What do you guys use for stuffing sausage?

Also, is there any reason the sausages can't be smoked on a rack rather than hanging (like a pellet smoker)?

what little link sausage I make, I stuff with the attachment for that on my KitchenAid mixer. I have smoked the sausages on racks, and it worked for me.

I use a hand crank LEM stuffer. I have the 5 pound version. I can get a lot more sausages in the smoker when I hang them. By the way, I like the LEM. I buy ground pork and beef and just stuff away. No grinder mess. The LEM is EZ to clean. I make at least one sausage every week.
If I am using deer, then I just use my grinder. I generally always mix with pork butt for fat. I have a bigger Cabelas grinder. Still a PIA to clean compared to the stuffer.

https://www.amazon.com/LEM-Products...;sr=8-1&keywords=lem+sausage+stuffer

Just to provide further evidence of my incompetence (as well as my complete failure as a human being), I will admit to this: the first time that I attempted to stuff casings, I tried to hold only the end of the casings on the tube instead of threading the casing all of the way on.

My wife picked up a thrift store mixer that had a small grinder attachment and I got a stuffing tube for it.



The one thing I'd advise is getting a foot pedal on off switch. I found myself one hand short trying to keep meat in the feed, and twisting the casings as they come off. Turning it on/off with a foot pedal was a huge improvement.

http://www.westonsupply.com/Grinder-Foot-Pedal-p/08-0901-w.htm

Same switch different box. Free shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cabelas-Electric-Grinder-Foot-Switch-Made-in-USA-/262539101982

Sound advice above. Been there.Done that.

I've had good luck smoking sausage on the rack instead of hanging.

Here's one of mine.Found this one on Ebay for $45.00 about 12yrs ago.

that stuffer looks like a antigue lard press. i've been using one of these for a while.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200449319_200449319

comes with 3 tubes,i bought a smaller one for breakfast links from bass pro. made 36lbs of deer bologna this week. i think i have benn running 40-50lbs of breakfast sausage in 19mm casings a year thru it. no problems at all. i can also stuff with my lem grinder. foot pedal switch is great if you use a grinder.

The lady I bought it from said it came from her Grandfather's Italian Deli in New Jersey that closed in the early 1960's.She said the deli used it to make Italian sausages.It's a nice piece,8qt,it holds 16lbs.I also have a early 1900's 6qt Enterprise press.It's a real beauty.I don't think it has ever been used.

This really looks just like my LEM stuffer. Probably made in the same place. Great price.

I use my grinder I bought from Northern Tool that comes with a stuffing tube.I am ordering a 1&3/8" tube today to stuff summer sausage

Im using the LEM 5 lb stuffer currently. I wish I woukd have purchased a larger one but this one works great, easy to clean and store. The seasoning I use makes a 25lb batch so I would like to be able load a whole batch at one time. That will come at a heavy price so
I will probably continue on with this LEM model for some time.

I've got a 7 lb, Weston I believe, it uses a rack and pinion gear instead of the acme screw. My only complaint is I wish I had bought a bigger one.

Amazon just sent me an email. The LEM 5 pound stuffer is on sale for $123.95. $30 or so savings, I just ordered one. Wished it was bigger but the larger ones are to pricey for my tastes.