Originally posted by jtw
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Actually, Avid has a video showing how to seal outside the chamber, although I think you will probably still have to cut down the brisket to make it work. I have a clamshell style sealer and even though it has a large seal bar, a whole brisket is too large.Originally posted by jtw View Post
How To Vacuum Seal Externally On The USV20 Chamber Sealer | Avid Armor - YouTubeLast edited by GolfGeezer; February 6, 2024, 08:27 AM.Comment
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I use my chamber sealer to seal food that won't fit into the 11x13 bag which is the largest that my Avid Armor Ultra USV32 will take. It works pretty well--as well as Food Saver ever did, but not as dependably as my Vacmaster Pro vacuum sealer did.
Just as the video that GolfGeezer linked us to, you can use a vacuum sealer bag and seal with the bag on the outside of the chamber sealer. They recommend that you reduce the vacuum setting when sealing from the outside, which I have never done, but will do if I remember from now on.
The problem with sealing a bag from the outside of a chamber sealer is that it's sort of like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time.
You have to support the bag (or find a good support for it) with one hand and smooth the bag end section on the sealing bar, manipulate the controls and hold the lid down for a second or two after the vacuum starts with the other hand.
I can do it, but it's not as easy as just laying the bag on the counter and using the clamshell vac sealer (the Avid Armor AVS7900) that I have which has a single sealer line bar. I like the double sealing bar on the USV32 better, though, so that's why I usually try to use the Ultra USV32 whenever I can.
KathrynComment
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Do you worry about damaging/embossing the chamber gasket?
I plan to keep the old FoodSaver around for "external" large-object sealing until it finally dies ... and then is guess there will be a decision to be made (probably, like yourself, involving a new non-FoodSaver vacuum sealer). -
LMAO picturing Panhead John rubbing his belly and patting his head.
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Honestly, MBMorgan , I don' have the need to vac seal a bag externally using my chamber sealer all that often--probably less than 3% of the time, as in a handful of times a year, if that. So no, at that volume I don't worry about embossing the chamber gasket. YMMV, though.
K.
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I first weighed in on this thread on June 12, 2019 and still have struggled, cussed, and nearly cried over my Foodsaver until TODAY. I never replaced it because I knew I didn't want another vacuum sealer, but the price of the chamber sealers was putting me off. I finally just placed the order for the USV32 bundle to arrive Sunday. https://www.amazon.com/Avid-Armor-Ch.../dp/B0CPMG8W41
The last straw for me was a few days ago. I had 30 minutes before I needed to drive my son somewhere - should be plenty of time to seal up 8 small portions of beef I seared for sous vide. Well, 30 minutes later I was annoyed because I had only finished 6, and every one had been a struggle; my son was annoyed because we were running late; and I decided that was it for me.Comment
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Just used my Avid Armor to seal up like 8 lbs of sliced cheeses. Worked like a charm.
Love this thing, but one thing I DO miss about my food saver is the bag cutting/slicing mechanism. Having to cut all the bags by hand with a pair of scissors, as they're trying to roll up on me and crap, it's a PITA. UGH.Comment
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Wait, what? RichieB the AVS7900 is the one I've got. You're telling me there's a cutter on that thing somewhere? Sheisse, now I gotta go dig it back out of the cabinet and look... <sigh> -
Wow, yeah I went and looked, and there it is! I apparently COULD miss it, it's a little tab thing hidden on the inside of the unit you pull out. You're right, not fancy, but I think it should work. I'll try it out next time.
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This one I bought almost 2 years ago, works like a charm and has the built in bag storage and cutter mechanism. I’ll never have another food sealer without the built in cutter. Makes it so easy and you get perfectly straight cuts. I just noticed it’s got a $20. off coupon right now. Reg. $149.99
Potane Precision Vacuum Machine,Pro Food Sealer with Built-in Cutter and Bag Storage(Up to 20 Feet Length), Both Auto&Manual Options,2 Modes,Includes 2 Bag Rolls 11”x16’ and 8”x16’,Compact Design https://a.co/d/gaq62dYComment
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I'm extremely happy with my Meat Your Maker 12" external vac sealer ($100, they also have a "Pro" model at twice the price). That built-in cutting mechanism is sweet alright, can't imagine not having that feature. The one drawback on this unit is that you can do only 3 or 4 seals in rapid succession, then you have to give it a rest for the heating element to cool down. It gets hot enough to melt right through the plastic if you don't. So mass-production isn't very efficient, you have to work out some kind of dance that allows you to rest the heater for a few every so often.
And their instructions on how to properly mount the lip of the bag into the sealer are woefully inadequate, took me some trial and error to figure out. It would require a 30- to 45-second video to show the technique, you'd think they'd do that... But still highly satisfied.
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Dave, I’ve heard of that cool down period required for some vac sealers. An old Food Saver I had, had that same problem. The one I bought and mention above 👆, doesn’t require any cool down time at all. I’ve done 10 bags in a row and it keeps on chugging along. In the product description it says it can be used over 100 times continuously. -
Panhead John that's nice, my old Food Saver (which is still working!) has that cool down problem. Its my only complaint, especially when I'm freezing chicken breasts from BJs or something...
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I'm still using our Old Foodsaver with no roll cutter but I watch this thread in case I need to replace it someday. For cutting bag rolls I use a paper cutter like this. We've had it for a long time and I'm sure it is just cheap one.
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radshop , based on my experience with the Avid Armor USV32 , you're going to enjoy using it. I use mine at least a couple of times a week, sometimes more. I keep it on a rolling cart in a storage closet between uses so it doesn't take up countertop real estate.
It's a huge step up from a Foodsaver.
Let us know, after using it, if it meets your expectations.
KathrynComment
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Hey STEbbq I just happen to have it out on the counter. I picked this up at Cabella's about a year ago. It was not their most expensive model. It's the next one down. The most expensive one was too big to store in my cabinet.
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fzxdoc I have read through this post a couple times. About 1 year or so ago and in the last few days. Great information exchanged! I agree with others that this is one of the top threads on the forum. I cannot thank you enough for the initial post or the frequent updates and posts. The documented history of your pain and purchases has saved others money, time and frustration. Again Thank You Very Much!!!
I have a FoodSaver that is about 11 years old. It cannot keep up when there are several bags to be sealed in a short time. The seal bar over heats and doesn’t seal well. I do not mind so much, as I do not use it as much as my wife does. What I do mind is when Leslie, my better half, gets frustrated. Equipment gets replaced when that happens. We use the sealer about once a week to do a single bag and about once every other month a few bags at a time.
I like the idea of the chamber vacuum sealer. Our current use and counter top storage does not support a chamber sealer. Maybe in the future. I try to buy quality and do a fair amount of research before purchases. This post has provided a tremendous amount of information, so my research is all but done. I am willing to spend a little more for quality and I believe as you do “more is more”. I want the higher end product believing that the extra gets me higher quality, and it does sometimes.
Again, thank you for the wealth of information you and others provided. I think you should add Vacuum Queen to your existing tagline.
Last edited by RichardK; August 21, 2024, 05:11 PM.Comment
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What a lovely post, Richard. Thank you. I'm happy that this topic has helped you in your efforts to keep the frustration levels low at the old homestead.
There are few things worse in food management than an appliance not doing what it's supposed to do. That sends high Richter-type magnitudes through my brain as well.
Kathryn
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RichardK After reading about your problems with sealing after a few bags, I can vouch for this one. I’ve had it a couple of years now and it works flawlessly. I’ve sealed 10 bags in a row and it’s never had a sealing problem. In fact, I think it says in their info. you can do something like 100 bags in a row and it still keeps on ticking. Most of the time I usually just do a single seal on each end and I’ve never had one leak air into the bag. It also has a built in bag cutter and storage for a roll of bags. Anyway, if you’re in the market for one, give it a look see.
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RichardK , as PJ says you can't go wrong with a built-in (or not) bag cutter. It sounds so superfluous, but once you have it you never want to be without one.
When I bought my chamber sealer, I purchased a separate roll bag cutter for the times when I use it old school, sealing a very large bag outside of the chamber. I love that little gizmo.
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Kathryn, I remember when I got my first FoodSaver, no bag storage or cutter. Didn’t even know those were available. I actually had to cut my bags with scissors! How barbaric! 😳 -
fzxdoc and Panhead John My FS has a bag storage and cutter. It is a requirement for the next unit. I know what life would be without them.
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Welp, the foodsaver that Panhead John gave me has started burning through bags instead of sealing them. Thank you John for the entry into sealing! Now it is time for a new one. Is anyone seeing any epic Black Friday deals on decent sealers?Comment
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