The M4P FS 200 S is a combined jointer-planer designed for both hobbyist and professional use. It features a standard spiral cutterhead equipped with 18 indexable carbide (HM) inserts, a planing width of 205 mm (jointer) and 200 mm (thicknesser), a 1.5 kW S1 (2.1 kW S6 40%) single-phase 230 V motor, and a thicknessing capacity of 5–120 mm. It is manufactured by the Bernardo Group (M4P is an associated brand), a company with over 40 years of experience in the woodworking machinery sector. Distributed in Italy by Krollit, the official Bernardo distributor since 2007.
- Spiral cutterblock with 18 carbide (HM) inserts
- 4-sided indexable carbide inserts; up to 20 times the cutting life of a standard HSS blade
- Surface planing width: 205 mm
- Thicknessing width: 200 mm
- Surface planing table length: 740 mm · thicknessing table length: 250 mm
- Thicknessing capacity (min/max): 5–120 mm
- Max. depth of cut: 2 mm (surfacing and thicknessing)
- Cutterblock speed: 8,000 rpm · cutterblock diameter: Ø 50 mm
- Thicknessing feed speed: 6.5 m/min
- Planing fence 540 x 100 mm, tiltable from 90° to 45°
- Dust extraction port Ø 60 mm with combined surfacing/thicknessing hood
- Motor 1.5 kW S1 (2.1 kW S6 40%), 230 V · weight 22 kg · dimensions 790 x 460 x 480 mm
Why choose the S version with the spiral cutterblock?
The letter "S" in the model name FS 200 S stands for Spiralmesser-Hobelwelle—a helical spiral cutterblock fitted as standard, replacing the traditional block with 2 straight HSS blades. The helical block is a cylinder featuring 18 square carbide (HM) inserts arranged in a spiral pattern around the axis of rotation. Instead of a straight edge spanning the entire width, each insert cuts a small section of the surface at an angle slightly inclined relative to the direction of the workpiece feed. The manufacturer cites the following direct advantages: noise reduction of approximately 50% compared to the traditional HSS block; a cutting lifespan up to 20 times longer (thanks to the 4-sided indexable carbide inserts); the ability to replace a single insert in the event of accidental impact without removing the entire blade; and tear-out-free cutting on all wood types, including hard exotic woods and timber with knots or irregular grain.
Who uses the FS 200 S and for what applications
The FS 200 S is chosen by advanced hobbyists, small-scale carpenters and woodworkers, site carpenters, flooring and window installers, model makers, and educational workshops for finishing tasks on strips, short boards, and small components. Its compact design (790 x 460 x 480 mm) and manageable weight of 22 kg allow for easy transport to job sites—or between the workshop and the site—without the need for lifting equipment, a level of portability not offered by standard stationary benchtop planers. Compared to the standard FS 200 model featuring a 2-knife HSS cutterblock, the "S" version enables the machine to handle hard exotic woods (such as teak, iroko, and wengé) as well as boards with knots or irregular grain; this is due to the angled cutting action of the carbide (HM) inserts, which significantly reduces tear-out. The combined surface and thickness planer configuration replaces two separate machines, allowing the user to switch from creating a flat reference surface to thicknessing without changing workstations.
Who the FS 200 S is for
| Profile |
Compatibility |
Reason |
| Advanced hobbyist, model maker, educational workshop for mixed and challenging wood types |
Suitable |
Helical cutterblock with 18 carbide (HM) inserts, 5–120 mm thickness capacity, and 22 kg weight allow for finishing work on soft, hard, and exotic woods without grain tear-out, even on very thin pieces down to 5 mm |
| Small-scale carpenter, site carpenter, parquet and window/door installer |
Suitable |
Portability for job sites (22 kg, 790 x 460 x 480 mm), 1.5 kW S1 motor (2.1 kW S6 40%), and carbide insert lifespan up to 20 times longer than HSS reduce downtime for blade changes |
| Serial production carpentry, working on boards wider than 200 mm |
Not suitable |
Maximum planing width of 205 mm and 250 mm thicknessing table limit use to short, small-format pieces; continuous production requires stationary planers with longer tables and more powerful motors |
Not suitable for: planing boards wider than 205 mm, continuous serial production cycles (S6 40% duty cycle, not S1 100%), or processing materials other than wood (plastic, particleboard with abrasive coatings, metal). Note: The helical carbide-insert cutterhead is more tolerant of minor impurities than the HSS cutterhead; however, wood containing visible nails, staples, screws, or grit should still not be processed.
Spiral cutterblock and dust extraction
| Planer block type |
Spiral (helical) cutterblock |
| Number of carbide (HM) inserts |
18 |
| Insert material |
Carbide (HM / tungsten carbide) |
| Indexable inserts |
Yes, 4-sided |
| Noise reduction vs. HSS block |
Approx. 50% |
| Cutting life vs. HSS block |
Up to 20 times longer |
| Cutterblock speed |
8.000 rpm |
| Cutterblock diameter |
50 mm |
| Dust extraction port |
Ø 60 mm |
| Dust extraction hood |
Combined, switchable between jointer and thicknesser modes |
Jointer capacity
| Planing width |
205 mm |
| Table length |
740 mm |
| Max. stock removal |
2 mm |
| Planing fence |
540 x 100 mm, tiltable from 90° to 45° |
| Cutterblock guard |
CE compliant |
Thicknesser capacity
| Planing width |
200 mm |
| Table length |
250 mm |
| Thicknessing capacity (min/max) |
5-120 mm |
| Max. stock removal |
2 mm |
| Feed rate |
6,5 m/min |
Motor and power supply
| Output power S1 100% |
1.5 kW (2.0 HP) |
| Input power S6 40% |
2.1 kW (2.8 hp) |
| Voltage |
230 V single-phase |
| Cutterblock protection |
CE compliant |
Dimensions and weight
| Length x Width x Height |
790 x 460 x 480 mm |
| Weight |
approx. 22 kg |
| Marking |
CE |
| SKU M4P |
3001006 |
| EAN |
9009468083878 |
Standard equipment
- Helical spiral cutterblock with 18 pre-mounted carbide (HM) inserts
- 5 spare carbide (HM) inserts included
- Combined dust extraction hood for surface and thickness planing
- push stick for safe planing near the cutterblock
- User manual and CE Declaration of Conformity
Professional applications
Surface planing of exotic woods and knotted boards without tear-out
In surface planing mode, the FS 200 S straightens one face of the board, creating a flat reference surface and a square edge at 90° (or angled up to 45° using the adjustable fence). The shear-cutting action of the helical cutterblock's 18 carbide inserts follows the grain direction, significantly reducing the tear-out typically caused by HSS blades when encountering knots, reversing grain, or changes in grain direction. This makes the FS 200 S the recommended configuration for hard exotic woods (teak, iroko, wengé, padauk) and reclaimed timber with prominent knots—materials where the standard FS 200 version (with a conventional HSS cutterblock) requires shallower cuts and often produces surfaces with tear-out, necessitating subsequent finish sanding.
Thickness planing capability for workpieces as thin as 5 mm
In thicknessing mode, the FS 200 S feeds the board between the helical cutterblock and the lower support table, ensuring a uniform thickness of between 5 and 120 mm with an automatic feed rate of 6.5 m/min. The minimum thickness capacity of 5 mm (compared to 8 mm on the standard FS 200) allows for the processing of model-making parts, trim strips, thick veneers, and thin components without the need for sacrificial backing boards. The 1.5 kW S1 motor (2.1 kW S6 40%) handles 2 mm cuts in hardwoods without strain during the intermittent duty cycles typical of on-site installation work.
Comparison with the M4P FS 200 (basic version with HSS cutterblock)
| Parameter |
FS 200 S (carbide spiral cutterblock) |
FS 200 (HSS cutterblock with 2 knives) |
When to choose the FS 200 S |
| Planer cutterblock |
Spiral cutterblock with 18 carbide inserts |
2 straight HSS knives |
Always, when working with exotic, knotty, or interlocked-grain woods |
| Noise reduction |
Approx. 50% vs. HSS |
Standard cutterblock noise level |
When working in workshops located in inhabited areas, home basements, or apartment buildings |
| Cutting life |
Up to 20× vs. HSS (4-sided indexable inserts) |
Standard HSS knife life (resharpenable) |
When performing repetitive work cycles and wanting to minimize machine downtime |
| Handling accidental impacts |
Replacement of a single carbide insert in seconds |
Replacement or resharpening of the entire HSS knife |
When the wood is not always perfectly clean |
| S1 motor power |
1.5 kW (2.0 HP) |
1.25 kW (1.7 HP) |
When more power is needed for hardwoods |
| Motor power S6 40% |
2.1 kW (2.8 hp) |
1.75 kW (2.3 HP) |
For Maximum passes of 2 mm on oak, beech, and iroko |
| Thicknessing capacity |
5 mm |
8 mm |
For model making and thick veneer work |
| Thicknessing feed speed |
6,5 m/min |
7 m/min |
Marginal difference: the choice isn't based on speed |
| Reference price (source) |
€450.00 (M4P) |
€294.00 (M4P) |
The price premium is justified if working regularly with difficult woods |
Krollit recommends the FS 200 S to those who work—at least occasionally—with exotic, knotty, or irregular-grain woods; to those operating in residential areas where noise reduction is a tangible benefit; and to those wishing to minimize downtime for blade changes or resharpening. The standard FS 200 remains the economical choice for those working almost exclusively with spruce, pine, and standard softwoods, and who are comfortable with the routine maintenance of HSS blades.
