Sausage grinders and stuffers

[udsisbest]

I am going to start making my own sausage (I think) Was wondering what type of grinder and stuffers you all would suggest. I am only going to be doing small batches . Thanks

 

[deerjackie]

some small grinders come with a stuffing tube kit and you can kill 2 birds with one stone.

 

[grampyskids]

Just ordered a Gander MT. Grinder/Stuffer less than 2 minutes ago. After doing a lot of searching, this seems to fit our bill. Right now, $79.99, no tax or shipping.

 

[deerjackie]

you did well. should have a stuffing star so you can remove plate when stuffing,i have to leave blade on mine and remove plate when stuffing or meat will get behind meat screw and kick it out of engagemenr lugs. yours may differ.

 

[mballi3011]

I own the same grinder and stuffer that grampykids just ordered and I love them both. I am just finishing making 12lbs of snack sticks with it and they turned out really good. Now theses units are the cheaper version but they work really good I mean I'm not gonna try to grind up a pig or nothing but if you want to do small amounts theses are you machines.

 

[meandmytwodogs]

I have the 5lb LEM stuffer from Bass Pro Shop. I've used it twice so far and it works flawlessly. I chose this one for it's all metal gears. Love it so far. There is only a few Tbs of meat left in the bottom when you get there. I hear the Cabellas stuffer leaves a LOT more than that.

I would rather have a separate grinder and stuffer rather than trying to use a grinder to stuff with. I've tried that in the past and got a lot more air in the casings. Takes longer too.

For a grinder, I've got my eye on the .35hp LEM at where else? The Bass Pro Shop. Will be gettin that later this year.

Do your research and try not to be too afraid of cost. When you buy the best, you only cry once!

Dave

 

[hog warden]

How small is "small"?

Five pounds? Ten pounds? That's about all I do at one time.

I seem to be one of the few contributors to the forum to use the old hand crank grinders (perhaps there is a bit of Luddite in me?). Or more likely, it's what I started with, it works (was used by home sausage makers for well over 100 years) and is cheap to come buy (pun intended).

Do an Ebay search for "Enterprise Meat Grinder" and you may find good quality, like new #5, #10 or #12 grinders for under $20. If its a true "Enterprise", it hasn't been made for close to 50 years, so if the tinning is still bright, and no rust showing, it's probably like new. Sometimes you will see one new in the box. These are lifetime tools, even when used all the time. Ebay is the place to find them.

I have 3 of these (#5, #12, #22) and the #5 is the smallest and handiest of them all. It will grind a pound a minute with no sweat and is easy to clean and store. Replacement parts (blades and plates) are available.

When looking at these, extra plates and blades are a plus. Look to see if the tinning is bright, the handle has the locking screw, if a #5 or #10, if the end piece on the clamp screw is present (not a bare screw to dig into the bottom of the board or table you clamp to). Look for welds or cracks in the clamp, but this is not likely with an Enterprise. If it's not almost perfect, skip it. An almost perfect will come along every few weeks.

Apply the rest of the money towards a 5# Grizzley stuffer. You may get both for under $100.

 

[pandemonium]

that looks like the one i bought for 48$ at harbor freight tools, do you have a harbor freight near you? dont mean to pee on your parade, maybe you can cancel order? it might not be the same one? is it 250 watt?

 

[indyr]

I started with a Waring grinder from Lowes. At the time around $79 with a rebate. Seemed to be a pain making the sausage with the included tubes. Ether came out like gang busters or really slow. Sometimes requiring a lot of down pressure.

I bought the Gander Mt. vertical stuffer this year and what a difference. Makes it a lot of fun.

 

[bb53chevpro]

This is the current setup that I use.

 

[rtom]

I use a northern tool grinder and stuffer you can check them out here http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...ry_6970_763591

but I did see Gander Mountain has them on sale

 

[hounds51]

Mine looks simular, except I have mine mounted on a board and have a belt/motor guard on mine.
They work great for larger batches of sausage and ground meat. A lot of cleanup for smaller batches. Also remember keep your hands out of the hopper! They ain't worth looding your fingers over!

 

[bb53chevpro]

Yes extreme caution must be used while using this type of set up.
I have used this set up to produce (my largest batch) 300 pound batch of sausage in one weekend. Works well.

 

[beer-b-q]

bb53chevpro, What size and speed motor are you using on this one...

 

[udsisbest]

What size motor are you turning the grinder with?

 

[hounds51]

Mine is 1/2 hp at1350 rpm

 

[udsisbest]

what size pulley on motor

 

[hounds51]

Don't know, but mine is about 1 1/2"

 

[udsisbest]

what is the motor off of I can't find it on Ebay

 

[bb53chevpro]

The pulley on the grinder is 12". The pulley on the 1/3hp motor is 1". Motor rpm is 1725 which would make the grinder rpm about 144rpm. This is a little under powered for the amount of sausage that I make. I am looking to upgrade very soon. (this is a furnace motor)