Bridgewood Woodworking Quality Heritage
Bridgewood woodworking machinery represents a legacy of quality craftsmanship designed and imported by Wilke Machinery of York, Pennsylvania. Known for exceptional build quality and rigorous quality control, Bridgewood woodworking tools were manufactured in Taiwan with superior fit and finish that rivaled much more expensive machinery. Popular models included 8", 12" jointers, 13", 15", 16", 20", and 24" planers, bandsaws, shapers, and combination machines, all featuring heavy cast iron construction and precision-machined components.
Bridgewood woodworking machines earned an outstanding reputation for their solid construction, accurate tables, and reliable performance. Wilke Machinery fitted all Bridgewood equipment with American-made Baldor motors and meticulously tested each machine before shipment. Features like parallelogram table adjustments, handwheel controls, and robust castings made these woodworking tools favorites among professional woodworkers and serious hobbyists. Though the brand is discontinued, thousands of Bridgewood machines continue delivering excellent performance in workshops worldwide.
Advanced Spiral Cutterhead Jointer Upgrades
Sheartak Tools Ltd. manufactures precision-engineered spiral cutterhead solutions specifically designed for Bridgewood woodworking machinery. Our cutter head upgrades breathe new life into these quality machines, transforming them into modern high-performance systems. Each spiral cutterhead jointer conversion features premium carbide inserts as mechanical components arranged along helical grooves, creating a true shear-cut that dramatically reduces noise and eliminates tear-out on figured woods like curly maple and cherry.
These mechanical component upgrades deliver exceptional surface finishes that enhance the already impressive quality of Bridgewood woodworking tools. The advanced cutter head design provides more than 10 times the blade life of traditional straight knives. When an edge dulls on your spiral cutterhead jointer, simply rotate the carbide insert 90 degrees for a fresh cutting edge—no complicated blade changes or sharpening required, reducing downtime significantly.
Professional Mechanical Components for Classic Machines
Sheartak Tools Ltd. manufactures every Bridgewood woodworking spiral cutterhead using high-tensile strength alloy steel paired with sintered tungsten carbide inserts. Each cutter head is precision-ground to tolerances of ±0.0004" (±0.01mm), ensuring seamless integration with your Bridgewood machinery. Our mechanical components are engineered to match the specifications of various models, from 8" jointers to 24" planers.
Whether you own a Bridgewood BW-8J jointer, BW15P planer, or larger industrial models, our spiral cutterhead solutions deliver professional reliability and performance. These woodworking tools maintain the quality standards that made Bridgewood machinery legendary while adding cutting-edge spiral technology for superior results, helping you maximize your investment in these trusted machines.
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.
