Making sausage is hard work.
K here's what I'm thinkin';
I won't do sausage again until I have better equipment. The 5 lbs hand stuffer I have just plain sucks. My grinder is fine for small jobs but really grunts and groans when I give it any volume. And the clean-up on both is nuts:crazy:
So here's my question, What are the pluses and minuses of a grinder which also stuffs vs a seperate grinder and stuffer. My goals are ease of use, minimal clean-up and durability and of course end product. I don't mind paying up for something that is gonna last me a long time, so minimize cost as a serious problem. Gonna start budgeting for around a thousand
I've seen some nice set-ups in Cabelas. Should I look there or go to an industrial rig and increase my budgeting?

Appreciate any and all input.

Thanks
JT

For a thousand bucks, you can set yourself up nicely. The Cabela's 1 1/2 HP grinder will do anything you want and will last a lifetime. I use my grinder for stuffing for now, but sometimes it makes the sausage finer than I want. In light of that, I would suggest a separate vertical stuffer.

I use my grinder for stuffing for now, but sometimes it makes the sausage finer than I want. In light of that, I would suggest a separate vertical stuffer.

I would suggest the same. While a grinder WILL stuff, you will get more consistant product with a seperate stuffer.

And yes, it IS work. I lightened my load with a meat mixer :thumb: But ya gotta clean it too!

Yanno what makes cleaning easier? A BIG assed sink. Min. laundry tub size.

I would suggest the same. While a grinder WILL stuff, you will get more consistant product with a seperate stuffer.

And yes, it IS work. I lightened my load with a meat mixer :thumb: But ya gotta clean it too!

Yanno what makes cleaning easier? A BIG assed sink. Min. laundry tub size.

Rich is right about the mixer. I forgot to mention that one. It is a bich to clean in the kitchen sink, but for now I make do. Fortunately, my mixer will couple with the grinder so I don't have to crank it.

yup thats one thing that goes with sausage making... the clean up sucks(but dang it is worth the work!!!). but to make it easier get after it imediatly when done using. things clean up much easier when things havent started to dry up. also having brushes available to fit the various holes,tubes etc can make clean up less difficult.

mixers are choice too, have had mine for about 5 years now and wouldnt be without it now.

i too suggest a stuffer, i know lots stuff with grinders but i am not sure that they dont mess with texture a little bit... also not sure if you have to do it by yourself how that would work out. having to constantly add material into the stuffer and plunger it down thru while managing the casing all at the same time vs crank and manage casing.


i dont think you need to go to the cabelas 1.5 hp model... i also have it and it is a horse. you prolly could get by with a smaller model i am sure. just make sure you can get some different sized plates to go with it. 1/2 inch or so and down. cabelas also sell some decent stuffers. have also heard of people getting from northern tool. also watch ebay etc...

We have a 1hp cabelas Grinder and it works great for everything ive thrown at it from, grinding, Attached 44# mixer, Stuffing(except snack sticks dont seem to work worth a darn)

I would buy an seperate stuffer... you can really get your sausage stuffed tighter with a stuffer vs. grinder stuffing. though it will work fine.
You should be able to get the stuffer and grinder under 1000 clams.

Weston, who makes the cabelas line... really stands behind there products too!!!

hope this helps

I'm very pleased with my setup. Well, maybe a bigger stuffer.

1/2 hp commercial grade cabelas grinder $249
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&id=0046670516401a&cmCat=netcon&cm_ven=netcon&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=cabalas%20grinder&cm_ite=netcon&rid=2146251080

Lem 5lb stuffer $149.00 (northern tool has a similar one for about 80 bucks.)
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_55825____SearchResults

I'm very pleased with my setup. Well, maybe a bigger stuffer.

1/2 hp commercial grade cabelas grinder $249
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&id=0046670516401a&cmCat=netcon&cm_ven=netcon&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=cabalas%20grinder&cm_ite=netcon&rid=2146251080

Lem 5lb stuffer $149.00 (northern tool has a similar one for about 80 bucks.)
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_55825____SearchResults

Keith, that is a nice grinder.
You need a big sink like Rich says. Also brushes. Lots of scrub brushes, all different sizes, lengths, etc.
And I have a 5 lb vertical stuffer that I wouldn't trade for anything.........except a bigger vertical.

Looks like I'm shopping Cabelas. Great input guys, thanks as always.

JT

Clean up is never fun, and bigger better equipment doesn't change that. Something I do to ease the pain of that is to leave the whole mess for my wife. She eventually just gets mad and cleans it all up. Yeah, I have to endure a little bitchin, but she eventually gets over it til the next time :bounce::bounce: Seriously, I spray the innards of my stuffer and mixer with Pam spray before a session. Meat doesn't stick as badly when clean up time comes, and as noted above, get to it ASAP. Having a friend or family member help with a sausage session does make it more enjoyable and clean up is quicker and easier.

But ya gotta clean it too!

Yanno what makes cleaning easier? A BIG assed sink. Min. laundry tub size.

I have a meat mixer, grinder and press stuffer, I also added a garbage disposal to my laundry room deep sink, cleaning and prep is always the bitch, its the outcome that makes up for it. just my $.02............... :lol:

I know what you mean .when I first decided to make sausage i bought a horn stuffer and it bit the big one I almost decided sausage wasn't worth it but threw away the horn and bought a verticle stuffer and never looked back.go for it and you'll love it.oh wait i just rememberd i did'nt throw the horn away I gave it to a friend of my wifes that i hated :lol:

I personally bought the Northern Tool grinder and 5# vertical stuffer, both cost about $200 delivered. They both work great and I know there are a few others here that have them. Ken has had his Northern grinder for about 10 years I believe. $800 can buy a lot of "stuff" to stuff! I have heard great things about the Cabela's and LEM products as well

Clean up is never fun, and bigger better equipment doesn't change that. Something I do to ease the pain of that is to leave the whole mess for my wife. She eventually just gets mad and cleans it all up. Yeah, I have to endure a little bitchin, but she eventually gets over it til the next time :bounce::bounce: Seriously, I spray the innards of my stuffer and mixer with Pam spray before a session. Meat doesn't stick as badly when clean up time comes, and as noted above, get to it ASAP. Having a friend or family member help with a sausage session does make it more enjoyable and clean up is quicker and easier.

Hey, that's what I do. She's a good girl.

I went through all that last year.

I bought the 15lb. Gander Mtn stuffer, a #32 stainless grinder, 3/4 hp electric motor, added the larger drive wheel, including all of the other hardaware, and lumber to build my table for less than the price of Cabelas electric grinder offering the same output capacity at thier regular price. I think the savings was just over $100.

Sure there was some work involved but I have an el primo sausage station and the cleanup isn't too bad if you have the right sink as mentioned above. Everything is easier if you pre-rinse in warm water then wash in hot.

Sure there was some work involved but I have an el primo sausage station and the cleanup isn't too bad if you have the right sink WIFE as mentioned above. Everything is easier if you pre-rinse in warm water then wash in hot.
:lol:

Looks like I'm shopping Cabelas. Great input guys, thanks as always.

JT

I have a Cabela's about 5 minutes from my house. If you see one online that you want a "hands-on" opinion of, just let me know.

I have a Cabela's about 5 minutes from my house. If you see one online that you want a "hands-on" opinion of, just let me know.

I don't think I could "afford" to live that close to Cabelas. Like a drunk livin' next to a Bar. Any ways Thanks, that's a nice offer. It'll be a few weeks till my funds build back up after the Christmas shopping. Debit cards are still smouldering:lol: