Photo Index - Northfield Foundry & Machine Co. - Northfield No. 7 Helical Cutter Head Planer

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Northfield Foundry & Machine Co.
Northfield, MN

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Planer, Wood
Machine Size:	24"
Submitted By:	Jason Wood

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Northfield No. 7 Helical Cutter Head Planer
Date of Manufacturer:	1999
Serial Number:	991676 - L
Last Updated	5/4/2009 12:52:29 AM

Comments:

This planer was up for sale due to a factory shut down in a suburb of Colorado. It caught my eye because it had a helical head and powered table lift. I purchased it with the idea that I would drop it off at the Northfield foundry and have them go through it and bring it up to industry standards. I was hoping there was not much to do to it, due to it being a 1999 model, but once they went through it, it turned out that the table was 0.005” off on one side. Jeff Mahacheck at Northfield thought the reason for this was that the grease zerks for the elevating screws were not greased often enough causing wear on the screws and throwing the table out of alignment with the cutter head. Unfortunately the opening in the frame to allow you to get to the grease zerk was taped up, I have no idea why, making it easy to forget that there was a zerk to be greased. In order to fix this, complete disassembly of the machine was required to replace the elevating screws. So while they were at it I had them replace any worn parts and completely rebuild it.

Like with my jointer Jeff allowed me to help with the unskilled labor like grinding, sanding and painting of parts. The skilled portion of the Job was done by Ken Hausen who you will see pictured in the next set of photos showing the end product. Kenny has been the planer man at Northfield for over 20 years, and was the one who built this one in 1999. So it goes without saying that he knows every inch of this machine.

After talking with Jeff and Kenny about my machine I had them update the electrical system and feed system. The feed system was replaced with a heavy duty 1 1/2 inch diameter drive shaft and heavy duty gear boxes. This is a change that was made in 2004 to all new planers made at Northfield. A picture of this is in the next set of photos.

These photos show the planer at different stages of the rebuild process. I will have another posting of the planer completely assembled and painted.

Photo 1:

Comments: Here is the planer after dissasembly in Kenny's work area.
Source: Jason Wood

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 2:

Comments: Here is the planer being reassembled and new electronics being added.
Source: Jason Wood

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 3:

Comments: The other side showing the helical cutter head, clutch, and feed rollers.
Source: Jason Wood

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 4:

Comments: Here is a shot showing the power lift assembly.
Source: Jason Wood

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 5:

Comments: Now the motor, top sash assembly, and knife grinder assembly are on.
Source: Jason Wood

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 6:

Comments: All the feed rollers are in with the sprockets.
Source: Jason Wood

Direct Link
IMG Code