Opinions on a good, manual stuffer?

[Doctor Woody]

Now for making smoked summer sausage...  It should not hurt to put a meat probe through the skin of fibrous casing, should it?  I don't want to be messing around with an instant read probe.

[NePaSmoKer]

You can buy food grade lube for stuffers, grinders and slicers at Cabelas and other places like that.

I use the paste lube on the gears and seal, the spray on the slider on the slicer.


nepas

[drano]

Doctor Woody
When you think you are getting close to done, put your Maverick probe in the center of one of your summer sausages.
Yes, it will leave a hole in the casing, and a hollow channel where the probe was stuck in, but its no big deal. 
But I really like my Thermopen--still leaves a hole, but smaller, and reads in 3 seconds.
get smokin
drano

[Smokin Soon]

Dr Woody, If you get into making quite a bit of sausage you would enjoy the non-intrusive tip of the Thermapen. Yes a little pricey, but very precise.

http://www.thermoworks.com/products/thermapen/tpen_home.html

[Doctor Woody]

Thanks for the tips!

One thing I am trying to avoid is having to open the smoker and check several times.  I imaging putting the Maverick in after the meat has cured will reduce the possibility of juice leaking out.  And I'm not too concerned about there being a small hole in one of the chubs.  I would eat that one first!

[HCT]

Thanks for the help guys. Murphy's Law seems to be my best friend so I just want to make sure I have my back covered. :)