Meat grinder recommendations.

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The LEM Big Bite grinders have a 5 year warranty; Academy says 2 year. The grind per minute - 4 lbs - is for a Big Bite 5, not the 8 which is 7 lbs per minute. I think Academy has made an error. A phone call from a prospective buyer might clear it up. It may or may not be a Big Bite (which has a large grab on the auger).
 
The link you put up says item no. W779 . When I search that number it comes up as LEM #8 .35 hp grinder .
Old Sarge is probably right . Old stock " Pre " big bite maybe ?
500 watt would be the .5 HP range .
Maybe, but it is confusing. Thanks Rich...
 
Double check the rating. LEM did, in the past, have lower HP models but upgraded a several years ago. You may be looking at 'new old stock'! Or it may be just a misprint.
I would like to think that Academy doesn't have "new/old stock" grinders, but maybe...
 
I'll parrot the LEM #12. I've put hundreds and hundreds of pounds of meat through it without a whimper. It is probably overkill for what I do. I imagine the #8 would be just fine for the average person, but you know the Tim the Tool Man mentality -- more power, argh, argh, argh.
 
The Academy site just refers to the grinder as the LEM #8. Not a Big Bite. 2 year warranty versus 5; grinds 240 lbs per hour versus 420 lbs per hour for the Big Bite 8. Academy price for the LEM #8 is $379. At LEM it is the #5 $349. The Big Bite #8 at LEM is $399. Buyer beware!
 
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I have a Cabela's 1.5 HP. It takes longer to clean it then it does to grind 10-15 pounds of meat.Maybe overkill for you but just don't buy an undersized model . Any cheap beef will make a good burger,you may need to add a bit of fat to some lean cuts like an eye of the round .I like to grind pork butt for homemade sausage(bulk for patties is good) and I save the back fat cap to add to real lean beef. You still get a good beef flavor and a burger that won't fall apart!
Good to know, thanks.
 
Searching for a grinder, I found this

Seems WAY to cheap. What do ya think?
I think you aren't going to get a LEM 32# grinder for that price.

 
With discover card tour protected. I ordered a 3' toy robot (well the wife did), and I was delivered a 1' toy robot for my son at Christmas time. Discover reversed the charges and told me to keep the 1' robot toy.
 
Oh if only it were true!!!! If I had $95 to gamble with, no bills, no cares in the world, no family, and only a month to live, might be worth a shot.
I paid more than that for my 8# grinder. If I really thought I could get an $800 grinder for 95 bucks, I'd be all over it. Hard pass.
 
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My question is. How often are you going to use it. And how much grind do you plan to do each time?
 
so ... here's my take. i know it's kinda an old thread, but i don't see that you've posted anything that you've made a decision on this. some years ago, i picked up a 575w grinder at rural king for under $100 on sale. most of it is cast aluminum, except the blade and the plate... which is fine, except i have super hot water and it's now kind-of a concrete gray color. it's fine. bogs down with mostly frozen meat/fat. now that i've had a successful batch of homemade brats, i'm thinking of upgrading. definitely going with LEM for the mixer attachment availability as well as replacement parts. i'm torn between the 8 and 12 - but will probably go with the 8 since i'm not (currently) a hunter and don't process my own game.
 
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I have an 8# Weston now, and will go for a 12# at some point (likely LEM). If you can afford the 12#, then by all means, go bigger than what you think your needs are right now.
 
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