Grinders

[TheGDog]

Do you guys find yourselves using your grinders for anything other than game meat?

We are limited on space, and for me it'd only realistically be 1 deer a year at most. Would it be foolish to consider getting a manual grinder? Or do you guys find that after you've gotten the electric one, you end up using it more and more for other regulars types of meat? Is using a manual one like a big PITA if you think it'll be low usage, such as once a year?

 

[Clarkdale17]

Do you guys find yourselves using your grinders for anything other than game meat?

We are limited on space, and for me it'd only realistically be 1 deer a year at most. Would it be foolish to consider getting a manual grinder? Or do you guys find that after you've gotten the electric one, you end up using it more and more for other regulars types of meat? Is using a manual one like a big PITA if you think it'll be low usage, such as once a year?

Can't speak to the electric grinder part but all myself or my family has every owned are manual grinders. Every year during the holiday season we'd grind 50-150# of deer in one day with a manual grinder and make sausage. Definitely doable but makes for a long day.

Two years ago I did a whole elk by myself, but had issues with a Weston #32 hand grinder so I went out and bought a Lem #32, which just chewed up a bearing the other day doing an elk and had aluminum shavings going into the meat because of it. Honestly I wasn't impressed with either of the grinders and for the money paid for them along with the brand name would expect much more. With that being said hand grinders are a viable cheap option for grinding up animals a few times a year. If you can find a good #32 I wouldn't hesitate to go the manual route as long as you don't mind hard work and spending the whole day doing it.

 

[Rufus]

I have an older 1hp cabelas ( pre carnivore) and it does really well. Usually 2 or 3 deer per season and has been going for about 10 years. I think the 1hp recommendation that had been already given is sound advice.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

Maybe I am missing something but why not get the steel attachment to the wife's KitchenAid mixer? We ground antelope and it made amazing burgers.

 

[Whisky]

Do you guys find yourselves using your grinders for anything other than game meat?

We are limited on space, and for me it'd only realistically be 1 deer a year at most. Would it be foolish to consider getting a manual grinder? Or do you guys find that after you've gotten the electric one, you end up using it more and more for other regulars types of meat? Is using a manual one like a big PITA if you think it'll be low usage, such as once a year?

Here is a refurbished LEM #8 countertop for $100. It would work great for what you describe. I have the same one and use it. Doesn't take up much space for storage, light to move around. They are cheap, but work OK for up to 1 deer/yr.

No experience with a manual grinder, and I currently don't use my grinder except for wild game processing. That said, I get "free" beef from the in-laws that is professionally butchered. IF I didn't have that, I would like to think that I would buy my own chunks of brisket/chuck/sirloin and grind my own beef burger. People claim it's night and day difference, but I've never done it.

Refurbished #8 575 Watt Countertop Grinder | LEM Products

Make delicious sausage and burgers or juice while controlling the healthy content of the foods you provide for your family and friends.

www.lemproducts.com

 

[Tradchef]

Do you guys find yourselves using your grinders for anything other than game meat?

We are limited on space, and for me it'd only realistically be 1 deer a year at most. Would it be foolish to consider getting a manual grinder? Or do you guys find that after you've gotten the electric one, you end up using it more and more for other regulars types of meat? Is using a manual one like a big PITA if you think it'll be low usage, such as once a year?

Aside from elk, deer and lopes.....I use it for hogs, fish and making the dogs food with the game trim.
I use a 3/4 hp LEM.

 

[TheGDog]

Hrmm... that's a good point... our remaining dog is super little and old and has like 2 teeth. if I get a grinder I could then make food for her at will with our leftovers if we're in a pinch and need to goto store to get another chub of her regular stuff.

EDIT: pulled the trigger on the #8 LEM Refurb. Thx

 

[HungryNomad]

I use a Cabelas Carnivore 3/4 hp. Bought a number of years ago. Just got done grinding up a bunch of musk ox, it did stall on one big frozen piece of shank. One suggestion, if you’re going to stuff your own sausage, invest in a hand crank press, way easier than using the grinder and no casing blow outs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pirogue]

I bought a Cabelas 1 hp #22 Carnivore (with that cold pack sleeve). about 1 1/2 years ago. Ground up an elk as fast as I could feed it, and didn’t need a second grind. Pleased with it.

 

[ORfish]

Weston is safe bet. So is LEM. I am happy with both.

 

[huntabsarokee]

Just remember to change your blades. I have an older Cabelas 1hp #22 that would always gobble up meat as fast as I could feed it. This past December I went to use it and after about 10 minutes it was running warm. I pressed on. Just finished with like 25 pounds and died on me. I had the original manual and the company that supplied them to Cabelas was out of Ohio, same company that originally became Weston. Anyway couldn't get a replacement motor from Weston. I had a local shop rebuild it for $100.

Moral of the story regardless of the size make sure to change or sharpen your blade.