Meat grinder

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Ok all,

I am in the market for a meat grinder. I am looking to stay under $400 and would like to get the stuffer tubes for it and I am tyring to stay away from nylon gears. It will only be used for game meat.

Looking for any experience ...both good and bad.

Thanks in advance.

[steve863]

I have a cheap Cabelas $99 model, that was on sale for $69 for a couple of years now.  Surely not heavy duty quality, but for some of the meat I grind up out of 2-4 deer a year I am really happy with it.  Also comes with the sausage stuffer tubes.  I don't grind up all the meat from my deer, so this fits the bill for me nicely.  Beats the handcranker I used to have anyway. 

[Doewhacker]

If you are in the Albany or Buffalo area stop in and see the folks at Buffalo Hotel Supply. http://www.buffalohotelsupply.com/

I bought from them as I deal with them, and got a decent one for @150-200 a couple of years ago (I'll look to see what it is). I would recomend going either commercial or commercial grade but the price may go up beyond $500 if you get to fancy. I would also go for more than 1/2 hp, not that you really need it but it doesn't hurt thats for sure. A good brand is Vollrath, but you will pay for it.

[Doewhacker]

Here go buy this one..it aint no joke!

http://www.vollrathco.com/catalog_product.jsp?id=5582&cid=232

[fasteddie]

Here go buy this one..it aint no joke!

http://www.vollrathco.com/catalog_product.jsp?id=5582&cid=232

And the price is ......... ?????

[Doewhacker]

$800+ for the smaller one and closer to $1000 for the bigger one. 

[Doewhacker]

Here is a site so you can get an idea of prices, I don't know anything about this company.

http://www.jesrestaurantequipment.com/meat-processing-equipment-meat-grinder-units-c-305186_306354_306134.html

[Dave]

Ok all,

I am in the market for a meat grinder. I am looking to stay under $400 and would like to get the stuffer tubes for it and I am tyring to stay away from nylon gears. It will only be used for game meat.

Looking for any experience ...both good and bad.

Thanks in advance.

Culver, I bought the Waring Pro meat grinder about 2 yrs ago and works well. You get 3 cutting blades, 2 sausage attachments, and had reverse to release clogged meat.  Cost about $100 Think I got it from Cabelas.

Dave

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I was actuall looking at a few of the Waring models because they also have a cuber attachment you can get for it. it is tough...especially when you start reading reviews.....best model I have ever owned.....total POS...lol. every model seems to have great and below poor comments.

[pistolp71]

My wife already had the Kitchen Aid mixer so I just bought the grinder attachment for it for like $30. It works great. If you have the mixer, that's the way to go.

[steve863]

I was actuall looking at a few of the Waring models because they also have a cuber attachment you can get for it. it is tough...especially when you start reading reviews.....best model I have ever owned.....total POS...lol. every model seems to have great and below poor comments.

I think the key with the cheaper models is not to work them to death, i.e. have the motor running for more than 15-20 minutes at a time without letting it cool down.  I think some of those bad reviewers are people who shove bowls full of meat down these machines for hours at a time and then gripe about it dying on them.  Even if you grind up several deer a year, you aren't exactly cutting up a rhino, so I think even the inexpensive models should do the trick for most average hunters.

[growalot]

Is it for just your deer or a bunch of deer....I use my Kitchenaid grinder...does a great job and we bought a hand crank cuber...still expensive 199.00..but it works great

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Is it for just your deer or a bunch of deer....I use my Kitchenaid grinder...does a great job and we bought a hand crank cuber...still expensive 199.00..but it works great

Yeah, I dont have a Kitchenaid. I was actually thinking of going that route but then the mixer portion would sit on the counter of our kitchen and collect dust since it isn't required to microwave food...lol

There are 3 of us that hunt together that we would be processing for. Would probably end up doing 3-5 deer totally into some form of ground product.

[wdswtr]

I bought a semi heavy duty one at gander mountain probably 5 years ago.  It was under 200 bucks and itworks very well.  Nice thing is they stock most of the basic parts for it right there as well.  What I will say it stuffing casing with a grinder is a major pain in the butt with any of them.  You might not realize what a pain it is until you use and actual casing stuffer.  I recomend if to buy the stuffer as well.  Trying to push already ground meat into the grinder is not fun. 

[Culvercreek hunt club]

never thought of that. I could see that being an issue. I could probably still get both and stay in my budget. Great coment Thanks

[wdswtr]

No problem.  I think you could stay within that budget getting both.  I wish I bought my stuffer years ago instead of using the grinder.  OH well live and learn I guess.  Good luck theres nothing like homade sausage and other meats made form wild game. 

[Doewhacker]

Ok Culver I came home and looked, I have a Alfa MC5 grinder. All metal internals and still affordable. I am pretty sure I got mine for $140 with a discount but I think you could find one for around that. There are deffinetly stronger motor grinders out there but this one works.

[SteveB]

Using the grinder to stuff is a pia. I plan to add a stuffer to the arsenal soon.

I have a LEM 1/4 hp - would have to spend a lot more to get anything

significantly better.

[WNYBuckHunter]

A certain butcher local to Rochester uses the Gander Mountain "Guide Series" grinders, and he does a TON of grinding each year. I bought one as well and have done a bunch of meat with it. No problems at all so far. It came with the grinder plates and stuffer tubes. I got the smaller one (#5) and it works pretty good. It is rated to grind @ 2lb per hour and it does it just fine. If you want to do more than one deer at a time, you will want the #10. I used the stuffer without much of a problem other than it leaves meat behind, inside the grinder. A stuffer would work alot better, and its on my list as well.

If you get a #10 size, let me know. I have a brand new set of stainless plates you can have.

[growalot]

Hhhmmm .......You don't happen to Skipp...right in there to see that butcher do you WNYH?  ;D

[WNYBuckHunter]

Nope, not Skips, this guy is rather well known though. 

[fasteddie]

A certain butcher local to Rochester uses the Gander Mountain "Guide Series" grinders, and he does a TON of grinding each year. I bought one as well and have done a bunch of meat with it. No problems at all so far. It came with the grinder plates and stuffer tubes. I got the smaller one (#5) and it works pretty good. It is rated to grind @ 2lb per hour and it does it just fine. If you want to do more than one deer at a time, you will want the #10. I used the stuffer without much of a problem other than it leaves meat behind, inside the grinder. A stuffer would work alot better, and its on my list as well.

2 lb per hour is a tad slow .  :  I would be more inclined to think 2 lbs per minute . 

[WNYBuckHunter]

A certain butcher local to Rochester uses the Gander Mountain "Guide Series" grinders, and he does a TON of grinding each year. I bought one as well and have done a bunch of meat with it. No problems at all so far. It came with the grinder plates and stuffer tubes. I got the smaller one (#5) and it works pretty good. It is rated to grind @ 2lb per hour and it does it just fine. If you want to do more than one deer at a time, you will want the #10. I used the stuffer without much of a problem other than it leaves meat behind, inside the grinder. A stuffer would work alot better, and its on my list as well.

2 lb per hour is a tad slow .  :  I would be more inclined to think 2 lbs per minute . 

LMAO, I cant believe I did that, thanks for the correction Eddie 

[wdswtr]

Thats funny I was sitting here reading that and thinking 2 lbs per hour and your bragging about it lol.  I have the guide series #10 its a great unit and more than I need.  By the stuffer you will not regret it WNYBH

[fasteddie]

2 lb per hour is a tad slow .  :  I would be more inclined to think 2 lbs per minute . 

LMAO, I cant believe I did that, thanks for the correction Eddie 

Sorry , but I had to bust you on that one . I thought holy crap , 48# of meat would take 24 hours to grind . I don't think so .  ... ...