I've done it many times. Just alternate sides, and watch out for crowning. The technique that works best for me is to take a full width pass on the left edge of the timber, then go back for a second pass on the right edge, but turn the planer at an angle. Keep as much of the back end of the planer bed on the left side as possible, and keep pressure on the back end. This helps keep the two sides in the same plane (no pun intended). That applies only to the Makita. I also have a protool 8", and the technique is different. CB.