Meat grinder wanted

I’m looking for a decent stainless steel meat grinder. I think I need at least 1 hp or greater since we will be doing about 6 deer per year,for our group …..plus making our own brats and other assorted goodies thru the year as needed.

I’d also be thankful for any first hand recommendations for same.

Looking to spend up to $600

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I have the LEM .75hp grinder and would certainly recommend that. Last deer I did took roughly 20mins for the double grind. I do an elk every year as well.

I do my own brats and snack sticks, have done formed jerky… I’d go with a jerky cannon for snack sticks just due to the small diameter you are pushing, but the grinder unit is awesome for brats. It comes in at under $400 at Fleet Farm, and I would put some of the savings towards an extra knife (so as to match wear to each grinding plate), and towards a dedicated stuffer and/or the footswitch.

I’ll give a 2nd nod on the LEM products.

I originally thought that I was going to need the 3/4 hp but settled on the 1/2 hp #8. I do 2 to 4 deer a year and use the juicer attachment as well as the tilting mixer. Their stuffer is a must after I made spice sticks and summer sausage trying to do it from the grinder the first couple of years. I also grind all my own hamburger and breakfast sausage as well as all the grindings for our deer.

Here is a link for the grinders:
https://www.lemproducts.com/category/butcher-meat-grinders?r=adwordsLEMBrandCampaign&src=ADWORDLEM&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIr4qv74nm3QIVyLXACh1pSwQNEAAYASACEgKLpPD_BwE

Here is a link for the attachments:
https://www.lemproducts.com/category/butcher-meat-grinder-attachments

Be sure you look into what accessories will work with whatever your choice brand/size is. I find the foot peddle a bonus to use too.

The hobart in your photo goes upwards of $1,500 at auction. Dealers will be more of course. All the toys like Cabelas sell are ok if you don’t forcefeed the meat. Slow and steady gets it done. FYI you will have a had time finding a single phase Hobart grinder.

Hobart is very high end and will last

LEN very good and you’ll get MANY years of use.

Entry level like Cabelas dc 1/2hp will do ok, but don’t over work it.

I’ve been through a few in the last 20 years. I have a cheap 1/2hp cabelas dc for little stuff and if I’m doing over 100# at a time, I roll out the HOG (Hobart).

Most large cities like Milwaukee, chicago,…have a couple store specializing in re-selling commercial restaurant equipment. Seek them out, and frequent the store. Eventually, a great deal comes along to get high grade equipment for a very reasonable price

I realize the one I pictured is high end/big bucks but I know there are surplus auctions where they can be found within my price range.

I can hire an electrician to wire up whatever we need but I would prefer to get a Hobart on a great deal. Lem is prolly my second choice? Prolly also the more realistic option for us too. Thanks to those of you recommending them.

Thanks!!

I have the hobart pictured. Would sell for 1500. Grinds 5 deer in 5 min

I think we (the five guys I hunt with) have tentatively decided to go with the LEM #22 Big Bite unit for $569+ tax. Still keeping our eyes open but I think that gives us the ability to do our own venison & more. I already have a fantastic smoker.

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You have another option. Hobart makes a machine we refer to as a bowl chopper. Also referred to as a Buffalo Chopper. This has a stainless bowl that rotates in circles with high speed knives that chop anything in the bowl. To demonstrate it I would throw whole apples in it and less than 2 minutes later had apple sauce. Anyway…on the end of some of those they had a power hub. You can insert different attachments into them. One attachment is a meat grinder. Nice thing is you can find them in 115 volt and 220 volt single phase. Just what you need. Be warned, they also make a 3 phase version which you can’t use. Often the bowl has been lost and people don’t have a use for the machine alone. Buy the machine and go buy a #12 grinder head with feed pan, knife and dies and you are good to go. At a used equipment dealer they will ASK $800 and up for a complete working unit. Don’t be afraid to make a offer. Should you find one without a bowl you should be able to get it for $100 or there abouts. If you call a dealer tell them you are looking for the old exposed motor bowl chopper and they will know what you are looking for. The model you want has no legs. It sits right flat on the counter.

I’d post a photo but i’m really not into that searching stuff.

I’m not a cabelas brand fan by any means. But don’t overlook the 1hp Cabelas carnivore. There are a few features the LEM doesn’t have. Last year I did a lot of research and was on the fence between this and the LEM unit. Then I found a nice cabelas coupon that put it over the edge. It’s very impressive and makes it a pleasure to do what I use to avoid with a lesser grinder.

thegun wrote:

I have the hobart pictured. Would sell for 1500. Grinds 5 deer in 5 min

Whats the model and voltage. Single or three phase?

I have a carnivore and it grinds very well, very nicely made and easy to clean. Has forwards and reverse. Very heavy duty unit.

Man, I wish I had enough meat to require such a grinder. I’ve been using a KitchenAid attachment and it’s worked well enough for me to process 1-2 deer a year. It’s not great by any means, but it’s compact and takes up almost zero space. The sausage stuffer absolutely stinks, but the grinder works ok with a few breaks in between for cool down.

I love this idea of the buffalo chopper option…..and I have taken your advice to search for one of these units. So far the only one reasonably priced is in Guam and won’t ship. I will keep looking tho. Thanks . I’d much rather have the Hobart brand. I know of some real nice heavy duty ones that went on auction for around $500 ……don’t see that available now yet tho.

I have a cabelas 1 hp no the carnivore a older model. I have done a few hundred deer no issues at all. I do 8-10 at on sitting after gun season.

2nd the cabelas model has worked very well for me for deer and waterfowl

My father in law has an older Cabelas he has been wanting to part with for a while. He doesn’t hunt anymore so no use for it. From what I understand it is basically new.

I’m going off of memory but I believe he wanted $100 but the thing is quite heavy so shipping may cost a bit. If you’re still interested please let me know and I’ll ask him about it.

Dutchboy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>thegun wrote:</div>
I have the hobart pictured. Would sell for 1500. Grinds 5 deer in 5 min

Whats the model and voltage. Single or three phase?

I’m too cheap/poor…. (or maybe both) to spend that kind of loot on such things. Thanks tho. I am really getting some great responses so I’m hopeful I will have a grinder real soon.

Call 218- 878-4778 his name is Dan. Tell him Brian in Princeton asked you to call. Ask for a old style buffalo chopper with a power hub. Tell him the bowl part doesn’t need to work you just want to grind with it. Tell him you need something cheap.

He is in Cloquet Mn and you would need to go get it. He isn’t shipping it if he has one.

Another option not mentioned,buy a size 32 choprite,the pulley,and 1/2-1 hp electric motor and fashion your own,would be considerably less and grind like crazy.
Cons are not as portable,little tougher cleanup,and the throat isnt quite as deep,so you always want to Watch your fingers!!Always use a plunger no matter what grinder you choose!!I couldnt tell you how many deer we ran thru a setup like that.That being said a lem 3/4 hp is on my wishlist.
After using and old cast iron crank stuffer for 35 plus years a few years back bought the 11# lem ultimate stuffer and dont believe I could find a better one,would have bought the 25# but not recomended for sticks.

Dutchboy wrote:

Call 218- 878-4778 his name is Dan. Tell him Brian in Princeton asked you to call. Ask for a old style buffalo chopper with a power hub. Tell him the bowl part doesn’t need to work you just want to grind with it. Tell him you need something cheap.

He is in Cloquet Mn and you would need to go get it. He isn’t shipping it if he has one.

Thanks !! I will call him. Still working on some other options also. Friend of mine’s dad just told me he has an old Hobart in his storage unit since 2000. Lots of possibilities.

I have a cabelas 1hp. Last year I did 3 elk, 3 pigs and about 8 deer. Never had any issues with it and have had the grinder for the last 4 years if I am not mistaken. Feel free to ask me any questions.

Here is my setup. Not for sale though, sorry. Works well grinding horseradish.

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Where are you located?

I have the LEM Big Bite from Bass Pro. Wife bought it at Bass Pro with a couple of extra items, and the final bill was over $600.

She was convinced she had to have the most expensive one, as she was looking at feeding her cats/dog a raw diet and wanted to be able to grind chicken bones if needed.

She only used it a few times, and changed her mind on that idea. I’d consider selling it to regain the room in basement. Wouldn’t want to ship it though, its big and its heavy. I’m in southern WI, but heading north for Musky fishing soon.

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It’s the #22 model

https://www.lemproducts.com/product/big-bite-grinder-22-head-size/butcher-meat-grinders

I would be interested in that Jeff. Maybe meet up somewhere. Im just north of the twin cities.

6 deer is nothing when it comes to grinding.

What are you using now?

B-man wrote:

6 deer is nothing when it comes to grinding.

What are you using now?

We had been using a larger grinder with another hunting party. That grinder is located about an hour from my place, 3 hrs drive for the other guys in our party.

This is the reason our group didn’t get anything but ground burger this year. Nobody could get down to make the sausage so two of us just went down and ground it into burger.

Just looking to get our own equipment now since I had the big fridge smoker built this spring.

I bought the 1hp Cabelas one last year and it is awesome! It will grind like crazy and the attachments for stuffing work amazing. Attach the tube and the auger has an extension to help case the meat. It is slick.

I don’t regret it one bit. Also picked up a foot pedal for it which is a must if your using it to stuff. Well not a must but is sure beats having to flip the switch all the time.