OT - Vacuum Sealers

[chutem]

Gang, my vacuum sealer crapped out today. I'm talking the food sealers for freezing meat and such. I have had several, primarily Food Saver brand, and I'm done messing with them. I'm looking for opinions from anybody that has found one that actually works and vacuums. Man, what a frustrating deal. I'm kind of dialing in on a Weston Pro 1100 right now. But, reading all the reviews, in different brands, even in the commercial stuff, seems to be no vacuum, won't seal, or sealing bar melts completely through... Was looking at LEM stuff as well, but reviews were horrible on their sealers, and made in China.
Not looking for a chamber sealer, just don't have the volume to justify one of those.
Do any of you have one that just hit a homerun?
Thanks in advance for any wisdom!!

chutem

 

[Prose]

I’d stick with a high end food saver. Weston is chinesium. I would trust a lem based of their high end grinders having a good reputation. $200+ is what it takes to have a reliable seal and lasting for 4-5 years +.

 

[Jdne5b]

I have a Vacmaster pro260 that has been going strong for 6 years. Looks like the pro360 is the replacement model.

If I was buying now I’d still go with Vacmaster or Meat your maker brands.

 

[Rick300]

Lem all the way

 

[JEFFPPC]

We have a Food Saver. The problem is the company was sold to China. They changed the bags with the moisture barriers. The barrier no longer goes the complete way across the bag, thus liquid gets sucked into the machine. Hopefully they figure it out and fix the bags.

 

[chutem]

Thanks guys.
Rick, I am an LEM fan, but, the reviews on their sealers were bad. Grinders and other products, have had good luck with.
Jdn, I did skim over the Meat website, but just briefly. After your post, I went back and dove a bit deeper. This stuff is in the running for sure. Limited lifetime warranty, through them, and the prices are fair. Will keep them in mind for sure.
Jeff, I've always had Food Saver as well, but man, am I frustrated with them. Stuff just ain't makin it for me anymore.
Appreciate the responses, keep em coming.

 

[muleystalker]

Go a VacMaster chamber sealer, with the price difference in the bags used in the chamber sealer compared to the bags required for the Foodsaver style vacuum packers, it won't take long to make up the difference in price and you will be way ahead of the game. The bags for the chamber sealers are at least 4-5 times cheaper than the others. Mine paid for its self in the first year.

 

[1shot]

A chamber sealer is the only way to go. I'm a meat processor by trade and the extra money that you spend on the machine, you will save on the bags. I went the cheap route years ago when it was just a hobby, and I ended up giving it to a neighbor. Bags are high priced, they won't stay sealed in the freezer, etc.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[chutem]

muley and 1shot, I'm listening. If one were to go with a chamber sealer for home/residential use, 2 or 3 deer a year, splitting out some bulk food buys, use a couple times a month...would you do an oil-less pump, or a wet pump? Seems the wet pumps require some maintenance, plus, I will have to move and store this thing every use. Much appreciated.

 

[TrapperBR549]

I have a lem chamber vac. It is an oil pump but the maintenance is a matter of checking the oil. I haven't had to add any.
If you have to move it every time you will hate it. i bet it weighs 75 lbs.

 

[chutem]

If you have to move it every time you will hate it. i bet it weighs 75 lbs.

I know...still doing research

 

[3Sigma]

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Shop suction-style food saver vacuum sealers built for everyday food storage, sous vide, and bulk prep. Durable. Powerful. Ships fast from Avid Armor®.

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Still made in China (couldn't find any that weren't), but a US company based in Kansas. Use higher grade components for the price point. Is a good price to performance option.

I bought the A100 this year and like it. Only other experience is a cheap $100 food saver. Can't compare to the bigger LEM or Weston models.

 

[Rsadams]

I honestly buy from believable reviews off Amazon starting from most recent.... We had a food saver for years but it finally gave out.... Everything is made in China now seems like....

 

[1shot]

My chamber vac has 2-17' seal bars and probably weighs 150-200 lbs. It has an oil pump but hasn't used any in over 3 years. I'm sure this is more than you want/need but the chamber vac is the only way to fly.

Lloyd

 

[muleystalker]

muley and 1shot, I'm listening. If one were to go with a chamber sealer for home/residential use, 2 or 3 deer a year, splitting out some bulk food buys, use a couple times a month...would you do an oil-less pump, or a wet pump? Seems the wet pumps require some maintenance, plus, I will have to move and store this thing every use. Much appreciated.

I have the Vacmaster VP215, I love it. I have had it for over 15 years and thats what I would recommend. The 215 has an oil bath pump, you can change the oil every year. It allows it to run a continuous duty cycle without overheating. It also has a heavy duty heat bar that will seal Retortbags, those are the heavy gold color mylar bags that allow you to can in the bags instead of jars. I can 100's of pounds of Albacore Tuna and Salmon with it. It's so much easier caning with bags than jars and cheaper too. Another plus is the price has come down on them quit a bit from when I bought mine. This is what the retort bags look like, think of those foil bags of tuna you see in the grocery store. It will hold up to a 10"x13" bag. I put mine on a little stainless steel kitchen cart with wheels that I got at Costco. It also has shelves under it that holds all the bags. I can roll it into the garage or into the kitchen or where ever I want to us it and its always at the ready. And being out and ready I find I use it all the time, for cheese, lunch meat, chicken and other meats I buy at the store. I buy bulk packs of Sri Tip and whole Ribeye from Costco and break it down and package for the freezer, that way I can cut my steaks to my liking. There is such a big selection of sizes and mil thickness on the bags too. I like the wet pump, it allows a continuous duty cycle and as far as maitanace you just drain the oil from a plug and refill. it takes all of 2 min and is a food grade oil. It isn't even a half cup of oil but they run quieter then the oil-less pumps.

VacMaster VP215 Best Selling Commercial Chamber Vacuum Sealer

Shop VacMaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer. Professional commercial-grade food storage vacuum packer. Vacuum seal liquids & liquid rich food. Free Shipping!

www.vacmasterfresh.com

This is like the cart I put it on, you can find them on amazon and Home Depot also.

https://www.costco.com/trinity-ecostorage%c2%ae-bamboo-top-kitchen-cart.product.100379253.html

 

[chutem]

Awesome information guys! Thank you very much, it is appreciated.
Muley, it looks like we have the same taste in pressure canners .

 

[dthomas]

I also have a vacmaster and love it. I've had it for years and would not go back to the food saver type sealers.

 

[chutem]

I also have a vacmaster and love it. I've had it for years and would not go back to the food saver type sealers.

210 or 215?

 

[SongdogHunter]

muley and 1shot, I'm listening. If one were to go with a chamber sealer for home/residential use, 2 or 3 deer a year, splitting out some bulk food buys, use a couple times a month...would you do an oil-less pump, or a wet pump? Seems the wet pumps require some maintenance, plus, I will have to move and store this thing every use. Much appreciated.

Vacuum Food Sealers | Meat Vacuum Sealers | MEAT

If youre tired of spoiled food, try MEAT!'s Vacuum Sealers. Choose from a selection of vacuum sealers and vacuum sealing supplies.

www.meatyourmaker.com

 

[chutem]

Vacuum Food Sealers | Meat Vacuum Sealers | MEAT

If youre tired of spoiled food, try MEAT!'s Vacuum Sealers. Choose from a selection of vacuum sealers and vacuum sealing supplies.

www.meatyourmaker.com

Looking at these pretty hard songdog. After lots of research, it is very evident that some of these machines come off the same production line and branded for whomever. Meat your maker appears to be the VacPac-It to a tee. Minor dimension or decal changes per brand. Just observations. But, if Meat your maker is going to offer a limited lifetime warranty, that may be worth something... Just observations...
Thanks for all the info, very helpful!!