Vacuum Sealers...

[Lecterfan]

Hi guys,

hops are going madder than I expected them to. I've done a couple of wet hopped brews but still have at least 1.5 kg of cascade flowers, 1kg of chinook and 300 gms of hersbrucker all still on the bine.

I think it was Bizier who posted a link to a vac sealer on ebay (and thank you for that!) that was pretty well priced, but was wondering if anyone had feedback about them - brands, reliability, useability etc.

I have heard some of the cheaper ones need a glass of orange juice and a 40 minute nap between each bag, and then there are the compatability issues with bags etc.

As always, all feedback appreciated.

(or if anyone local has one I could use - will pay for all materials and repay with fresh hops and/or a few bottles of APA).

Cheers.

 

[The Pope]

I use Zip-vac bags which I discovered at my local fishing tackle store.
They are reusuable and come in an array of small to large sizes. Here is a link http://www.zipvac.com.au/

And heres a few short videos to see how easy they are to use...

 

[probablynathan]

I got a Bigland Vacuum Sealer off ebay last year for around $50 and have had no problems with it.

Had a quick look on ebay this looks like the new model.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-2011-Vacuum-Foo...#ht_4208wt_1139

best of luck with your hops. I cant wait until my plant are giving yields like that.

 

[bignath]

I use Zip-vac bags which I discovered at my local fishing tackle store.
They are reusuable and come in an array of small to large sizes. Here is a link http://www.zipvac.com.au/

And heres a few short videos to see how easy they are to use...

I use this system too. But, BEWARE of dodgy bags though. The valves that are on these bags can fail very easily.
I bought the "starter kit" from the local fishing shop, and loved it. Way too easy, good seal, excellent! So i went back to get a packet of bags, got them home and pulled the first bag out, and the valve fell off. Oh well, try another bag, same thing. third bag did it too. Took them back and he gave me another packet of bags. Out of that pack, i had 5 or 6 bags fail with the valve. The valve has three very small and weak tabs that locate themselves to the other part of the valve to lock it all down. If one of these fail, the valve doesn't want to stay airtight, and then they are useless.

Recommendation would be, have a look at this system, as it's a great idea, but if you get extra bags, ask if you can check them in the shop before you buy them. A good zip vac seal won't want to undo very much at all (1/4 turn AT MOST), but if it want's to undo more than a 1/4 turn, don't buy them.
I do love the system, as it's been well thought out in theory, and am hoping i've just had a horrible run of bad luck with the bags.

 

[browndog]

I recently purchased that Bigland model in the link above for $79 and am very pleased with it. It only takes a few seconds to create the vacuum and seal and seems to be well constructed.

cheers

Browndog

 

[stef]

I got an ebay one. $40 delivered. Works well- i thought it'd be a bit crappy, but once i worked out the little intricacies of how the bag has to be placed just so etc, it works a treat!

I'll find a link to ebay and post if you are interested.

 

[davo4772]

I recently purchased that Bigland model in the link above for $79 and am very pleased with it. It only takes a few seconds to create the vacuum and seal and seems to be well constructed.

cheers

Browndog

Hi,

Can you use any brand/type of vacuume bag or are they specific to the model ?


Cheers

Dave

 

[brando]

I recently purchased that Bigland model in the link above for $79 and am very pleased with it. It only takes a few seconds to create the vacuum and seal and seems to be well constructed.

cheers

Browndog

Did you buy an extra bag roll? Or have you worked out some alternative to buying their bags?

 

[Florian]

Did you buy an extra bag roll? Or have you worked out some alternative to buying their bags?

The bags look similar to the sunbeam foodsaver ones, but I think they're at least as expensive, and not sure if they're really compatible, but keen to find out. The sunbeam sealer doesn't work with normal bags without air venting ribs, and I assume the ebay foodsaver does the same.

 

[Nevalicious]

I got one of these

I also got these while I was there

Excellent quality for the price, works really well. A few of us from the Adelaide chapter bought them. All have had good reports

 

[Steve@PMF82]

I got my MAXKON of crazy sales .com.au about a year ago.
It was pretty cheap, got a few rolls of bags with it as well.
Has not skipped a beat and i use it for evrerything around the kitchen.
I even got those various sizes of jars to go with it as well.

 

[mika]

Got a Sunbeam Foodsaver and it seems to work pretty well, though truth be told I don't use it all that often. Have wondered about upgrading to a unit that can do the mylar type bags, but don't really know what models will do that or even what they're worth.

 

[Lecterfan]

Thanks for the replies and Pms!

I was avoiding an internet purchase due to bad past experiences, but maxkon sounds like an affordable and reliable option. The Adelaide chapter wouldn't give me a bum steer haha. Cheap postage too.

Anyway, I'll probably do a major harvest mid week which gives me a few days to ponder.

:icon_chickcheers:

 

[browndog]

Hi,

Can you use any brand/type of vacuume bag or are they specific to the model ?


Cheers

Dave

Not sure Dave, but they all work the same way so I would imagine the bags are all the same (exept for the silver coffee bags with the clip type seal that is)

cheers

Browndog

 

[browndog]

Did you buy an extra bag roll? Or have you worked out some alternative to buying their bags?

The deal I got came with 12 ready to go bags and two free rolls of bags. Enough to last a couple of years of hop bagging.

cheers

Browndog

 

[MarkBastard]

I got one from the bulk buy here, mainly because it didn't need special bags.

My feedback: Sometimes it doesn't seal properly, if there's any overlap in the plastic so it can be hard with hops.

Sometimes the vacuum nozzle doesn't retract properly either.

But other than that it's good.

 

[Phoney]

+1 on a Maxkon. Hasnt skipped a beat and you can use just about any bag. You just have to make sure you pull the bag tight before you close down the hood otherwise you end up with a crease and that doesn't seal properly.

I saw vacuum sealers at Hardly Normal the other day for $249! WTF. No wonder Gerry Harvey hates online shoppers.

 

[TidalPete]

A lot of us went in a bulk buy from The packaging Centre a couple of years ago. TTBOMM the price was just under $100 & the unit is similar to the one priced at $159. Very happy with my vacuum sealer. Even if it is an el cheapo it does the job. If I recall correctly they also sell cheap bags as well? It will also seal those aluminium bags that some of the above sponsers sell their hops in.
No harm in trying to get another bulk buy started if you're keen & the price per unit will probably drop.

TP

PS --- IIRC the seller gave AHB a special discount so it might pay to ask about this?

 

[Bizier]

I am currently on these bags - they are seemingly genuine Food Saver branded ones, and work fantastically. I got them for the claims of oxygen, but I think that at my last (recent) time of purchase, that these represented the best value for money in terms of bag quality.

I will reiterate that my current cheap sealer unit (Maxkon) is immensely better than my previous Food Saver branded Sunbeam. Hey, if you happen to kill it, buy another. Spend the extra money on better bags (perhaps to a point). We use it daily for food, and it doesn't look like conking out for ages, plus you can much more easily prevent drowing this kind of unit.

 

[Lecterfan]

Thanks again everyone - last question: I've borrowed a vac sealer but I am going to need more bags than what came with it... it is a made in China no brand "vacuum preservation system". Do you reckon if I fly down to Big W and get a roll of the sunbeam, foodsaver bags they will work on this? Surely all these things are much of a muchness from a design point of view?

I am stoked with the hoppage! And finally a couple of days weather in Ballarat that might actually dry the second harvest out!