Vacuum Sealer..? Which one do you use?

[nailbender]

I just got done seal'n up some pepperoni that I'd made and came to the realization that I need a new one. I have a Food Saver Professional II that the cutter has become dull and have the heat cranked up all the way to make a good seal. It has lasted me about ten plus years.

So I know a lot of you probably have experience with other vacuum sealers and before I buy a new one, I'd like to know your thoughts or suggestions.

[6x6in6]

A friend of mine's Pro II just died a few weeks back after about 8 years of service also.
He spent quite of bit of time researching and decided to stick with the Food Saver brand and went with the upright model.  I just checked the e-mail he sent me a little while back and it's the 3880 model.
I have a Pro II also that's going on about 10 years old too.  Still hanging in there doing it's job.

[6x6in6]

Food Saver has a camo version.   

[quadrafire]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Commercial-Grade-Vacuum-Sealer/714750.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dvacuum%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts%26x%3D22%26y%3D9&Ntt=vacuum&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

[sirmissalot]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Commercial-Grade-Vacuum-Sealer/714750.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dvacuum%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts%26x%3D22%26y%3D9&Ntt=vacuum&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

I'm on my third one of these, the other 2 were replaced before cabelas changed their return policy. This one is starting to give me fits so I'm gonna be forced to buy a new one, and after owning this one for several years and being on my 3rd one I will not be spending my money on another. My next one will be a chamber vacuum  like a Vacmaster vp112. Chamber vacuum's are just awesome, a little more money but well worth it to me, I live off of the fish and meat I kill all year long, and the regular vacuum sealers just won't hold up from my experience.

[NRA4LIFE]

Mine is also the Foodsaver Pro II, been going strong for 10+ years.  The only rub I have is over the last 5 years I have had to wait to let the sealer cool down for 4-5 seconds or so between seals.  It is getting a bit worse every year.

[quadrafire]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Commercial-Grade-Vacuum-Sealer/714750.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dvacuum%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts%26x%3D22%26y%3D9&Ntt=vacuum&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

I'm on my third one of these, the other 2 were replaced before cabelas changed their return policy. This one is starting to give me fits so I'm gonna be forced to buy a new one, and after owning this one for several years and being on my 3rd one I will not be spending my money on another. My next one will be a chamber vacuum  like a Vacmaster vp112. Chamber vacuum's are just awesome, a little more money but well worth it to me, I live off of the fish and meat I kill all year long, and the regular vacuum sealers just won't hold up from my experience.

WOW. Seems like it is built like a tank. I'm sure you seal ALOT more than me. Sounds like the chamber would be the ticket for you.

[NRA4LIFE]

After spending about $80 for bags and rolls for my Foodsaver over the weekend, I'm starting to think a chamber sealer would pay for itself just in bag savings.  I paid about 40 cents a bag for pint sized at Fred Meyer.  You can buy the chamber bags of that size for 6 cents on the net.  I'd save $100 or more a year on bags I'm thinking. 

[TWG2A]

I use the Foodsaver Pro and I like it just fine. I had one for about ten years and the vacuum stopped working so, wanting to buy a new one, about a year ago I did some research on them and found several websites promoting different models. Man! You can spend a fortune on those things if you get the industrial strength versions!  The bags for the foodsavers can be pricey, but it's well worth your time to shop around the net and find the deals. Amazon has some good deals all the time, and I find that buying the rolls, as opposed to buying the precut bags, saves me a few bucks because I use it for so many different things. Sealing up a few matchbooks or a pair of dry socks or tissue for a camping trip works great! I seal just about everything with my foodsaver, but I can see where having something like the chamber models would be much better for sealing a lot of game. Please let us know what you end up with!

[danderson]

I'm on my third foodsaver, one thing I can say is there not good if you plan on doing lots of sealing, my next ones going to be a commercial brand.

[TWG2A]

Here's two vacuum sealer review sites for you


http://www.consumersearch.com/vacuum-food-sealers/review

http://www.bestvacuumsealerreviews.com/


There are many uses for your new vacuum sealer!

[washingtonmuley]

Do not buy the commercial one from cabela's. I have this one and it is the biggest piece of crap.

[quadrafire]

Do not buy the commercial one from cabela's. I have this one and it is the biggest piece of crap.

Hmmmmm... that is the one I have and love it. What am I missing out on?

[washingtonmuley]

I will sell you mine.

[robodad]

I got pretty sick of buying food saver bags that were expensive so I went with this unit, never look back, this thing is great and I can seal anything that fits inside it even water.

Anything that has liquids in or on it like fish or meat would have to be patted dry or sealed with a napkin or something with them old foodsaver units, with this thing I just stuff the food in the bag and set it in the chamber and start the cycle and don't worry about any liquid escaping.

Bags for this thing are really cheap, I bought 1000 quart sized zipper-loc bags for like $130 and 1000 regular gallon sized bags for $94. I shouldn't have to buy any more bags for a looooong time !!


http://www.amazon.com/VacMaster-Portable-Chamber-Vacuum-Sealer/dp/B003YE8FG0

[quadrafire]

I will sell you mine.

I don't want to buy another at this time, but was wondering what was not good about yours?

[NRA4LIFE]

Robo,

That's what I was refering to.  Butcher-Packer has bags for as little as 6 cents apiece.  I am definitely buying one of those soon. 

[robodad]

Robo,

That's what I was refering to.  Butcher-Packer has bags for as little as 6 cents apiece.  I am definitely buying one of those soon.

This thing is awesome, I've had it for a few years and love it, I'll look up that company, could use some different size bags especially if they are that cheap !!!