I am ready to take the plunge into sausage making, and I have determined my little meat grinder is inadequate. I am going to get a new one for Christmas, and I am hoping for guidance.
I like this one:
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/avantco-mg12-12-1-hp-meat-grinder-110v/177MG12.html
Anyone have it?
If not that one, maybe one of the Cabela's models?
I just want something that is strong and sharp enough to not bind up too frequently.
Help appreciated!
I've got the Cabella's six pound per minute model. I think it's a #8. Plenty big for moderate home use. More than enough for a two person sausage making session. My practice is to chill the meat well, about 35F. Cut the meat into strips about one inch by one inch. These will go through the medium die about as fast as you can feed the meat. The "compressing" flights on the screw pulls the strips of meat in well. Can run about 15 pounds of meat through the first grind in about 10 minutes. The second grind takes a bit longer because the ground meat doesn't "self feed" like the strips used in the first grind will. Even so, running about 15 pounds of meat through the second grind takes about 15 minutes or so.
The Cabella's grinder is a monster. Weighs in at about 40 pounds and comes in a box about 30 inches long, 20 inches across, and 10 inches deep.
If I was doing it over, I might consider a more compact model that doesn't take up as much storage space and isn't quite as heavy to move around. Even if it ground meat a bit slower. On the other hand. I don't think I'm ever going to be able to use the one I have hard enough to wear it out.
Thanks for the info, tskeeter.
Is this the Weston that is similar to the Cabela's?: http://www.webstaurantstore.com/weston-08-0801-w-8-meat-grinder-with-2-plates-and-3-funnels/943080801W.html
I've got a mid grade Cabela's and it works great, both of the ones you listed look pretty good as well. Whichever one you pick I would suggest you get a foot controller, it will make your life much easier.
Don't buy this
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/45562/cabelas-heavy-duty-grinder
I have one and it is way to small a motor to do any sort of serious grinding. I am waiting for it to burn up to replace it with something bigger. It really labours on partially frozen pieces of meat
Quote from: renoman on November 25, 2014, 06:47:10 AM
Don't buy this
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/45562/cabelas-heavy-duty-grinder
I have one and it is way to small a motor to do any sort of serious grinding. I am waiting for it to burn up to replace it with something bigger. It really labours on partially frozen pieces of meat
Thanks for this. That has some really good reviews and the price is right.
*crosses it off list
My 2 cents. You should take a look at the LEM "big bite" grinders. http://www.lemproducts.com/bigbitegrinder (http://www.lemproducts.com/bigbitegrinder)
I have one and It works great. Lem has been around a long time and stands behind their products. They offer a lot of attachments for their grinders as well as different size grinding plates. I have several different sized grinding plates for mine. I buy a knife to go with each plate and use them as a matched set. They wear evenly that way and will have a longer life.
Hope that helps.
Mike
Quote from: smoke em if you got em on November 25, 2014, 09:06:52 AM
My 2 cents. You should take a look at the LEM "big bite" grinders. http://www.lemproducts.com/bigbitegrinder (http://www.lemproducts.com/bigbitegrinder)
I have one and It works great. Lem has been around a long time and stands behind their products. They offer a lot of attachments for their grinders as well as different size grinding plates. I have several different sized grinding plates for mine. I buy a knife to go with each plate and use them as a matched set. They wear evenly that way and will have a longer life.
Hope that helps.
Mike
Thanks -- do you have the #8 or #12?
Gman,
I have Cabela's 1HP with #22 and it grinds so fast that it doesn't even have a chance to get warm. It looks similar (kinda)to the LEM grinder and the Weston @ webstaurant. What I really like is LEM's "Big Bite" auger, which they came out with sometime after I bought the Cabela's grinder. I even called LEM to see if their auger would retrofit to mine. Sadly, no. If I have a beef ::) with mine, it's the auger. The wide spacing of the LEM auger fins directly under the feed tube lets larger pieces of meat fall directly into the auger, and then tapers to a finer pitch towards the plate. With mine, the larger pieces tend to ride on top of the auger so I have to use a pusher to get the meat pulled in. You might also check out the LEM grinders while doing your research. I haven't heard any complaints about them. Have fun.
Ha! Looks like smoke-em posted while I was typing. Between the two of us you got $.04 worth.
Quote from: Grouperman941 on November 24, 2014, 06:41:03 PM
Thanks for the info, tskeeter.
Is this the Weston that is similar to the Cabela's?: http://www.webstaurantstore.com/weston-08-0801-w-8-meat-grinder-with-2-plates-and-3-funnels/943080801W.html
Yup, the cover on mine looks more like the Weston model.
Quote from: Salmonsmoker on November 25, 2014, 09:19:10 AM
Gman,
I have Cabela's 1HP with #22 and it grinds so fast that it doesn't even have a chance to get warm. It looks similar (kinda)to the LEM grinder and the Weston @ webstaurant. What I really like is LEM's "Big Bite" auger, which they came out with sometime after I bought the Cabela's grinder. I even called LEM to see if their auger would retrofit to mine. Sadly, no. If I have a beef ::) with mine, it's the auger. The wide spacing of the LEM auger fins directly under the feed tube lets larger pieces of meat fall directly into the auger, and then tapers to a finer pitch towards the plate. With mine, the larger pieces tend to ride on top of the auger so I have to use a pusher to get the meat pulled in. You might also check out the LEM grinders while doing your research. I haven't heard any complaints about them. Have fun.
My Cabella's grinder must be a bit newer than Salmonsmoker's. It has the "Big Bite" style screw in it.
I wonder if a person could get a "Big Bite" style auger and auger housing as replacement parts from Cabella's. Or if Cabella's has changed suppliers and the new parts wouldn't fit an older grinder.
Quote from: Grouperman941 on November 25, 2014, 09:16:40 AM
Quote from: smoke em if you got em on November 25, 2014, 09:06:52 AM
My 2 cents. You should take a look at the LEM "big bite" grinders. http://www.lemproducts.com/bigbitegrinder (http://www.lemproducts.com/bigbitegrinder)
I have one and It works great. Lem has been around a long time and stands behind their products. They offer a lot of attachments for their grinders as well as different size grinding plates. I have several different sized grinding plates for mine. I buy a knife to go with each plate and use them as a matched set. They wear evenly that way and will have a longer life.
Hope that helps.
Mike
Thanks -- do you have the #8 or #12?
I have the #5 but sometimes I wish I had the #8 for the bigger throat size.
Quote from: tskeeter on November 25, 2014, 10:08:58 AM
My Cabella's grinder must be a bit newer than Salmonsmoker's. It has the "Big Bite" style screw in it.
I wonder if a person could get a "Big Bite" style auger and auger housing as replacement parts from Cabella's. Or if Cabella's has changed suppliers and the new parts wouldn't fit an older grinder.
Check this out: http://www.lemproducts.com/product/part-conversion-kit-8-grinder/8-big-bite-grinder-parts
Quote from: tskeeter on November 25, 2014, 10:08:58 AM
Quote from: Salmonsmoker on November 25, 2014, 09:19:10 AM
Gman,
I have Cabela's 1HP with #22 and it grinds so fast that it doesn't even have a chance to get warm. It looks similar (kinda)to the LEM grinder and the Weston @ webstaurant. What I really like is LEM's "Big Bite" auger, which they came out with sometime after I bought the Cabela's grinder. I even called LEM to see if their auger would retrofit to mine. Sadly, no. If I have a beef ::) with mine, it's the auger. The wide spacing of the LEM auger fins directly under the feed tube lets larger pieces of meat fall directly into the auger, and then tapers to a finer pitch towards the plate. With mine, the larger pieces tend to ride on top of the auger so I have to use a pusher to get the meat pulled in. You might also check out the LEM grinders while doing your research. I haven't heard any complaints about them. Have fun.
My Cabella's grinder must be a bit newer than Salmonsmoker's. It has the "Big Bite" style screw in it.
I wonder if a person could get a "Big Bite" style auger and auger housing as replacement parts from Cabella's. Or if Cabella's has changed suppliers and the new parts wouldn't fit an older grinder.
I did not know that skeeter, thanks! It just might be available. I don't think they've changed suppliers, the current units look the same.
Quote from: Salmonsmoker on November 25, 2014, 11:31:59 AM
Quote from: tskeeter on November 25, 2014, 10:08:58 AM
Quote from: Salmonsmoker on November 25, 2014, 09:19:10 AM
Gman,
I have Cabela's 1HP with #22 and it grinds so fast that it doesn't even have a chance to get warm. It looks similar (kinda)to the LEM grinder and the Weston @ webstaurant. What I really like is LEM's "Big Bite" auger, which they came out with sometime after I bought the Cabela's grinder. I even called LEM to see if their auger would retrofit to mine. Sadly, no. If I have a beef ::) with mine, it's the auger. The wide spacing of the LEM auger fins directly under the feed tube lets larger pieces of meat fall directly into the auger, and then tapers to a finer pitch towards the plate. With mine, the larger pieces tend to ride on top of the auger so I have to use a pusher to get the meat pulled in. You might also check out the LEM grinders while doing your research. I haven't heard any complaints about them. Have fun.
My Cabella's grinder must be a bit newer than Salmonsmoker's. It has the "Big Bite" style screw in it.
I wonder if a person could get a "Big Bite" style auger and auger housing as replacement parts from Cabella's. Or if Cabella's has changed suppliers and the new parts wouldn't fit an older grinder.
I did not know that skeeter, thanks! It just might be available. I don't think they've changed suppliers, the current units look the same.
Salmonsmoker, after looking at the link Grouperman posted to the Lem Big Bite auger retrofit kit (first time I've seen a picture, instead of a basic drawing), I'm not so convinced that my Cabella's grinder has a Big Bite style auger. My auger looks more like the competitor's auger than the Big Bite. There is a wider gap at the throat of the feeder and the flight spacing does get tighter as you move toward the grinding plate. But the flight spacing at the throat is nowhere near as wide as the photo of the Big Bite auger shows.
I bought a Northern Tool grinder that is all metal and looks like it should work. I haven't had the chance to try it yet but thought I'd throw it out there as another option
Quote from: tskeeter on November 25, 2014, 10:08:58 AM
Quote from: Salmonsmoker on November 25, 2014, 09:19:10 AM
Gman,
I have Cabela's 1HP with #22 and it grinds so fast that it doesn't even have a chance to get warm. It looks similar (kinda)to the LEM grinder and the Weston @ webstaurant. What I really like is LEM's "Big Bite" auger, which they came out with sometime after I bought the Cabela's grinder. I even called LEM to see if their auger would retrofit to mine. Sadly, no. If I have a beef ::) with mine, it's the auger. The wide spacing of the LEM auger fins directly under the feed tube lets larger pieces of meat fall directly into the auger, and then tapers to a finer pitch towards the plate. With mine, the larger pieces tend to ride on top of the auger so I have to use a pusher to get the meat pulled in. You might also check out the LEM grinders while doing your research. I haven't heard any complaints about them. Have fun.
My Cabella's grinder must be a bit newer than Salmonsmoker's. It has the "Big Bite" style screw in it.
I wonder if a person could get a "Big Bite" style auger and auger housing as replacement parts from Cabella's. Or if Cabella's has changed suppliers and the new parts wouldn't fit an older grinder.
tskeeter and others that might be interested, I called Cabela's tech and did some research with the techie guy. Info I have so far.... the grinder is made by(or for)Weston. Cabela's has not changed suppliers. They have a newer models than when mine was manufactured, but I don't know at this point if anything has changed except for the auger. All external parts look the same except in the parts manual, the "big bite" type auger is listed as "new design". Mr. tech guy could not find a cross-reference on the auger part number to see if it's the new standard replacement part. I have sent an email to Weston tech support for an answer. A phone call would probably nave been a lot quicker and I would have the info by now. Generally, track records for return emails from tech support are not so good. I will re-post when I get the info. This relacement would fix the one "sore spot" with this grinder.
And now, it's time to get the turkey in the drum smoker. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!