Vacuum Sealer Bit the Dust

[ifitsdeadsmokeit]

My Foodsaver vacuum sealer broke yesterday. The sealing strip broke loose and it was only sealing about 6 bags before flashing and refusing to seal anyway. It was about 15 years old, so time for a new one. Things I like about the one I have:
* Selection between moist and dry modes
* Can make custom bags and it holds a roll with built in cutter
* Has a reservoir to hold any liquid that may escape during sealing and easy to clean
* Has a hose for sealing containers

I am debating a chamber sealer and if it is worth it. I don't want it sitting on the countertop all the time so would have to move it from the pantry whenever it is being used. I probably use it a couple of times a month and currently is stored in a lower cabinet. Not sure how much they weigh. Looking for suggestions, recommendations or options I may like for both chamber and conventional sealers. Why would a chamber sealer be an upgrade over conventional?

 

[Jim_C]

Here's a thread you may be interested in.

Vacuum sealer questions - UPDATE, bought the...

I won't be much help but I had FS V4400 for many years, we use the heck out of it and after going through a few rolls of bags I finally just started buying the pre made bags on Amazon. It just makes it so much easier and I'm only sealing 1 time per bag instead of 2. I also have a dry/wet setting...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

 

[BigW.]

I went with LEM chamber but I have not had it out of the box yet. I've used Foodsavers for years. They are light and easy to move, but they lack the quickness and occasionally solid seal because of one reason or another.

 

[ifitsdeadsmokeit]

BigW what made you choose the chamber over coventional?

 

[SmokinEdge]

Here's a thread you may be interested in.

Vacuum sealer questions - UPDATE, bought the...

I won't be much help but I had FS V4400 for many years, we use the heck out of it and after going through a few rolls of bags I finally just started buying the pre made bags on Amazon. It just makes it so much easier and I'm only sealing 1 time per bag instead of 2. I also have a dry/wet setting...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

This sealer specifically is what I would look into if I was in the market. Likely it will be my next when the day comes.

 

[BigW.]

BigW what made you choose the chamber over coventional?

Speed. My GameSaver is very particular about bag placement. I also have to push down on the lid a fair amount to get it to seal. So time, my lack of patience and flash sale did me in

 

[ifitsdeadsmokeit]

That Nesco looks like a very nice unit. Being able to seal liquid in a bag is nice function. It is very similiar to what I have now except it is laying down instead of standing upright. I think I would love having a chamber sealer but the wife is against having it out on the counter to store, even in my rec room bar/prep area in the detached garage. Not sure why, she doesnt ever go over there except to grab something out of freezer. She got angry when I pointed that out so not worth a fight. That and having to lug around a hundred pounds everytime I want to use it gives two big negatives. The double seal is also very enticing since it is an extra step now.

 

[02ebz06]

The Nesco is what I bought recently when mf FS died.
Very happy with it, like the double seal and the extra features (FS had none).
Has a few quirks that takes getting used to.
Also a little quieter the the FS.

 

[voyager 663rd]

re

That Nesco looks like a very nice unit. Being able to seal liquid in a bag is nice function. It is very similiar to what I have now except it is laying down instead of standing upright. I think I would love having a chamber sealer but the wife is against having it out on the counter to store, even in my rec room bar/prep area in the detached garage. Not sure why, she doesnt ever go over there except to grab something out of freezer. She got angry when I pointed that out so not worth a fight. That and having to lug around a hundred pounds everytime I want to use it gives two big negatives. The double seal is also very enticing since it is an extra step now.

Regarding liquids: don't let that dissuade you from a(ny) model.

Mine has the ability to "custom seal" but instead what I do is just freeze the contents (standing upright of course), THEN seal. Easy peasy.

 

[02ebz06]

Mine has the ability to "custom seal" but instead what I do is just freeze the contents (standing upright of course), THEN seal. Easy peasy.

I freeze first, then vacuum seal after as well.

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

My Foodsaver vacuum sealer broke yesterday. The sealing strip broke loose and it was only sealing about 6 bags before flashing and refusing to seal anyway. It was about 15 years old, so time for a new one. Things I like about the one I have:
* Selection between moist and dry modes
* Can make custom bags and it holds a roll with built in cutter
* Has a reservoir to hold any liquid that may escape during sealing and easy to clean
* Has a hose for sealing containers

I am debating a chamber sealer and if it is worth it. I don't want it sitting on the countertop all the time so would have to move it from the pantry whenever it is being used. I probably use it a couple of times a month and currently is stored in a lower cabinet. Not sure how much they weigh. Looking for suggestions, recommendations or options I may like for both chamber and conventional sealers. Why would a chamber sealer be an upgrade over conventional?

I can say I dont know how I ever got by without my chamber sealer. I think it actual takes up less room than my foodsaver considering you have to make room in front of sealer for bag. It is a game changer. Do not realize how many wet seals you do until you have one.

 

[ifitsdeadsmokeit]

Thanks to everyone for the input and guidance. I decided to go with the above Nesco. It came down to the logistics of keeping the wife happy, not having a place on the countertop to keep it, and not having to move it from the pantry to the kitchen each time I want to use it due to its weight. Mostly the first item, happy wife happy life.

 

[SmokinEdge]

Thanks to everyone for the input and guidance. I decided to go with the above Nesco. It came down to the logistics of keeping the wife happy, not having a place on the countertop to keep it, and not having to move it from the pantry to the kitchen each time I want to use it due to its weight. Mostly the first item, happy wife happy life.

I’ll be looking forward to your thoughts on it once you get it and use it.

 

[dward51]

I may be a little late in commenting, but this is what I did. I've owned Foodsaver units since they first came out in the 1970's. I finally decided to buy a chamber vac last year. After looking around and watching a ton of YouTube comparison reviews, I decided on the JVR Vac100 model. It's not as tall as a lot of the other ones (and a lot shorter than the Vevor and Vevor clones), and every part in the thing can be serviced and replaced if ever needed. I like that it also has the ability to port to an external device where most of the chamber vacs do not have this feature.

Yes they are a little pricey compared to the external vac units, but there is so much more you can do with one and no comparison to the quality of a vacuum you can obtain with a chamber vac. Plus the bags are pennies. You can also use up any remaining Foodsaver type bags as they will vacuum and seal just fine in a chamber vac. They are much heavier than a Foodsaver type vac, but I have a rolling cart that I store and use mine on. It's the same cart I store my commercial slicer on. I just roll it out, and plug in the JVR when I need it. I don't bother to take it off the cart and the lower shelves store all my extra bags and accessories just fine (I do take the slicer off when I use it, but that's a "duh" sort of thing as I sanitize the slicer before and after use).

I bought mine on their black Friday sale in 2024 and love it. I'm using it way more than I though I would. I would suspect they will have another great deal this November for Black Friday, so if you are on the fence about a chamber vac, I will say the JVR is a great model and the price is not as bad as you might think if you catch a sale. Here is a good video on the unit I have:

 

[ifitsdeadsmokeit]

That looks like a nice unit. Will have to keep an eye out for a sale. I like being able to have accessories for it.

 

[processhead]

I may be a little late in commenting, but this is what I did. I've owned Foodsaver units since they first came out in the 1970's. I finally decided to buy a chamber vac last year. After looking around and watching a ton of YouTube comparison reviews, I decided on the JVR Vac100 model. It's not as tall as a lot of the other ones (and a lot shorter than the Vevor and Vevor clones), and every part in the thing can be serviced and replaced if ever needed. I like that it also has the ability to port to an external device where most of the chamber vacs do not have this feature.

Yes they are a little pricey compared to the external vac units, but there is so much more you can do with one and no comparison to the quality of a vacuum you can obtain with a chamber vac. Plus the bags are pennies. You can also use up any remaining Foodsaver type bags as they will vacuum and seal just fine in a chamber vac. They are much heavier than a Foodsaver type vac, but I have a rolling cart that I store and use mine on. It's the same cart I store my commercial slicer on. I just roll it out, and plug in the JVR when I need it. I don't bother to take it off the cart and the lower shelves store all my extra bags and accessories just fine (I do take the slicer off when I use it, but that's a "duh" sort of thing as I sanitize the slicer before and after use).

I bought mine on their black Friday sale in 2024 and love it. I'm using it way more than I though I would. I would suspect they will have another great deal this November for Black Friday, so if you are on the fence about a chamber vac, I will say the JVR is a great model and the price is not as bad as you might think if you catch a sale. Here is a good video on the unit I have:

I bought my JVR Vac-100 exactly one year before you did, so going on two years of use. They are great machines and I can confirm all of your comments about it.

I would add, they work great for vacuum packing wet-product like soups and other wet foods that are a problem with food saver type vacuum sealers.

The Vac-100 uses an oil lubed pump, just like the big commercial chamber sealers which should provide longer life than the consumer grade dry-pumps used in competing chamber sealers.