Sausage Stuffer Questions...

[chef jimmyj]

Is there any difference or advantage to Stainless Steel stuffing tubes over Plastic?

There has been discussion of O-Rings...Some are expensive and hard to find others are cheaper. Which brands use the easy to find O-Rings?

Are they the same one?

Who sells these O-rings?

Some have said the Grizzly and LEM stuffers are the same. T or F?

Are the parts interchangeable?

Whom is the best source for parts?

Christmas is coming, where should I look for the best special deals?

Do any Stuffers come with Clamps?

What type of clamp works best?

I have read that it is not recommended to make Slim Jim's with a 3/8" tube on a 15Lb Stuffer. Is there any way to make it work?

Any other sage advice?

Thanks in advance for every ones answers...JJ

 

[smokinhusker]

Wow great questions, so you must be putting one on your list! I can't help you cause I'm really no expert. I chose the 5# LEM based on the price, the all metal gears, and the size for us and I got it locally. I did order an additional O-Ring as a back up. It comes with plastic stuffing tubes but I did order the 3/8" separately and I've got the foot pedal. I don't have a dishwasher, so I did get the cleaning kit of brushes with it. They are a life saver, at least for me. I also use the silicone food spray with the stuffer to help with clean up.

I'm guessing you'll get some better answers soon!

 

[rexlan]

5# Grizzly is great and cheap.  LEM is the same and 2x the cost.  Hard to figure out which one right? 

Plastic gear will be very hard to damage unless you're totaly unreasonable ... O-ring is $1.00

5# (for most people) is a lot of one variety of an item unless you're doing salami but not a big deal to reload.

Plastic tubes are fine.  Buy a piece of 1/2" Cpvc pipe (it is smaller).  Use the 1/2" tube and shove a piece of the Cpvc inside and then you can stuff the 20-21MM casings just fine for the Slim Jim's.

2 cheap 4" C-clamps will do the job -- Walmart.

 

[diesel]

I have a 15# LEM and it is awesome.  It was a gift otherwise I would have gotten the 5# model.  The LEM came with 2 C clamps.  I have plastic tubes and they are fine.  I am very happy with this stuffer and it works great. 

Above it correct it is expensive and I probably would have went with the grizzly if I were to purchase it myself.

 

[jkc64]

I bought the Lem 5# it was higher but I have a butcher supply store 5 minutes from work and they give great service. They carry casings and AC Leggs. It is a great stuffer I also bought the 3/8 tube and their new catalog offers all the stainless tubes if not happy with plastic. One of the cheaper would have worked fine but I support my local shop when I can. It did come with 2 clamps. I also can get all the parts from them.

 

[diggingdogfarm]

Is there any difference or advantage to Stainless Steel stuffing tubes over Plastic?

The stainless tubes are smoother and thinner, but in a good way, the meat goes through them a bit easier, and casings slide on easier, they are, of course, much more expensive than the plastic.

There has been discussion of O-Rings...Some are expensive and hard to find others are cheaper. Which brands use the easy to find O-Rings?
Are they the same one?
Who sells these O-rings?

As far as I know,the LEM, Northern and Grizzly stuffers all use the same easy to find and inexpensive o-ring. Grizzly sells the o-ring for the 5 lb. stuffer for $1.00

Some have said the Grizzly and LEM stuffers are the same. T or F?

False, the LEM has metal gears, the Grizzly and Northern have poly gears.

Are the parts interchangeable?
Whom is the best source for parts?

On another forum, I heard that the LEM metal gears and screw do not work on the Northern stuffer, but they do with the Grizzly (but may require a little filing so the handle slides on easier), otherwise, all parrts appear to be interchangeable. Grizzly has the best price on parts.

Christmas is coming, where should I look for the best special deals?

Grizzly has the best price on a 5 lb. stuffer, $80...I have one and I'm very happy with it.

Do any Stuffers come with Clamps?
What type of clamp works best?

The Grizzly dosen't come with clamps, I bought two 4 inch "C" clamps for $3 each.

I have read that it is not recommended to make Slim Jim's with a 3/8" tube on a 15Lb Stuffer. Is there any way to make it work?

I think that Pops uses a 3/8" F.Dick stuffing tube on his 15 lb. stuffer. Pops?

FWIW, here's a video review of the Grizzly 5 lb. stuffer...ignore what he says about the release valve, it comes apart easily for cleaning.

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]

Here's a video that shows the difference in size of the 5 lb. and 15 lb. stuffers and a horizontal stuffer.....this is a good video.....

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]

~Martin

 

[roller]

I got mine from Northern Tool on sale for 99.00 its like the LEM. I have had it awhile now and its works great no problems at all. I did order a Snack Stick SS tube from LEM for it...

 

[sound1]

Jimmy, your timing could not have been better. While turning cucumbers into pickles last night the wife asked why I have not made any snack sticks lately..I told her I needed a new stuffer. Tis on the Christmas list now.

I'm looking forward to what folks post on this one.

 

[fpnmf]

If you would consider a "pre-owned" Northern 5 pounder shoot me a PM.

I have the big boy now and the northen sits next to the little slicer in the shed..

stuffer 003.JPG

• fpnmf
• Sep 28, 2012

 

[sound1]

Nice..

 

[chef jimmyj]

Well thanks again for the detailed info. It would appear that a 5Lb Grizzly seem to be the recommended stuffer to purchase. It is my understanding that reloading, even 3-4 times, is no big deal and in the event I make the ever popular Slim Jim's the 5# unit is the better choice to avoid damaging the drive shaft...JJ 

 

[daveomak]

The 5# Grizzly has given me great service...  I grease the can and piston... when making small snack sticks, I add extra water or some other adult liquid so it squeezes out easier....  The 5# batches is not problem.. I keep the remainder in the refer so it stays cold and doesn't come close to violating JJ's 40-140 rule... LOL....    It can take awhile to stuff 5# of andouille and link it etc. so keeping the rest in the refer is ideal...

Dave

 

[diggingdogfarm]

It's no big deal to refill it once, but If I was regularly making batches larger than that, I would go with the 15lber.
I spin the handle as fast as I can with my hand in close to the shaft to bring the piston back out, no big deal.

~Martin

 

[sound1]

Has anybody checked this type of two gear stuffer out?

 

[pops6927]

Yes, I got the 3/8" F Dick poly tube for sheep casings on my 15lb Northern Tool and it works great!  Easy to make little link sausages with it!  The Northern Tool 5lb has poly gears, but the 15lb has metal gears.

 

[fpnmf]

>>>>>>>[color= rgb(24, 24, 24)]  The Northern Tool 5lb has poly gears[/color]

[color= rgb(24, 24, 24)]OK..who has actually had a poly gear break???[/color]

[color= rgb(24, 24, 24)]It is sorta like the old mechanics saying.." Dont put 500 foot pounds on a 1/4 fastener".....[/color]

 

[jarjarchef]

Jimmy....too funny on your timing...

I just found out my oldest daughter needs a higher protine diet. ( she lives with her mom and i do not usually ask too many questions about her time there) So while talking with her and asking her what she eats and all that. She was telling me that the only time she gets jerky and slim Jim's is with me. Her mom does not think they are healthy. I don't like the cost, find them to be a very good source of protine, just don't like the sodium amounts.


So experts you have been warned. I am coming your way.........soon! :biggrin:

 

[slownlow]

>>>>>>>[color= rgb(24, 24, 24)]  The Northern Tool 5lb has poly gears[/color]

[color= rgb(24, 24, 24)]OK..who has actually had a poly gear break???[/color]

[color= rgb(24, 24, 24)]It is sorta like the old mechanics saying.." Dont put 500 foot pounds on a 1/4 fastener".....[/color]

I have read from people on here and other places that have had the teeth on the poly gears wear down. I'm not sure if it was user error like keep cranking the handle when it's bottomed out or just from using it so much, but just in case, I bought a metal gear for my grizzly 5Lb.  

This LEM is a perfect match gears.

http://www.lemproducts.com/product/1470/Vertical_Stuffer_Parts

 

[ac45acp]

anybody ever use one of these?

stuffer.jpg

• ac45acp
• Sep 29, 2012

 

[daveomak]

anybody ever use one of these?

stuffer.jpg

• ac45acp
• Sep 29, 2012

One other member asked about these stuffers a few weeks back.... I read the reviews on Cabela's and they weren't good...  A few more bucks for a tried and true vertical would be money well spent.. IMHO...    Dave