Chamber sealers

[Snowwolfe]

Thoughts on this model:

https://www.costco.com/maxvac-pro-chamber-vacuum-sealer.product.4000276563.html

Wife and I only make small packages of meat/fish/etc and Costco has a fantastic return policy. Plus the machine puts down a “double seal” on the bag

 

[Runningwater]

It doesn't have the best reviews, and is much lighter than my LEM (also purchased from Costco several years ago). Much lighter would be super (they are typically extremely heavy) provided it works. Like you said, with Costco's policies you could pretty risk free get it and put it through the paces and make sure it meets your needs (and let the rest of us know!). I will caution expectations a bit. At least for me, I really like my chamber sealer, but its not as "life changing" as I had been led to believe. For me anyway, I still need/use my big sealer that can handle wider and pretty much unlimited length bags for lots of larger pieces I like to seal to freeze or for sus vide use. My chamber can handle up to a 12x15 inch bag. That sounds pretty big but you can't fit near as much as you might think in that bag. Also, living in CO, although you can seal liquids, at this elevation, you need the food chilled to frig temperature, otherwise the liquid will boil before the seal time is reached and you end up with a mess (in AK that likely won't be an issue for you). That said, I use it a lot, and love the results. But I still have my traditional sealer.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Further research suggests I might just go with the more expensive Vac Master model with the oil pump.
Buy once, cry once. Oil pump models can remove 98% of the air while air pump models can only remove 80%.

 

[muddydogs]

I'm happy with the Vevor sealer I purchased a couple months ago.
As a side note the Vevor 35 pound motorized stuffer is a beast.

 

[coleman]

I second the Vevor chamber sealer. I can’t speak to long term durability but I’ve had mine for over a year now. We used it for a moose this fall, and quite a few freeze dried meals in Mylar bags, and it’s performed great so far.

 

[Legend]

Thoughts on this model:

https://www.costco.com/maxvac-pro-chamber-vacuum-sealer.product.4000276563.html

Wife and I only make small packages of meat/fish/etc and Costco has a fantastic return policy. Plus the machine puts down a “double seal” on the bag

I can't tell but I suspect t this is an oil less unit based on the weight. I wouldn't buy an oil less unit as I am petty sure friction is a real thing.

I would take a chance on the Vevor oil units.

 

[TxLite]

Further research suggests I might just go with the more expensive Vac Master model with the oil pump.
Buy once, cry once. Oil pump models can remove 98% of the air while air pump models can only remove 80%.

Check out the Jvr vac100. I’m still stuck between the vp215 and the vac100.

The vp215 has a longer track record, but the vac100 has an oil cleaning setting to burn off moisture in the oil, is easier to access the pump for oil changes, and they sell replacement components on their website for pretty much anything on the unit. I spoke with Jvr a while back for about an hour and their customer service was awesome.

They also have $100 off codes constantly so the price is the same as the vp215

 

[sndmn11]

Our LEM max chamber sealer finally bit the ghost a few weeks ago and is past the 5 year warranty period. The last few years we've needed a part and were taken care of easily. Unfortunately, they don't offer parts for purchase past the warranty, so it's headed to the dumpster at some point.

The JVR 110 is on the hot list, just waiting for a code to pop up.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Been all over the map trying to decide which brand to go with. I absolutely want a model with a oil pump and the Vevor has a great price but after the sale service basically doesn't exist. The price makes its tempting but it could still turn into a pricy paperweight.
The JVR 110 seems nice but no one wants to ship to Alaska for a reasonable price.
Brings me back to the VacMaster. Which is the most expensive but Amazon will ship to me for $35 or so, Plus VacMaster seems to have outstanding customer support.
This seems to be a classic case of buy once, cry once.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Vp230. I want to say it’s at 30 animals? I couldn’t ask for anything more so far.

 

[syoungs]

we have 2 of the vevor sealers with oil pumps, they are fantastic. Im super happy with them, and wish I wouldn't have waited so long to make the purchase.

 

[doc holiday13]

Further research suggests I might just go with the more expensive Vac Master model with the oil pump.
Buy once, cry once. Oil pump models can remove 98% of the air while air pump models can only remove 80%.

Yes oil pump.. I have the meat brand biggest chamber vacuum. We use is frequently. it's not portable though

 

[Snowwolfe]

Been on the fence to long. I decided to take a chance on the Vevor DZ-260A. I am a little concerned about the lack of customer support but in the end it won out for several reasons:
Price: $270 shipped to Alaska on Amazon. Compared to almost $1,100 for the VacMaster 230
I added the 4 year warranty for $48.
This Vevor unit weighs in around 50 pounds compared to almost 90 for the VacMaster. 50 is manageable for an old guy, 90 is not.

Time will tell if my choice was a good one.

 

[dallen]

We’ve run a vac master 215 for about 15 years. No issues and can tell you it did about 1-2 moose, 2 caribou, couple black bears, , lots of ducks and geese, several deer, maybe a sheep now and then plus a ton of fish every year….so it gets used hard. It’s hard to beat. We got a second one a year ago from MEAT. The unit had problems getting a good air free seal, talked with the folks there to troubleshoot and then they just sent me a new one (customer service was top rate). The new unit works great! We put the 215 in our cabin for use out there

 

[Ucsdryder]

Been on the fence to long. I decided to take a chance on the Vevor DZ-260A. I am a little concerned about the lack of customer support but in the end it won out for several reasons:
Price: $270 shipped to Alaska on Amazon. Compared to almost $1,100 for the VacMaster 230
I added the 4 year warranty for $48.
This Vevor unit weighs in around 50 pounds compared to almost 90 for the VacMaster. 50 is manageable for an old guy, 90 is not.

Time will tell if my choice was a good one.

That 230 is a bitch to lift. It’s heavy and awkward. One of these days it’ll go tumbling down their stairs when I put it in the basement, I’ll probably go with it.

Pro tip, don’t skimp on bag thickness and size. It’s tempting to go small on the bags, but if the contents are a tight fit, it won’t lay flat on the sealing bar and it will leak air. Just get a bigger bag. And thicker is better. 3mm is worthless. 4mm works, but I can’t still poke holes in them if I bang then around too much in the freezer. I might try 5mm next go.

 

[svivian]

Anyone see any deals on either the vacmaster or JVR? Black Friday worth a look?

 

[NRA4LIFE]

That 230 is a bitch to lift. It’s heavy and awkward. One of these days it’ll go tumbling down their stairs when I put it in the basement, I’ll probably go with it.

Pro tip, don’t skimp on bag thickness and size. It’s tempting to go small on the bags, but if the contents are a tight fit, it won’t lay flat on the sealing bar and it will leak air. Just get a bigger bag. And thicker is better. 3mm is worthless. 4mm works, but I can’t still poke holes in them if I bang then around too much in the freezer. I might try 5mm next go.

5mm are near bullet proof. I use 4mm for most stuff that I box up in the freezer that won't get clacked around too much or stuff I know will get used up in the near future. All my important stuff gets 5mm.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Thought I would offer an update.
The $270 Vevor is performing like a champ. It has taken care of all of our day to day duties as well as this years salmon processing.
The machine is inexpensive, pretty quiet, reasonably fast, easy to move around, and finishes the bag with about a 1/4 inch wide seal. Zero issues. I recently ran about 50 packs of salmon through it in the last month with zero issues. I been using 4mm thick bags.