VacMaster Chamber Vacuum Sealer - Considering a purchase

[FWilliams]

Totally with you. Just that 2016 hasn't exactly been real kind in the Ag business.

What's the difference between the 215c and 215? I can't seem to find the "c" version. Did they just drop the letter?

yes they did..the "c" stood for commercial which meant it had the oil pump.

now the 215 model is the beginning of the commercial line and comes with the oil pump, everything from that model on up has the oil pump. the 210 model is rated non commercial and doesn't have the oil pump

[quadrafire]

i picked one a month ago and I'm
With NRA you'll find you are sealing everything thing as the bags
Are so cheap compared to the non chamber bags. I used the cabelas
Commercial vacuum sealer for many years and was happy with it. But for a couple hundred more this is light years better.

[luvmystang67]

What size bags do people use?  I've made the decision to buy one, but I want to buy some bags with it.

What size do you find most useful?  What thickness.

They've got some 8x10 bags, some 10x12 or so bags and then 3mil up to 6 mil.

It would seem like most things could probably be done in an 8x10" bag and maybe up to 4 mil to help guarantee no holes get poked in it.  Is 5 mil really necessary?  Am I right on the size or should I be going for the 10" ones?

Thanks!

[Whitpirate]

8x10 4 mill

[quadrafire]

When I bought mine I picked up
6x10
&x12
10x13
1000 each. All in 4 mil.
Price is variable on where you order. I got mine from vacmaster. Cost was higher per unit but free shipping. These bags are heavy in that volume so some of the sites will ding you on shipping.
One thing I've found after using it compared to the non chamber. Is that you need
A larger bag than you were used to as you can't control the seal area once the lid is closed.
Still the bags are so cheap it really doesn't matter.

[luvmystang67]

Mine arrives today!

So, you're suggesting longer bags maybe are a better choice, or just all round bigger would be better?

Like maybe better to pay a little more for more bag than you might need instead of having 1000 bags that are too small?

[quadrafire]

Mine arrives today!

So, you're suggesting longer bags maybe are a better choice, or just all round bigger would be better?

Like maybe better to pay a little more for more bag than you might need instead of having 1000 bags that are too small?

Longer for sure is better as the opening end of the bag just lays across the seal bar and you can't hold it while closing the lid. So sometimes you might get a crease that prevents complete seal. But you are talking 4-7 cents a bag depending on the size. so really not a big deal.

[NRA4LIFE]

All my fish and regular cuts of meat go into 8X12, 5 mil.  All my grind meat goes into 10X16 4 mil.  I also have about 5 different sizes of 3 mil for other stuff.  Some as small as 5X7 for herbs and spices.  Those are nice as you can seal 2 at a time.  I won't buy the 3 mil bags anymore, especially for the freezer.

[KopperBuck]

I bit the bullet myself. Just arrived this week. Have some salmon and geese to knock out, so it was good timing.

Are you guys mostly going with the suggested vacuum/sea/cool down times? Do you see much variance based off of different types of meats?

[quadrafire]

I bit the bullet myself. Just arrived this week. Have some salmon and geese to knock out, so it was good timing.

Are you guys mostly going with the suggested vacuum/sea/cool down times? Do you see much variance based off of different types of meats?

I have the seal and cool down times set as suggested. I shortened my vacuum time to 20 seconds and that seems like a long time. If you seal with the spacer plates removed it likely takes a little more time. But I haven't noticed a problem with 20 seconds, spacers in or not.
For something kind of cool if you have kids. Take an empty pop/beer can and place it in a bag and have them watch what happens under vacuum. 

[luvmystang67]

For things that arent sharp (like meat) is there any reason you wont do the 3 mil? 

It seems to be pretty thick really...

Am i missing something that makes the 4 mil necessary?  I maybe could understand salmon bones, but not like burger.  Whats the rationale for thicker here?

Also... for more sciencey stuff... put some water in there and talk to your kids about boiling point.  As atmospheric pressure decreases, so does boiling point, to the extent that water will boil at room temperature in this vacuum sealer.  Pretty cool. Also, I vacuum sealed a bagel for kicks... MAN did it suck that puppy down.

[NRA4LIFE]

Stang,

There's nothing wrong with the 3 mil bags.  My problem with them is that I store a lot of meat for long periods of time and I re-arrange the freezers quite often.  I have had the 3 mil bags breach with all the clacking around of the frozen packages when I'm defrosting or moving stuff around.  For non freezer stuff, I use the 3 mil bags all the time.  I did about 50 of them yesterday after a mass bulk spice buy.

[NRA4LIFE]

If anyone is in need of bags right now, Vacuum Sealers Unlimited has some great deals right now.  I just snagged 1000 4 mil 6X10 bags for $53 including shipping.

[quadrafire]

Anyone experienced the gas production  from certain veg items?
I purchased  a bunch of Kirkland garlic cloves as a trial. 2 weeks the bag was about to pop.

[Limhangerslayer]

Anyone experienced the gas production  from certain veg items?
I purchased  a bunch of Kirkland garlic cloves as a trial. 2 weeks the bag was about to pop.

In guessing you didn't blanch then first.  They are still ripening even though the ate vacuum sealed, therefore releasing gases.