Northern Industrial #12 Electric Meat Grinder
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Northern Industrial #12 Electric Meat Grinder
Customer Review: Great For General Use, but.....
Summary: 3 Stars
We got this grinder in early June. It is now mid August and we are buying another grinder, not because we don't like the machine, but because it stopped working.
For our dogs: We grind about 40# of chicken per week, bones and all. The grinder flies through the chicken faster than we can stuff it down the chute. It is loud however. One day in particular, I ground 120 lbs of meat/bone/organ/veggies. By the time I was done I could not hear. So, if you're going to do a large grind, then wear earplugs.
For ourselves: We grind beef for hamburger, and we have made sausage. Grinding beef is no problem. However, when it came to making sausage, the instructions were less than helpful. I still don't know if we used the equipment properly, but the sausage got made. I do know that you do not want the blade in the machine while making the sausage. Regrinding the meat turned it to mash and clogged the machine.
What this machine will do - grind veggies, meat and soft bones. What it won't do - grind fibrous or fatty meat. I tried grinding beef kidney. It absolutely could not be done. There are times when chicken fat will clog it. Beef with a lot of fat will clog it.
This machine is under lubricated or incorrectly lubricated for harsh jobs such as sinewy or fatty grinds or bone grinds. It contains all metal gears except one plastic gear. The machine overheats. I noticed about a month after getting it that grease was coming out of it. The reason is obviously that the gears got hot and melted the grease, which poured out of the gear housing. I did not take the machine apart at that time, but should have. Eventually, in the middle of a grind, after about 40 lbs, the machine overheated to the point that the plastic gear melted and destroyed the motor. After realigning the gears, and relubricating them, the machine will run in reverse, but will not run forward. It will not grind.
I did not purchase my grinder from Northern Tool, so when I called about warranty information, I was blown off, since they couldn't find an account for me. I contacted the seller from whom I purchased the product and was simply told to contact the manufacturer listed in the owner's manual. The only company listed is Northern Tool, so we come full circle. I do not know who the actual manufacturer is, so getting a warranty replacement is next to impossible. Long story short, we have no warranty coverage.
If I had known then what I know now, I'd have spent double the money and gotten a Tasin. At the very least, I might be able to get warranty coverage. But, at this point, after wasting $100 on a machine which I assumed had a warranty, I choose not to go with any of the machines in this weight class. It makes me regret not getting the proper type of machine in the first place. We are replacing this with a refurbished 1 HP all stainless housing, blades, and plates, and all metal gears housed in lubricant, which has a full one year warranty and specifically covers soft bone grinding. We'll be spending $400, but the peace of mind is worth it.
I would recommend this product to a friend, without hesitation. BUT, I would not recommend it for someone grinding fatty or sinewy meats, and I would not recommend it as a long term machine for massive raw feeding. I would recommend it for sausage making, for hamburger, and for general household use, or even for someone who is just feeding a small dog or a cat. I would recommend it as a short term solution to someone who needs a grinder for high volume raw feeding, but doesn't have the money to spend on a higher quality machine. And finally, I would recommend that if you want any type of warranty coverage, you get this machine only from Northern Tool, as the warranty seems to be more of a seller warranty than a true manufacturer's warranty.
Food Grinders & Mills
Kitchen and Housewares
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