stuffer problems

[mow_delon]

I have a 7 lb Enterprise sausage stuffer and recently made a smaller stuffer tube to accomodate 19 mm snack stick casings.  It worked OK, however the lid of the stuffer lets more meat through than the stuffer tube.  In order to stuff 7 lb of sticks, I had to crank the meat through like 8-10 times and still had over a pound left that I stuffed by hand (which sux).

I was wondering if any one out there with Enterprise stuffers have ever had this issue and if you were able to fix it.  I thought about putting a rubber seal on it, but am afraid that the vaccuum created will make it impossible to crank back up.  Any ideas would be gratly apprieciated.

Thanks

[pensrock]

I have a big cast iron stuffer but do not use it for sticks, only large batches of sausage. I know what you are saying about it leaking past the plunger plate. I have not tried it but maybe you can cut a snug fitting piece of food grade plastic and screw it to the bottom of the stuffer plate. I have a small 5 pound stuffer from grizzly for sticks.

[RAF128]

I've got an Enterprise, hold 20 lbs.   I have the same problem of meat going by the plunger plate.   The plate is not the original but fits pretty good.  It was an aftermarket one.   When I'm doing snack sticks there is more pressure and I get a little more blow by but not as bad as you describe.   I usually make my meat mix a little wetter which makes it easier to stuff.   I don't know what you can do with your.   Your plate must fit a little loose.   Are there any nick on the edge?   Might be where the problem is.

[Habanero Smoker]

Adding more water to your sausage, as RAF128 suggests may help some. The water will act as a lubricant. I'm not sure if it will completely solve your problem, but it should help;

[mow_delon]

no, there are no nicks in the plate and it creates a heck of a vacuum when I crank it back up now.  I think that I will try a plastic plate on the bottom of the plate and see what happens.  Maybe a new stuffer is what is needed, we'll see.

[marauder11]

Watch the video use of L.E.M's meat stuffer's on this link   http://www.lemproducts.com/helpful_videos . Right around 3:oo minute part it explains the problem of a bigger stuffer and stuffing tube size. This will go for any brand.

[mow_delon]

thanks for the video link, I think that it actally answered my questions.  My stuffer is small enough to push through a snack stick tube, so that is not a problem, but the old enterprises do not have any sort of gasket on the plunger plates.  I will try to rig something up and if it works I will post what I did.

Thanks again, all!