Help gray possible metal shavings coming off my grinder

[slavikborisov]

LEM #32 brand new used it twice and I noticed gray coming out the center. I switched knives and plates and still got the issue and tried loosening the locking nut any advice on what it’s actually is and how to fix it.

 

[slavikborisov]

 

[thirdeye]

I'm not familiar with that exact model, but when you broke it down, was there a collection of silver skin or tendon that was wrapped around the base of the knife? It can get hot and sort of ooze out. Often, a little white grease combined with the silver skin will make it change color due to the heat from friction.

 

[SmokinEdge]

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With a new grinder and any new plate, inspect those plates close for leftover milling shards. The it’s best to run some old freezer meat that you aren’t going to eat because it’s 4 years old through for the first pass and then throw the meat away about 5# will work.

Then be sure to lube for every use, the back end of the auger where the bushing is in the grinder head, and then lube the knife, plate and the spindle that keeps the plate centered. This will stop the black gunk in the grind. Lube with whatever you feel appropriate, but I use crisco right out of the can.

 

[thirdeye]

With a new grinder and any new plate, inspect those plates close for leftover milling shards

Good call, I looked right over the words "metal shavings" in the title.

 

[indaswamp]

^^^what SmokinEdge said on metal shavings. But the grey ring of goo around the tip of the auger where it rotates in the plate is normal. Just don't over tighten the plate ring-you just need it snug so the knife stays in contact with the plate.

 

[indaswamp]

Oh- and yes....lube the auger tip with crisco grease or food safe silicone grease.

 

[slavikborisov]

Okay great thank guys for the quick response I was sweating bullets there thinking my meat was ruined appreciate the help!!

 

[indaswamp]

and don't forget to lube the nylon ring on the spline end of the auger too....

 

[bill ace 350]

Be sure to read your owners manual for model-specific instructions

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Yup

It can happen. I returned 4 LEM meat mixers because of that same issue.

 

[slavikborisov]

i just sprayed everything with extra spray oil and it fixed it right up!! I wiped it down after it I washed it last but it must of not been enough lube. Did 100lb without any gray stuff after lubing everything. Appreciate the help guys!!

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[Uhfgood]

Just registered to comment in here. I'm getting the same kind of thing, in what looks to be a fairly cheap grinder Altra AZ-MGC13 meat grinder -- however I'm noticing that the blades actually seem to cut into the plate, which is why I figured it was metal powder. I do get that gray stuff that comes out around the blades from the tip of the screw... Any thoughts? Maybe I should just run it a couple of times without any meat in it, but oiled so that it can just continue cutting until there's no more to cut out.?

 

[Oceantoad]

When I first started making sausage a few years ago, I bought the attachment for the Kitchen Aid mixer. It worked well, but when I was going through more meat, and different types of meat, I also noticed the grey meat near the shaft. I made sure to clean it of silver skin and other particles as much as possible, but it still appeared. I didn't want that in my meat no matter how small it was. I opted to go big and ordered the 1 hp grinder from Meat your Maker. I also ALWAYS match the cutting knife to the same side of the plate I used in the past. No more grey powder or shavings in the meat.

 

[indaswamp]

Yes, matched sets of knives and plates are a must IMO...otherwise you WILL get metal wear.

 

[SmokinEdge]

My experience is that the colder the meat(par frozen) the less grey you will have and the closer that meat gets to room temperature the more grey you have. The lube means nothing because as soon as meat starts going through the knife and plate all of that is wiped off, think of that as pre-lube. The real lubrication comes from the fat in the meat. Keep the meat cold and the gray stuff will all but disappear.

 

[boykjo]

I believe Its smear and oxidation on the metal if no metal shavings are present. At the center of the screw the meat is mashed/pulverized through the small opening and creates a grey paste. Just wipe it away as you go along. My hand grinder done it since day one. Went to the Cabela's 1 hp. stainless steel grinder and never seen it again.

My 2 cents

 

[chef k-dude]

My first grinder, a cheaper model, would have that stuff in the stuff that had to be cleaned out of the throat after grinding, but not at the blade/die. When I had to replace that (with another cheaper model), I dont see it anymore.

Like smokinedge wrote, cold meat is best for grinding. I cube the meat and spread it out on a sheet pan and put it in the freezer until its getting slightly firm to the touch. I also put the grinder parts in the freezer before grinding.

 

[slavikborisov]

my lem #32 always does it if the meat gets warmer