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Stuffer vs. stuffer vote

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wnctracker

wnctracker

Meat Mopper
Original poster
Oct 24, 2016
150
32
Western North Carolina
I read through stickies and some old posts but I'd like to appeal to the masses. Put these affordable vertical stuffers in order best to worst based solely on quality. After fighting with my kitchen aide sausage balloons I'm ready to buy one.
A: LEM 5 lb
B: Kitchener 5 lb
C: Grizzly 5 lb
D: Vivo 7 lb
E: ____________(wild card)

Reviews online put them here: DABC
Now I want your opinions.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I've got the 7lb vivo and it makes easy work on everything I've tried snack sticks to summer sausage. Cleans up easy too. My in-laws have had 2 kitchener 5lb with the nylon gears that didn't last and were way harder to crank but I know others have had good luck with them
 
2, LEM 5lb stuffers with metal gears

2 Dakotah water stuffers, 5 lb and custom 2 1/4lb (both 4 sale)

Hakka horizontal 7lb
 
5lb cabelas $110.00 metal gears  vs 5 lb LEM $125.00 metal gears  vs VIVo 7 lb metal gears $99.00

I want to last a lifetime, I plan on using it for the next 40 years :-)  Can somebody please set me straight so I can make a good choice.  
 
Check out the Sausage Maker website ,the stuffers are a bit more expensive but built to last.
 
WNCTracker said:
 
5lb cabelas $110.00 metal gears  vs 5 lb LEM $125.00 metal gears  vs VIVo 7 lb metal gears $99.00

I want to last a lifetime, I plan on using it for the next 40 years :-)  Can somebody please set me straight so I can make a good choice.  
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I just got the Cabelas 5# Stuffer with metal gears at that price. It is identical to the LEM with just a different label. The sticker price in the store was more but they honored the online price. I've only used it once so far, but I can say I am 100% satisfied. If you have a Cabelas store near you, that will save you shipping at least, if you ship to store.
 
Tracker, it's good to see that you got your registration delay taking care of.  Can't help much with your question though.  My only experience among those you've listed is the 5# LEM.  It's been a workhorse but as we usually make at least 15# at a time I'm looking for something bigger and will retire the LEM to snack sticks and other small casings.

Lance
 
LanceR said:
 
Tracker, it's good to see that you got your registration delay taking care of.  Can't help much with your question though.  My only experience among those you've listed is the 5# LEM.  It's been a workhorse but as we usually make at least 15# at a time I'm looking for something bigger and will retire the LEM to snack sticks and other small casings.

Lance
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Thanks, it seems like the LEM is the gold standard.  That Vivo caught my eye too.
 
Another consideration for me is I usually make my sausage in 5lb batches. I might make 15lbs but it would be 5lb kabinosy 5lb kielbasa and 5 lbs breakfast sausage. You can't fit 5lbs in a 5 lb stuffer but you can in a 7lb
 
wild west said:
You can't fit 5lbs in a 5 lb stuffer but you can in a 7lb
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That's a great point we've all made or read before but often forget to mention when folks have a question about stuffers. 

I know some have an axe to grind about their Lem customer service but the two ties I dealt with them while ordering several parts to repair a buddy's overworked grinder they came through just fine.

Lance
 
I've been using the Kitchener with nylon gears for about 5 years now.  Now problems.  They key is not to put too much pressure on those gears when stuffing. When doing sticks, I run them "wet" so they will flow down the 3/8" tube and I also mark the screw with a sharpie to indicate where the bottom is (before adding meat).  That way I know when I'm getting close and can be extra careful on the pressure I'm putting on the gears.  Also I paid like $56 when I bought mine (the used to be less expensive and I used their coupon code).
 
I have the LEM 5lb. stuffer and it's a workhorse. With that said I also have their #12 Big Bite grinder. I have had zero issues with their customer service. Whenever I contacted them they have always been friendly, helpful and my issues were addressed promptly. The problem in today's world is you always get that one individual that is not happy for whatever reason with someone's service. Be that food, goods or service. That one individual usually then continues to harp on their experience while most people with good experience do not post "Hey, this company came through for me". Read reviews about the product you want not only on their website but also on Amazon ( https://www.amazon.com/LEM-Products...s&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=recent&pageNumber=1 ) or other websites that sell the item your interested in.
 
Also eventually you will find a 5 pound stuffer is not enough.  I'm eyeing the two speed Stainless Steel Hakka 11 pound horizontal stuffer on Amazon for $143.  Seems I'm doing 10 to 15 pound batches of sticks and sausage more and more these days. The reason I'm looking at the horizontal is there will be less meat left in the bottom. The larger vertical stuffers have a larger area where it turns out for the stuffing tube to attach.


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Here you can really see what I'm talking about with the larger "turn" for the stuffing tube to attach.  I bet there will be at least 3/4 a pound of meat in that angle and in the tube after stuffing.  The LEM 2 speed has the same problem (probably come from the same plant in China).  The 5 pound vertical models do not have this issue.  Other than the gears (nylon vs metal), it appears all of these stuffers are made by the same factory and just rebranded by each of these companies.

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