Best vacuum bag sealer not Foodsaver
Contributors to this thread:Equipment
From: Helgermite
26-Oct-21
I am wondering what everyone's experience is with LEM or Weston bag sealers. I have a Foodsaver that is a piece of crap. It basically has very little vacuum and loses whatever vacuum it has when it seals. It will be used about 10-12 times a year for 2-3 hours at a time. So not quite commercial level, but a bit more than a basic home model.
From: No Mercy
26-Oct-21
I have an older LEM model that has worked very well. The only maintenance that I have had to do is replace the foam seal around the chamber.
From: esean
26-Oct-21
I must have gotten lucky, my $100 Foodsaver has lasted over 15 yrs and 30+ deer and I haven't even changed a gasket yet.
From: JL
26-Oct-21
I have two food savers and they seem to work pretty good.
From: milnrick
26-Oct-21
Bought a commercial rated LEM to replace our Foodsaver and wonder why we hadn't bought the LEM sooner.
From: Bou'bound
27-Oct-21
My food saver works like a charm.
From: Inshart
27-Oct-21
Gone through 4 "Foodsavers" -- agree, they are junk.
I've been using a Weston for the past 2 years and so far it works very well, great suction, and seals without any leaks.
From: DanaC
27-Oct-21
DanaC's Link
Weston recommended video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPFeDQShtCU
From: Ucsdryder
27-Oct-21
Unfortunately the answer is a chamber sealer. I haven’t wrapped my head around the price tag yet.
From: blindpark
27-Oct-21
Just got my chamber sealer from meatyourmaker.com. Great product. I have gone through way to many sealers over the years. Only reason I bit was because of the 25% off sale.
From: Treeline
27-Oct-21
On those chamber dealers, what is the maximum size you can do? I will sometimes pack up to 10 pound bags of ground meat for later use in sausage. Can you pack 10 pounds? 5 pounds?
From: DanaC
27-Oct-21
You can justify a hefty price if you buy meat in larger quantities at the butcher shop etc, and re-package it yourself.
From: Live2Hunt
27-Oct-21
Is the cost still high for the bags? I never got one because regular wrapping paper works fine as we eat all the meat within a year.
From: soccern23ny
27-Oct-21
I've found wrapping meat in saran wrap first helps the seal. If any moisture makes it to the seal it can compromise the seal regardless of brand
From: Blue Buck
27-Oct-21
I've had a Cabela's CG-15 for at least 10 years with no problems. It was made by Weston. If I ever have to buy another it would likely be a Weston.
From: Bou'bound
27-Oct-21
My food saver works like a charm.
From: smarba
27-Oct-21
"Buy meat from the butcher shop"...that phrase doesn't belong on Bowsite LOL
From: Two Feathers
27-Oct-21
I've only used a Foodsaver for our venison so I can't compare it to anything else.
From: Ucsdryder
27-Oct-21
Bou, my issue isn’t with the sealers, my issue is with the bags. Doesn’t take long before they’re no longer air tight and then you’re just wasting prime wild game.
The chamber sealer from MEAT only does 2”. I believe the VP210 does like 4” or something. It depends on the depth of the tray.
From: APauls
27-Oct-21
I really like my Weston. Not a chamber vac. I think the Cabelas commercial ones are also made by Weston. Heard good things
From: Old Bow
28-Oct-21
I also wrap my game with Saran Wrap before using a sealer , I had an Oryx I shot in 2016 and it was perfect when I unwrapped it and it tasted great !
From: DanaC
28-Oct-21
""Buy meat from the butcher shop"...that phrase doesn't belong on Bowsite LOL"
It's an 800 mile trip for hogs from here, and I like pork ;-)
From: FrontierMulie
28-Oct-21
I have a Weston 2300. Seals great. Still trying to find the best bags for it. Most lose the seal at some point as mentioned by a previous post. I have had to replace the mother board on my Weston one time as it shorted out. Other than that no issues.