Need a sausage stuffer and am looking for advice

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mattyoc20

Meat Mopper
Original poster
Aug 11, 2013
159
23
Dresher PA
I am looking to get a sausage stuffer much similiar to the one in this link


I would like a little input or if you guys no of a better one please let me know.  My budget is $150.  Thanks for the help.
 
Hey Matty, a friend and I just bought and used the 5 lb stuffer from Grizzly. It's $100 and here's the link:

http://www.grizzly.com/products/5-lb-Sausage-Stuffer-Vertical/H6252

The LEM version you've linked is 100% the same exact thing except the gears are metal. The Grizzly stuffer's gears are a strong resin. It was very easy to use and clean. I pretty much cranked at a constant pace and the sausage was filled perfectly. I couldn't be happier with the product. If your batch sizes are on the smaller side I would suggest this size. In regards to the $50 difference because of the gears, your never putting much pressure on the stuffer as your stuffing the casings. When you get the bottom, it's pretty darn obvious, so I can't see why there would even be a possibility of over cranking and breaking them. Unless your just not even paying attention which doesn't make much sense either. Not to mention they are darn strong and I indeed put a bit of pressure on them as a test. 

It shipped fast and got to me in 3 days and their customer service was awesome. They're even sending a new set up stuffing tubes under the warranty because I accidentally got the 2 largest one stuff inside of one another and can't get it apart to use them. 

We did two 4 lb batches and the actual time is took to stuff 4 lbs was like 5 minutes. The rest was all the other steps. I hope this lefts.
 
I love my LEM, I opted for the stainless steel tube vice plastic. I know we are a people who believe in a short life and buy another but I am older and remember a different philosophy. 

I like the 5 to start with, I f I make two 10lbs its work but I do so upon occasion. But I can reload the 5 and with chilled meat. And you'll learn chilled is the name of the game with sausage.

I know that some of the folks also use the Northern Tool stuffers they are sometimes cheaper also for the basically the same.  
 
I have a weston 5 pounder and overall I am happy with it. The only thing I don't like is the pound of meat left in the bottom after emptying the canister. Not a deal breaker by any means, It does have metal gears.
 
I have the 10 pound LEM stuffer and it works great. I agree strongly with foamheart though, chilled meat is the way to go with sausage. For that reason generally only use 5 pounds at a shot. I only use 10 pounds at a time when we're doing deer sticks. We make a lot of deer sticks.
 
My vote is for a 5 lber with METAL GEARS.. have read MANY of threads about plastic gears breaking and then trying to find aftermarket steel gears that will fit that stuffer.... just save yourself the headaches (and money in the long run) and go steel gears from the get go ...
 
Paprika brings up and interesting point. I know at one time I read here somewhere that larger stuffers would not so smaller casing like sticks. If you are planning on doing sticks it would be something to check, also make sure you are getting three different tubes w/ the stuffer.
 
5# SausageMaker w/metal gears used here, great piece of equipment. However a 10# stuffer would be ideal when doing larger batches. Spend the couple bucks and get a 10#er now and be happier later... IMHO

Either way you'll be having fun, making different types of sausages. Keep good notes in a journal for future reference.

Good luck!!
Rick
 
If making sticks I would go the steel gears. I have a northern tool 5 lb and have went through 3 set of the nylon gears doing sticks. It was cheep like 80.00 but what I spent on gears and shipping was almost as much.
 
THanks for all the help guys.  I went with the LEM stuffer with metal gears.  Its does have 3 stuffer sizes.  I typically only make 5 lbs at a time anyway.  If i make 10 ill just split it up.  Thanks again for all the help
 
An overall good choice. Be sure to post pics (and recipes if you don't mind) of all the great sausage you'll be making 
yahoo.gif
 
I have just bought this one and it will arrive next week. it is $160 but it is 7 lb and has metal gears and tubes
 
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I must admit it does look like a beast!

I will let you know how it works when it arrives. Also it is arriving a day earlier than scheduled!

Also the good thing with amazon is that you can search the internet for coupon codes and in the U.S. you can get it in 2 days!
 
I love my LEM, I opted for the stainless steel tube vice plastic. I know we are a people who believe in a short life and buy another but I am older and remember a different philosophy. 

I like the 5 to start with, I f I make two 10lbs its work but I do so upon occasion. But I can reload the 5 and with chilled meat. And you'll learn chilled is the name of the game with sausage.

I know that some of the folks also use the Northern Tool stuffers they are sometimes cheaper also for the basically the same.  

Love my 5lbs LEM with metal tubes!

My vote is for a 5 lber with METAL GEARS.. have read MANY of threads about plastic gears breaking and then trying to find aftermarket steel gears that will fit that stuffer.... just save yourself the headaches (and money in the long run) and go steel gears from the get go ...

Yep!

Paprika brings up and interesting point. I know at one time I read here somewhere that larger stuffers would not so smaller casing like sticks. If you are planning on doing sticks it would be something to check, also make sure you are getting three different tubes w/ the stuffer.

When I ordered mine from LEM, I told them I was making snack sticks and they recommended against the 10lbs and steered me to the 10lbs with metal tubes. They said the larger stuffers full of meet have so much pressure it's difficult to get it to come out the small tubes and you struggle cranking it.


THanks for all the help guys.  I went with the LEM stuffer with metal gears.  Its does have 3 stuffer sizes.  I typically only make 5 lbs at a time anyway.  If i make 10 ill just split it up.  Thanks again for all the help

Did you get the metal tubes? If you get the metal tubes the one for snack sticks comes with otherwise you have larger tubes.
 
I have a Gander Mountain Guide series 5 lbs stuffer. Plastic gears, plastic stuffing tubes. No problems with plastic parts.
 
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