Product inquiry

[Txdragon]

I figured I could put this topic here since it deals with sausage making.. Anyone heard of Weston grinders?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Prago-Heavy-Duty-Electric-Meat-Grinder/14321012

I just ordered this and the reviews seem pretty good, I am quite optimistic for my first electric grinder! Anyone here have one?

[ChileFarmer]

I haven't ever used one I do know they make many different models. Haven't heard anything bad about them either. I looked at them sometime ago, but got one from northern tool. It was a money thing for me. Mine has been super about 4 years old. CF

[Jarhead]

I'm like CF. I've heard of them, but never used em.
I have a Northern Tool #12 that is about 3 years old.
Never a problem with it. I couldn't even begin to guess how much meat has gone through it.
I don't like it as a stuffer though. If you are planning on sausages, then get a 5# stuffer from Grizzly for about $80.
I have a NT 8# horizontal stuffer. I don't like it, cause it takes up 4' of counter space when fully loaded.
My next one will be the Dakota Water Stuffer.

[Papa Tom]

Yes I have a Cabelas (Weston) grinder and I will recommend the thing. Something that you may have missed but is very important is that this guy has stainless plates.
I don't think mine is quite as powerful as this one but it still gets the job done. Weston is a good sized company and they make a lot of the products for others like Cabelas.

[Txdragon]

I'll have my grinder tomorrow! I'll put some pics up as well as the sausage that it will be making. I can't wait!!

[ChileFarmer]

I am awaiting sausage photos, drool in check for now. CF

[tex_toby]

Stainless plates are a MUST no matter which one you end up with.

[Txdragon]

It came in yesterday and overall, I am pretty darn happy! The head, auger, and tray are all polished aluminum and seemingly VERY sturdy and lightweight. The grinding plates are stainless, and the blade SAYS stainless, but sure doesn't look like it It's somewhat noisy, but makes a bit less noise than my slicer does, and not as loud as some electric grinders I have heard. I would be able to run this in the kitchen with the bedroom door closed, and the wife should still sleep peacefully. I ground up 11 pounds of pork in about 6 minutes time; a feat that would have taken me an hour with my hand grinder. After all was ground up, I commenced to stuffing some casings! Here's where it seemed to lack a bit. It came with a single stuffing tube that has an aggressive taper. Standard natural hog casings (32-35mm) fit up to the halfway point before stopping. Casing advancement while stuffing would stop due to the casing getting stuck (don't ask me how, none of it was dry) and end up bursting. You have to pull them down further, kinda bunched up toward the end for much smoother advancement, but this was then making the casing very loose on the stuffer. Think about trying to put a ring on your pinky that's fitted for your ring finger, same concept applies here. I tried my 32mm collagen casings, and for whatever reason, they would not fit properly in the least. I couldn't get enough casing on the tube for any decent links due to the tubing taper So that being said, this is not a really big issue since the stuffing tube can easily be replaced, but being part of what I ordered, it is a small disappointment that it HAS to be replaced.

In closing, the sausage-making days of mine will be much easier. Grinding meat is completely a solo operation and sausage stuffing could benefit some with a helper, but once again, not necessary. Unlike the manual grinder where you could benefit with a helper while grinding and having a helper for stuffing was necessity. I believe I have made a great choice, even though it is my first electric grinder, after using a manual for so long. I have no other experience with any other electric grinders. It's kinda like being super excited when you get a 76 pinto after riding nothing but a bike your whole life. It only cost me 107.00 shipped and, I got it in 3 days (a week before Christmas might I add!) This thing is going to get 1 heck of a workout!!!

[Papa Tom]

Now save your nickels for a vertical stuffer.

[tex_toby]

Now save your nickels for a vertical stuffer.

x1,000,000,000,000

[Jarhead]

Dakota Water Stuffer has NO cranking handle. The difference between a Model A and a Corvette.

[WBBQ]

Congrats on the new grinder

[Txdragon]

Thanks all! The stuffer isn't a bad idea, this thing is working muuuch better now that I bought a proper stuffing tube. Went to bass pro and nabbed an LEM #8 1" stuffing tube. The casings I normally get fit perfectly. I expected a moderate difference, not a complete difference lol. If Weston would change the stuffing tube, it would be the perfect all-in-1 machine! Overall price after all was said and done, 115 bucks. Not a bad deal on a budget!

[ChileFarmer]

Pleased things worked out for ya. OK,wheres the sausage? CF

[Txdragon]

That is my very first batch of chorizo.. The wife says we will never buy the stuff from the store again.

Below are some polish links. These disappeared REALLY fast at my brother's yesterday for our usual pre-Christmas get together, and there was 20 pounds of em...