planer.

Bill S.

[Michael Lewis]

Why don't you just add a wedge of some wood under the piece of MDF? That stuff makes more dust than should be possible.