Vacmaster Reviews

[AJ]

Hey folks,
How have your Vacmaster vacuum sealers been holding up? I bought a DUO550 3 years ago and I don't seal a lot, of stuff with it. Maybe 4 or 5 items per week on average. Mine had a failure right after I bought it and VM sent me a new control board for me to install and it worked...until 2 weeks ago. I did notice that the vacuum that it pulled got weaker over time. I was sealing some meat for the freezer and got an error code (E01). This POS died again. I tried 3x to call VM with no answering of the phone. I sent 3 emails to them asking for some t-shooting help and what parts to get. I finally get a response from them today.

Good afternoon, I received an email regarding your Duo 550. And to be honest AJ if I was you I would think about getting a new machine, probably a VP215 which is pretty comparable to your Duo 550. The Duo 550 is no longer in production and subsequently we don’t have any replacement parts
And I really don’t have tech support on that machine because I don’t know too much about them. Sorry I couldn’t be more help.
John

So, how have your units been holding up? I have gone back to my FS which is 6 years old and still does what is asked of it. Reading the reviews on FS, they either work great or they suck.

[Fishawn]

Mine has not had any problems yet (knocked on wood) it's a VM Pro350. I'm pretty sure quite a few folks on here have them. That's too bad they don't have any replacement parts. Ugh. Maybe somebody can offer some guidance
I hate when stuff breaks!

[gmotoman]

I got the basic model this one....
https://www.amazon.com/VacMaster-PRO.../dp/B008C9TQOM

Mine has failed, but I am not mechanically inclined at all so I don't know what to do. Saying it could probably be brought back to serviceable condition but I wouldn't know how. It was like 50 bucks on sale so I'll probably just buy a new one down the line. But at the moment I am crippled, broke, and living in an old folks home where I am not allowed to use my smokers.

[SMOKE FREAK]

I have the 350.
I screwed up and sucked salt and water into the unit. Took many times of opening and cleaning but finally got all the salt out of the pumps. Then lubed them with Vasoline. The damn thing works better now than when new.

I had a FS for many years and it worked great right up to the day when it didn't. Bought a new one and it sucked. Or actually it didn't suck. Took it right back for a refund. Benn a vac master customer ever since.

[HawgHeaven]

350 here. Knock on wood, no issues.

[chefrob]

have used a FS for close to 10 yrs.......still working.....bet i just jinxed myself......Doh!

[rexster314]

My Vacmaster 320 chamber sealer is still pumping after almost 3 years. The proximity sensor went out after about a years worth of use, company sent me a new one at no cost. Replaced it myself in about 20 minutes. Replaced the oil in the pump two months ago. Totally satisfied

[Mark R]

I still have 3 of the original Food Saver by Tilia units. one for the house, one in storage from the hunt camp and one for parts. I have replaced one of the switches (parts unit) in the house unit that I spilled something in. Other than that, they just keep chugging along.

[AJ]

VM got back with me this morning and said if I send it back to them, they may have some parts in the warehouse and might be able to fix it. Well, I got the email about 30 minutes after the garbage truck hauled mine off. Oh well. Might have to wait and see what kind of deals show up on black Friday. I still have my FS to fall back on.

[SMOKE FREAK]

VM got back with me this morning and said if I send it back to them, they may have some parts in the warehouse and might be able to fix it. Well, I got the email about 30 minutes after the garbage truck hauled mine off. Oh well. Might have to wait and see what kind of deals show up on black Friday. I still have my FS to fall back on.

well that sux

[nickelmore]

Bummer , I would have tried to troubleshoot it a little more before tossing.

I have a VP115 which is also discontinued. They also told me that they still had seals and heat strips but only a few main boards and wehn they are gone they will not be repensihed.

I have a couple of older Tilia made FS as a backup.

Most of the parts most likely can be sourced with a bunch of research.

[Mark R]

Bummer , I would have tried to troubleshoot it a little more before tossing.

I have a VP115 which is also discontinued. They also told me that they still had seals and heat strips but only a few main boards and wehn they are gone they will not be repensihed.

I have a couple of older Tilia made FS as a backup.

Most of the parts most likely can be sourced with a bunch of research.

Do you have a source for the bags with the "strip"? Lisa (https://vacuumsealersunlimited.com/) no longer carries them.
The textured bags don't work real well.

[nickelmore]

Do you have a source for the bags with the "strip"? Lisa (https://vacuumsealersunlimited.com/) no longer carries them.
The textured bags don't work real well.

You mean that little strip inside the back that allows suction from the bottom of the bag?

Lisa was the only one I ever saw that had those. And recently used up the last case I had ordered a few years ago and was bummed when she told me they were no longer available.

Shipping is tough so I ordered cases instead of rolls. Since I have a chamber machine its not an issue any more.

[nickelmore]

Have you changed out the black foam strip? I never had a problem with the textured bags.

I started out with FS bags from Wally world before I found Lisa site. I will check with my current supplier of chamber bags.

[Mark R]

Have you changed out the black foam strip? I never had a problem with the textured bags.

I started out with FS bags from Wally world before I found Lisa site. I will check with my current supplier of chamber bags.

No, I need to look for one. The one in use looks good. Prolly fat chance on finding a new one. I do have the "parts machine" I can look at also. Maybe need to look into a new (another not new) machine, just not in the cards right now. The chitwheel of unexpected expenses has been spinning real fast lately!
Plus I bought 200 from Lisa last month not realizing the bags had changed. My bad. I bought a lot of them a couple years a go, figured they'd be the same.