Pellet Fan

All Things Considered => General Discussion--Non food Related => Topic started by: Lothar1974 on March 12, 2019, 12:10:39 PM

Title: New Toy!
Post by: Lothar1974 on March 12, 2019, 12:10:39 PM
Got a new toy I have been wanting for some time.

(https://i.imgur.com/kTIBMTsm.jpg?1)

Sealed up some chili I made last week and 20 pounds of summer sausage and snack sticks this past weekend. Love this thing!

Added this just now, made this stuff last week while I was off.
Summer Sausage , smoked for 4 hours  then finished off in Sous Vide
(https://i.imgur.com/0cUOq1Xl.jpg)

Snack Sticks
(https://i.imgur.com/Fuv6TEKl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yqTEFIvl.jpg)
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: ZCZ on March 12, 2019, 12:12:39 PM
Congrats!  Good to hear from you and see you posting!
Al
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: yorkdude on March 12, 2019, 12:14:07 PM
Man that is nice.
Good job.
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on March 12, 2019, 12:37:36 PM
You can send me as many of those snack sticks as possible
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: pmillen on March 12, 2019, 01:59:00 PM
I watched a few youtube videos about it.  A very nice unit.  Enjoy!
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: Free Mr. Tony on March 12, 2019, 04:52:16 PM
I have almost bought one probably 50 times. Just keep talking myself out of it. I freeze ALOT of soup so it would come in handy, but it's alot of cash and a space hog. Liquids in a traditional sealer is a pain.

You have me looking again though. Snack sticks look perfect.
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: Bentley on March 12, 2019, 05:27:54 PM
Very nice!  Have always wanted one.  How much oil does it take?  A realistic length that will seal up?
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: BigDave83 on March 12, 2019, 06:52:45 PM
I bought one a few years ago, a FB SV group put together a group buy and I got a great deal. I love it but rarely get to use it, if I am sealing things and the GF is here or someone else they like to run it.  Vacmaster had a 20% of deal shortly after and I bought 1000 each 6x8, 7x9, 8x12 and 10x13. The larger bags are what we use the most. rare for the small bags, some seasoning or jerky pieces. I bought 3 mil bags and although I have not had very many issues with bones, I think I would go 4 or 5 mil next time.

 I bought  small tool cabinet or what you want to call it from Sears for a hundred bucks, it has 4 drawers so i have a drawer for each size.

 30, 2 and 2 I think is what I use for settings most of the time.

It will work with a ziploc freezer bag also, never tried a non freezer bag.
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: ArborAgent on March 12, 2019, 11:59:13 PM
I write on the back every time I change the oil on mine. It's easy to forget when the last time you did it was.
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: LowSlowJoe on March 13, 2019, 03:08:46 PM
I love mine.   I don't really uses it more then 20 times  a year.  I mean, I might vacuum seal up 10 or 12 items on some of those times.  I've probably did maybe  300 total vacuum seals ( it's a shame they don't have a counter ).   I've never changed the oil on mine yet.   I probably should, but when I look in the window it still looks clear and still pretty much at the level it was when I filled it.

I honestly don't know how often  you should change it, but I do know I'd be wise to change mine soon.

 When I bought mine, I got a pretty good deal, but still wasn't cheap.   I looked at the prices recently, and now I'm very glad I bought mine when I did.

10x13" in theory is the max bag size, and I can tell you that realistically,  you can't get more than about 10" long hunk of ribs in that size bag.

I almost bought a used VP320, for about the same price as I paid for the VP215.     I was like 30 minutes from getting in my car and driving 4 hours to Chicago to pick it up, when I realized the VP320 weights nearly 200 pounds, and I decided there was no way I would be able to move the thing  by myself.  VP215 is hard enough to move ( so it doesn't get moved , or hasn't in the 2 or 3 years I've owned it).

I have absolutely no regrets about buying mine.
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: ArborAgent on March 13, 2019, 03:10:53 PM
I've never changed the oil on mine yet.   I probably should, but when I look in the window it still looks clear and still pretty much at the level it was when I filled it.

I honestly don't know how often  you should change it, but I do know I'd be wise to change mine soon.


When used lightly (i.e. home use) you should change it annually.

Under heavy use you should do it when the oil is cloudy.

Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: Lothar1974 on March 21, 2019, 09:57:02 AM
Very nice!  Have always wanted one.  How much oil does it take?  A realistic length that will seal up?


The Seal Bar Length is 10.25 in but it says it accepts Chamber Pouches up to 10 in x 13 in. The machine will hold approximately 3 ounces of oil.

I love it so far, have used it quite a bit so far.  I have a Weston Pro-2300 which I have had for the past 5 years or so which has served me well. I like the weston for larger things, Ribs and brisket, summer sausage etc,  but he Vacmaster does a better job for moist / liquid items.  I have the new Vacmaster on a WEN utility cart.
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: Bentley on March 21, 2019, 12:11:21 PM
Thanks!  I thought they took about 1/2 gallon of oil to run the pump.  Well, that is not a very expensive change each time!
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: Lothar1974 on March 21, 2019, 02:16:59 PM
It works very well, I love how quit it is compared to the Weston.  I bagged 8 quarts of chili I made into serving size portions, no more freezing everything prior to vacuum sealing!   :cool:

Did some cat fish cut up into portions as well, very slick.   I will say the wife has banned me from getting anything else for a long while   :rotf:
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: Mcjagger on March 22, 2019, 08:50:27 AM
That summer sausage and snack sticks look awesome!!! Care to share the recipes??
Title: Re: New Toy!
Post by: Lothar1974 on March 26, 2019, 12:50:10 PM
That summer sausage and snack sticks look awesome!!! Care to share the recipes??

I used 80% ground beef and 20% pork shoulder/fat.  I just used a LEM spice packet for summer sausage as I had it laying around.  Good flavor though.  The snack sticks were also LEM seasonings, 5 #'s Of Plain and 5 #'s Hot. Let me kow if you need anything else.