Vacmaster VP 215 or other Chamber Sealers

4Runner

Came across a "damaged box" VP 215 in Amazon and will be here on Friday.  I was planning on keeping my external vacuum sealer for larger items using my roll bags for a custom size.  Then I thought, could I just use the chamber sealer like an external sealers by just having the bag outside the chamber and the run the open end of the bag in the chamber across the sealing bar?  Maybe I won't need my external unit after all.  Just curious.  Thanks for any comments.

Little Steven

I kept mine for sealing long stuff like whole fish, full racks of ribs, whole beef tenderloins etc.

Canugghead

Congrats on the 215 score!  Well I often wondered about what you're saying ... to find out once and for all I just tried it ... no go    btw, curious mind wants to know, what's the damage on the damaged box 215?

4Runner

Good to know. I'll keep my other external sealer as well.

$749 delivered.   They report the unit is umblimshed and only the box is damaged.   I'll inspect closely since this is only $50 cheaper than webrestaurant store online.     

Aryinc.com hasn't been available for 2 days.  They are still in business aren't they?

4Runner

Found the correct url. https://www.vacmasterfresh.com

Canugghead

Sweet! I think you'll be fine, this thing is over packaged.  Enjoy!

Little Steven

Canugghead said:

Sweet! I think you'll be fine, this thing is over packaged.  Enjoy!

And get some help lifting it. Which one do I have Gary?

4Runner

Unblemished.     95#.  I have the perfect permanent spot for it.   I'm assuming I can use my external sealer bags too.  I know they are more $$ but have some on hand and have some items to test out the VP 215.  

mahenryak

4Runner said:

 ...Then I thought, could I just use the chamber sealer like an external sealers by just having the bag outside the chamber and the run the open end of the bag in the chamber across the sealing bar?  Maybe I won't need my external unit after all.  Just curious.  Thanks for any comments.

No.  This will not work.  Basically, the pump in conjunction with the chamber is what creates the pressure gradient needed to collapse the bag tightly.  Once the air is pumped out of the chamber, and the seal then made, the lid pops up allowing air to then  return inside the chamber which then collapses the bag--so to speak--by exerting pressure everywhere along the outside of the bag.  The seal then maintains this effect.  If you have the food outside the chamber there is never any change in pressure between the inside of the bag and the outside of the bag--effectively, rendering the pump as useless.

Anyway, keep your old vacuum sealer.  And yes, you should be able to use the other bags that you have on hand but it may take a little playing around with the sealer settings.  I would probably just set them aside to be used by the old vacuum sealer.

4Runner

Got it. My external sealer is also a Vacmaster and the bags are 3mil Vacmaster as well.  I'll have plenty of chamber sealer bags next week.   Thanks for the comments. 

Jaime

You'll get a small but decent assortment of bags with it... 3 sizes
10x13 is your max bag size per specs if I recall right.  Oil is not hard to add.  Don't overfill.. 1/2 to 3/4 in the sight glass..  You have 3 settings to make: my suggestions to start:  vac time 30sec, seal 1.2, cool time 2.4     They say set cool time to be 2x the seal time.    Swordsmn stealing Jaime's ipad AGAIN...

Jaime

if you assure the bag edge drapes over the seal bar very flat, you will get a beautiful double seal.  I find if the item is bulky, removing 1-2 of the space taking boards that are in the chamber to take up space, will help the edge to lay flatter.   More air to evac when boards are out though.   Re: that vac time I mentioned:  Mfgr I think suggested a start time of 42, it was me saying earlier 30-35 might be a better start value

Canugghead

Little Steven said:

Canugghead said:

Sweet! I think you'll be fine, this thing is over packaged.  Enjoy!

And get some help lifting it. Which one do I have Gary?

yours looks like a vp120

Canugghead

@Jaime, my settings are more or less like yours, however, as mentioned elsewhere, I tend to watch the gauge and use manual stop, kind of like cooking by temp and not by time.

As for oil level, the manual says oil capacity is 3 to 3.5 oz, since 1 oz is approx 30 cc, I measure 90 cc in the calibrated squirt bottle that came with the kit ... with my poor eyesight I find it easier than watching the foamy sight glass. 

mahenryak

@4Runner on the other hand... check this out...  external seal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe51RNVr79c

4Runner

Canugghead said:

@Jaime, my settings are more or less like yours, however, as mentioned elsewhere, I tend to watch the gauge and use manual stop, kind of like cooking by temp and not by time.

As for oil level, the manual says oil capacity is 3 to 3.5 oz, since 1 oz is approx 30 cc, I measure 90 cc in the calibrated squirt bottle that came with the kit ... with my poor eyesight I find it easier than watching the foamy sight glass. 

What number on the gauge is your key to use the manual stop?

4Runner

Also, how much oil comes with the unit?   Was planning on a early oil change to make sure it is clean and didn't know if I need to go ahead an order supply.   

Canugghead

@4Runner Usually I press STOP when the gauge needle is within 1 to 2 marks from the max, depending on what I'm sealing, takes a bit of trial and errors by 'feeling' the package after sealing if you get what I mean.  Exception: when sealing flat FS marinator box I only go halfway on the gauge, it's still way more powerful than sealing with FS, judging by the amount of 'hiss' when vacuum is released from the marinator.
It comes with a generous 500 ml of oil, enough for 5-6 oil changes, the filler bottle is calibrated at 20 cc intervals upto 100.
edit: a small tip - warm up the machine before you drain.

swordsmn

Canugg will remember.    I wouldn't change very soon,  I mean  it's not breakin oil for a track car.I think over time it ingests vapor  so they say 25 hrs  first change  & 60 hrs thereafter.  At 30 secs/cycle  a non business user will sleep easy    I DO recommend his measuring technique though.  I looked at sight glasss & I think I'm half full or more... his measuring idea  is spot on.    I think you have enough for initial fill and one change included, @Cannughead ?

4Runner

Thanks - just found in manual it includes 1/2 quart. I believe it is what @Canugghead is showing in his post.

on the quick oil change, a user posted a positive review on Amazon made this recommendation based on his initial oil change being very dirty.  I figured it wouldn't hurt to do one early to inspect the oil.   

Canugghead

@mahenryak thanks for sharing the video, brilliant.  The trick is using FS bag, duh why didn't I think of it!  That makes sense because the vacuum trough on a FS is essentially a chamber.  Just have to remember not to seal wet stuff since it's functioning as a FS in this mode.

Canugghead

4Runner said:

Thanks - just found in manual it includes 1/2 quart. I believe it is what @Canugghead is showing in his post.

on the quick oil change, a user posted a positive review on Amazon made this recommendation based on his initial oil change being very dirty.  I figured it wouldn't hurt to do one early to inspect the oil.   

I did first oil change after only 5-10 hrs of use.   just hope it didn't back fire since we don't know if they added special break-in additives, I doubt it though. 

Canugghead

@swordsmn based on my calculation the included oil is good for about 5 changes.

swordsmn

OK,  I better go change my earl  then.    thx guys...

swordsmn

Oh, I ordered/keep  a spare drop in sealer bar assy  ...  super overkill but I am set if  it becomes munged  up

mahenryak

Canugghead said:

@mahenryak thanks for sharing the video, brilliant.  The trick is using FS bag, duh why didn't I think of it!  That makes sense because the vacuum trough on a FS is essentially a chamber.  Just have to remember not to seal wet stuff since it's functioning as a FS in this mode.

You're welcome.  Yes, I was thinking the same thing after my original post.  I think I would still prefer to just use my cheap FS for the occasional oversized item but it is interesting.  

4Runner

Received the unit and FAIL.  Unit was oily on the outside, screws were loose and when I opened up, the gas/oil filter was broken into multiple pieces.  Noticed one of the plastic straps that holds down the pump was broken and packaging debri was littered throughout the inside of the unit.  Packaged that sucker back up and printed off my shipping return label and it is on its way back home to Amazon.  Back to the drawing board.  

Jaime

Really sorry to hear this.  Hope you find a way to get one sometime.  Really is a good unit when the seller gets u an intact item.  Dman.

Canugghead

Sorry to hear that Joe. Are you going to go for a brand new one for $50 more at WebstaurantStore?

Jaime

Thats where I got mine.. Good people. They've received a lot of my $$.  swordsmn using wifes ipad

4Runner

You guessed it @Canugghead.  Free shipping too