What is everyone using? Narrowed it down tot he Weston 2300 or Foodsaver 4440? pros, cons or other options to consider?

my first food saver only lasted 15 years. I'm hoping I won't have to buy another.

Ive read some of the older units are they way to go. New ones dont get terrible reviews either, jsut trying to get some feedback from actual end users here who will likely use it for the same stuff I will.

My wife bought the cheap food saver a wal-mart, dont like it, I would like more control over the machine. Going to get a better one, someday, the old one going strong after 10 or so years.

Yeah, id like to be under 200.00 but will pay more for a machine that will last and work well in the meantime. Its probably the most important piece of the processing equipment to me.

After getting the bill from the locker this year I probably could have bought a commercial sealer.

Check Costco online. I picked up a Foodsaver 4980 this past January for $149.99. Great value.

They have a newer model out now. The 5480. Same price. $149.99.

On there now. Have you tried using non Foodsaver brand bags?

I'm using these bags and haven't had any issues.

I have the older version of the Foodsaver 5480 that I bought at Costco about 6 years ago. I'm not in love with it and would probably buy something else but it keeps working so I keep using it.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11405079/Re:_Need_Food_Vacuum_Sealer_Re#Post11405079

BP...

What would you change or do differently?

Thanks, not sure how I missed that. I'll have to look at the long term value of the vacmaster. Definitely more than I was planning on spending.

Foodsaver but I ordered one of the Vacmasters. I believe several us us did.

That was a great deal.

You know we should start forming and asking for 24HCF membership prices. Just a thought.

The chamber sealers are indeed temping simply on their capabilities but take up a lot of real estate when in use if that's a consideration for some of us.

Pard is a butcher with is own shop and does a lot of killing along with several hundred deer each year. He has a huge chamber sealer that will package a half beef after cutting and wrapping and his wife does a good business packing dry goods for her soup mixes.

Versatile.

It's really more about having high quality bags.

But i use a cabelas commercial sealer

Both of the above comments…space and bags are very valid points!!!

Married one of those. 20 years strong and still no deaths in the family !!

The American test kitchen show did a special on vacuum sealers.

What they found out was that the cheap bags were actually punchered by ice crystals and let the air right through.

Then they took thicker bags that the ice crystals didn't makes holes in and found out that many (not all) of the cheaper sealers could effectively seal them.

On the sealer side of the equation was the more vacuum removed more air by compacting the meat - so higher vacuum is good as well.

Regards,
Spot

I have had a few different foodsavers and a cg15 from cabelas. I finally spent the money on that vacmaster deal (vp215) and I am really glad I did. After having one I would never go back. It might hurt to pay that much, but it will only hurt once.

Weston. Went through 3 or 4 different food savers in 6-7 years when we lived in Alaska.
If the Weston ever breaks next step up will be a chamber sealer.

I'm not a big fan of the "automatic" bag closer because it can be really finicky and would probably go with a manual one. Other than that it works well.

I purchased a cabelas proffessional model about ten years ago for $399.
Sure looks likeca weston to me. I sucked too much liquid down it and it finally crapped out. I replaced it with a food saver 4800 series for $169. They are different prices and different model numbers depending on what package you choose but all start with 48. I have iused the new one quite a bit since purchasing and I am much more pleased with it than the more expensive model.
It will seal my cabelas bags which is great as I just brought in a large supply just before my old one crapped out. I like the ability of using the rolls. In fairness I have not put it to the test of all day use. The most I have done with it is about thirty items at one time.
Time will tell.

The nice thing with that cabelas machine, if you still have it, is that every part is available online so you can rebuild it.

I do still have it. I hung on to it as I have a friend who likes to tinker with small appliances. I wouldnt know where to start myself.

It takes the same parts as the Weston Pro-3000, but most of the parts from the Pro-2300 will work as well.

Food saver makes a Game Saver for around $200.00. When it quits working send it in and they will send you a new one. Can use up to 80 bags before you have to cool it off. Most Foodsavers have a short time to use before you have to cool unit off.
Lifetime Warranty

I have a couple of older model Food Saver brand machines. They work fine with Food Saver brand rolls of bag material and rolls of bag material I found on E-bay. However, I have tried Zip-Lock brand of bag material designed for vacuum sealers and it is cheap, but not worth a damn. Very difficult to get it to vacuum properly.

I picked one up in November (5480) at Costco on line. It was $149.99, with a $30 instant rebate, net $119.99. There was free shipping on the deal, as well. I like it so far.

Judging by the date of your post, you've probably already made a purchase. If you haven't, google "Unika by Munro". Their machines are pricey, starting at $299.00, but there is a 5 year warranty with each. If I ever have the extra cash when I need another, I may upgrade to one of them.

i just have the cheap ziploc brand from wal mart. I really on put a few deer and a few fish through it every year though.

I actually went with the Cabelas brand chamber sealer. Was on sale for 699.00 and comes with lifetime warranty. I have to admit, it was the warranty that sold me after deciding the chamber sealer were the way to go if you can swallow the price.