Chamber sealers.

alaskanassasin

Looking at the VP-220. For anyone with chamber sealer experience is the 

• Chamber size (W x L x H): 12.5″ x 15.25″ x 5″
  
  
  Big or big enough? I have a hard time visualizing those dimensions. It seems like everything I vacuum seal has some liquid that screws me up.
  
  

lkapigian

@nolaegghead … I need an want one, but I get past the moisture issue by par freezing “ wet stuff” 

alaskanassasin

lkapigian said:

@nolaegghead … I need an want one, but I get past the moisture issue by par freezing “ wet stuff” 

I know he has one maybe I’ll call him on my drive home… but I’m sure he won’t try and talk me out if it, you don’t call Nola to get talked out of buying something.  I have park froze but I also like to finish something and move on.

alaskanassasin

@Canugghead might have one too… live without it or best purchase ever?

JohnInCarolina

Have a chamber sealer (one Nola recommended) and it’s great.  The ability to vac seal liquids easily is a game changer for sure.

Only downside is that it’s pretty large and heavy.  You need a dedicated spot for the thing.  They’re not easy to move around.  

I think I saw that Anova (?) may have just put one out.  Probably worth checking out.

lkapigian

JohnInCarolina said:

Have a chamber sealer (one Nola recommended) and it’s great.  The ability to vac seal liquids easily is a game changer for sure.

Only downside is that it’s pretty large and heavy.  You need a dedicated spot for the thing.  They’re not easy to move around.  

I think I saw that Anova (?) may have just put one out.  Probably worth checking out.

Had to look, dirt cheap at under 300, did not see dimensions 

Ozzie_Isaac

lkapigian said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Have a chamber sealer (one Nola recommended) and it’s great.  The ability to vac seal liquids easily is a game changer for sure.

Only downside is that it’s pretty large and heavy.  You need a dedicated spot for the thing.  They’re not easy to move around.  

I think I saw that Anova (?) may have just put one out.  Probably worth checking out.

Had to look, dirt cheap at under 300, did not see dimensions 

$244 right now

caliking

alaskanassasin said:

Looking at the VP-220. For anyone with chamber sealer experience is the 

• Chamber size (W x L x H): 12.5″ x 15.25″ x 5″
  
  
  Big or big enough? I have a hard time visualizing those dimensions. It seems like everything I vacuum seal has some liquid that screws me up.
  
  

My understanding is that you shouldn't have that issue with a chamber sealer, but its common with Foodsaver type vac sealers.

@Canugghead has one, and will hopefully chime in.

And, don't seal up hot liquids in a chamber sealer. Because... physics. 

Ozzie_Isaac

Taking one for the team.  Ordered an Anova Chamber Sealer. $244 is less than groceries today, figured I would try it out.

Will let you all know what I think.

alaskanassasin

I watched that whole thing unfold @Ozzie_Isaac two posts back I said “wait for it…”

Photo Egg

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Taking one for the team.  Ordered an Anova Chamber Sealer. $244 is less than groceries today, figured I would try it out.

Will let you all know what I think.

We’re you able to find any info on max bag size it will take? Only one size bag on their web site but they still don’t tell you the size.

HeavyG

I've got an Avid Armor USV20 which is the cousin of the Anova chamber vac. They are essentially the same vac but the Anova has their controls in a different location. I've had mine for a year or so and haven't had any problems.

It's a great little unit. Very lightweight.

The Anova sale price is a helluva deal.

alaskanassasin

@nolaegghead wants me to get a freeze dryer… but absolutely endorsed the chamber sealer.

Ozzie_Isaac

Photo Egg said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Taking one for the team.  Ordered an Anova Chamber Sealer. $244 is less than groceries today, figured I would try it out.

Will let you all know what I think.

We’re you able to find any info on max bag size it will take? Only one size bag on their web site but they still don’t tell you the size.

As near as I can tell 11.5" x 10", but thatbis based on comparisons to the Avid Armor V20, which as @Heavy said look like cousins.  There isn't much technical info on the Anova.  They keep pointing you to their $$$ bags.

ColbyLang

I thought hard about the Anova one for the price. My problem is place to put it. 

ColbyLang

Oh, and they be outta the expensive bags

Ozzie_Isaac

ColbyLang said:

Oh, and they be outta the expensive bags

I bought 250 bags (Avid Armor brand) off Amazon for $25.  Still a bit steep, but way better than the Anova priced bags.  Hopefully they work.  Internets say they will.

Ozzie_Isaac

alaskanassasin said:

I watched that whole thing unfold @Ozzie_Isaac two posts back I said “wait for it…”

This is like the worst AA group ever.

Photo Egg

Ozzie_Isaac said:

alaskanassasin said:

I watched that whole thing unfold @Ozzie_Isaac two posts back I said “wait for it…”

This is like the worst AA group ever.

At times it seems worse than a pyramid scam… 

HeavyG

ColbyLang said:

Oh, and they be outta the expensive bags

They will use any vac seal bags - you don't have to buy the Anova branded bags. The Anova/Avid Armor large bags are just an unusual size which probably adds a few pennies to the price.

Chamber vac bags tend to be cheaper than  the "food saver" type of bags as they don't require the embossed type of bags. However, you can use the embossed bags inside the chamber vac. If you want to use your chamber vac to seal something that is too large to fit into the chamber you can hang the bag on the outside of the chamber BUT if you do that trick you HAVE to use the embossed type of bags otherwise they can't suck the air out of the bag.

Canugghead

will share my .4 nickle later

Canugghead

late to the party...
My vp215 chamber is a tad smaller, sealing a large whole chicken is no problem, although sometimes I wish it’s bigger, the old FS gets the job for items that don’t fit. The larger vp220 and 230 chamber size should accommodate most needs. May not be a bad idea to fill the empty space with rigid blocks when sealing multiple small items, it’ll save time and wear n tear on the pump.

Reminder, when sealing liquid make sure it's cooled, even luke warm is no bueno, leave plenty of head space and watch closely, I hit the manual stop button as soon as I see the contents bubbling or moving towards the seal bar.

Have the vp215 since 2015, it’s by far our most useful/used gadget. Like others said it’s Heavy and sits on a stainless steel cart on wheels. Back then it was the cheapest entry level sealer with rotary oil pump that I could find, my family thought I was insane spending 1k albeit in CAD on it.

It comes in handy for sealing all sorts of stuff, couple of examples...

Bought big jar of costco ketchup and divided it into pouches, squeeze out as needed, easier than fighting with squeeze bottle and not wasting ketchup stuck in it


Home made play dough for the grand kid, resealed in milk bag to be frozen for next time.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

alaskanassasin said:

lkapigian said:

@nolaegghead … I need an want one, but I get past the moisture issue by par freezing “ wet stuff” 

I know he has one maybe I’ll call him on my drive home… but I’m sure he won’t try and talk me out if it, you don’t call Nola to get talked out of buying something.  I have park froze but I also like to finish something and move on.

100% truth. 

alaskanassasin

Thank you @Canugghead

CTMike

caliking said:

And, don't seal up hot liquids in a chamber sealer. Because... physics. 

There ya go again, raining on his parade by getting all science-cy and stuff. 

caliking

CTMike said:

caliking said:

And, don't seal up hot liquids in a chamber sealer. Because... physics. 

There ya go again, raining on his parade by getting all science-cy and stuff. 

Rain on a parade is way better than an exploding bag of gravy!

ColbyLang

So what’s the thought on the Anova model? Too small of an interior chamber for serious use? Ain’t gonna lie that $250 looks way better to my wallet than $1000 for a vac master

caliking

alaskanassasin said:

Thank you @Canugghead

@Canugghead didn't mention that the VP is somewhat user serviceable. I don't know if that is true about the Anova or Avid Armor ones.

Photo Egg

ColbyLang said:

So what’s the thought on the Anova model? Too small of an interior chamber for serious use? Ain’t gonna lie that $250 looks way better to my wallet than $1000 for a vac master

Honestly, no one can make a better call on this than you can.
‘Custom cut a bag to the max size of the unit you are looking to buy. In this case 11” wide and 10” long. Even a zip loc bag works. Knowing you need additional space in the front of the bag for sealing, is this bag big enough to serve your purpose?
I also found watching videos online to see what others are sealing in a specific model helps a bunch.

ColbyLang

@Photo Egg, have a non chamber sealer that’s got some age on it but works for the larger things. Went ahead and bought. Will return if deemed too small to pack cuts of meat and 8 speckled trout filets per pouch. Thanks for the insight 

Photo Egg

ColbyLang said:

@Photo Egg, have a non chamber sealer that’s got some age on it but works for the larger things. Went ahead and bought. Will return if deemed too small to pack cuts of meat and 8 speckled trout filets per pouch. Thanks for the insight 

Sounds like a perfect plan.