first attempt at sausage making

[zelix]

I'm having difficulties posting this up. I hope it works.

I had a failure of stuffing. That piece of #$%^ stuffer I bought is worthless. I am going to get a better one soon.

anyway I'm beating my head against the wall trying to get this posted. I made a photoset here if you want to see. I'm too aggrivated right now. I'll edit later.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/g/a/117922/random

 

[sipp]

I have the same piece of #$%^ stuffer.
I find it works a little better if your mixture has some extra moisture.
I usually add some water or beer depending what im making.
The second thing I do is only fill it up one half to three quarters full. That seems to give me a little more leverage.
And the last thing I do because I had the very same issues with the meat being forced backwards is I fold up a looong piece of plastic wrap into a small square slightly bigger than the whole where you put the meat in. After I put the meat in I put the plastic on top of the meat and then push the handle to stuff the casings. The plastic acts like a gasket.

I keep eyeing up the vertical stuffers but I dont use my stuffer to much so I never make the purchase. snack sticks are the worst.

 

[zelix]

I have the same piece of #$%^ stuffer.
I find it works a little better if your mixture has some extra moisture.
I usually add some water or beer depending what im making.
The second thing I do is only fill it up one half to three quarters full. That seems to give me a little more leverage.
And the last thing I do because I had the very same issues with the meat being forced backwards is I fold up a looong piece of plastic wrap into a small square slightly bigger than the whole where you put the meat in. After I put the meat in I put the plastic on top of the meat and then push the handle to stuff the casings. The plastic acts like a gasket.
I keep eyeing up the vertical stuffers but I dont use my stuffer to much so I never make the purchase. snack sticks are the worst.

I'm glad to know It wasn't just me. I tried to water it down a bit. I got thoroughly annoyed with it. I'm returning it. I'll be getting a vertical or at minimum a kitchen aid one. I WONT be using the boat anchor ever again. LOL

 

[rbranstner]

Those piston style stuffer's just plain suck. Get a vertical one and you will never look back.

 

[bkleinsmid]

Morn'n ZELIX....

I used to have one of those stuffers......it is now a door stop. i bought a water powered stuffer a couple of months ago and I am very happy with it. I just stuffed 60 lb of snack sticks with it in just under 2 hours. The meat mix does need to be a bit wetter than normal to get through that tiny tube but once it starts it goes like crazy.

Brad

 

[smokeamotive]

Hang in there Zelix. Those piston style suffers can be a pain but there are 5lb verticals out there that won't break the bank. you can go as large as you want, Its just a matter of how much you want to do. Don't get too frustrated and good luck! BTW What kind of sausage are you making?

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Those horn stuffers are junk. If i was you i would get a vertical stuffer as the KA is garbage for stuffing also.

 

[dazdnaz]

Yes definitely steer clear of the KA stuffer attachment it will be well worth it to get a vertical, I just did 58 pounds of kielbasa in no time, even after having to load my 5 pound stuffer over and over.
 

 

[bigcitysmoker]

Hang in there bud...

I just finished my first sausage making and it was pretty seamless.

If your time is precious like mine is; invest in a $65 Grizzly 5lb stuffer... down the line upgrade the gears if you feel the need. It took me less than 5 minutes to unload a 5lb canister into 35-38mm casings.

 

 

[boykjo]

Find an old dirty sock or a pair of under ware and wrap it around the pusher and it should help stop the meat from backing up past the pusher.. Some one actually posted using an old sock... LOL
 

 

[shoneyboy]

Don’t let it detour you

…..We all have experience setbacks

……Live and learn…..I have been watching these two for a friend of mine and thought that it would be helpful to pass along ……. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200449319_200449319 or this one..... http://www.grizzly.com/products/5-lb-Sausage-Stuffer-Vertical/H6252....Good Luck and hope it works out for you.....ShoneyBoy

 

[smoothsmoker]

I agree with Boykjo, an old sock or underware with make it work better! The sausage looked real good!

 

[BGKYSmoker]

I dont know bout y'all but the only underwear i would use on the horn stuffer would be like Sophia Lorens.....LOL

 

[diggingdogfarm]

Sophia Loren!!!!!??????

Pffffftttt!!!!!!

wurst.jpg

• diggingdogfarm
• Dec 11, 2012

~Martin :biggrin:

 

[chef jimmyj]

I picked up a used Northern Tool Stuffer from a member and love it! Worked flawlessly and there was not even enough sausage in the canister to make a meatball after each 5Lb run. I too was concerned about the Plastic Gears but I saw no stress on them at all when cranking out the meat and called Northern Tool about replacement gears if needed. At $9.25 for a new Plastic Gear Set, it would not matter if they broke once in a while...JJ

 

[venture]

I have seen videos of guys stuffing it just with their hands.  (Hold on now, I mean the sausage) Too late now?

I have seen videos of guys stuffing with just a funnel?

I have seen the old style horn stuffers like yours.

I have done it with a grinder/stuffer combo.

Just from my experience?  My life got so much easier with a cheapo, dedicated,  upright sausage stuffer.

I can only hope this comes out right?  

Good luck and good smoking.

 

[smoothsmoker]

Awesome Picture!

Sophia Loren!!!!!??????
Pffffftttt!!!!!!

wurst.jpg

• diggingdogfarm
• Dec 11, 2012

~Martin

 

[zelix]

Hang in there Zelix. Those piston style suffers can be a pain but there are 5lb verticals out there that won't break the bank. you can go as large as you want, Its just a matter of how much you want to do. Don't get too frustrated and good luck! BTW What kind of sausage are you making?

I was making Brats with a kit. I got the kit with the hopes of keeping things simple. They were actually good tasting. I have the few links I made in the freezer.