AFTER the trad harvest- grinder suggestions?

[Hawkeye]

OK, Gang-

You've taken your recurve to the woods, and skillfully sent a sharp broadhead though both lungs (AND clipped the artery under the spine) of a 2 1/2 year old buck.  He is down in 60 yards, and the processing part of the hunt is underway.  What do you recommend for an electric meat grinder for game?

I enjoyed this success a week ago, and it took me 1 1/2 hours to grind two heaping Tupperware bowls of well-trimmed meat from my 165# field dressed buck on a little electric grinder I received several years ago as a gift. Enough!!!  It is time to make an investment in something better and faster.

I've searched the Trad Gang archives, but see only a couple brief threads from several years ago. What do have you found to be the best grinder for a tired ol' Ganger?

I'd appreciate your input...

[doug77]

Buy one that you can grind the burger right into the tubes,it save a lot of time. I got mine a Cabales about 4-5 years ago it 1/3 HP and plenty good enough to do a deer or two.

doug77

[swp]

I have a .5 horsepower LEM, if I had it to do over I would get a little larger HP w/reverse gear(Cabelas). This one works fine as long as you don't get too much meat in it at one time. Then you have to take it apart to unclog it.

[Rock 'N Bow]

I use a 3/4 hp Realtree Outfitters grinder I bought at a sporting goods shop. It grinds as fast as I can load it and also has a sausage stuffing attachment.

[Kentucky Jeff]

I have a used Hobart commercial grinder I bout from a restaurant supply store several years ago.  They get scarce during hunting season and easier to find in the spring.  Look on Craigslist, ****, and the local restaurant supply houses.  Search craigslist for restaurant equipment...

If you don't have any luck and need it quicker go buy the 3/4 to 1 HP LEM machine and don't look back.  You will never be sorry you went with the bigger HP and you don't need a reverse speed with the bigger machines because they never clog up...EVER!

The bigger machines also generate less heat which is better for your sausage making as the meat is processed quicker.  Sausage meat should be COLD meat...

[karrow]

as far as brand names and hp im not much help. i can say the grinder we have is a 220volt an older model. it will handel anything you can fit in the tube. so you might look at a 220volt type if thats an option for. so any way good luck in your search

[mwosborn]

Like anything, you can spend as much as you want!  Personally I don't think you need a commercial grade grinder to grind up a few deer a year.  I've been processing my own deer for 30 years - last year seven deer.  Three so far this year.  I use the smaller grinder you can get from cabelas for under $100.  The key to good grinding with this type of grinder is to cut your meat into small chunks before grinding (2"x2" or so).  If you grind long skinny pieces, the connective tissue will not grind and begin wrapping around your blades and cause problems.

If you don't mind a little extra time in cutting into chunks this works great.  If you don't want to mess with it - buy the $500 grinder from cabelas.

Also agree with Kentucky Jeff - keep the meat cold!

[USN_Sam1385]

I bought a 1 HP stainless grinder from Northern Tool Company. Works like a champ. Can do 5 or 6 lbs a minute easily.

[dino]

I've burnt up two of the $100 grinders from Cabelas in past six or seven years.  20 to 25 deer and they are history.  I do between 6 and 12 deer a year.  Went with an LEM #8 this time around based upon use and attachment capablilities.  Put six deer thru it so far this year and it is a dream, which I would have got one sooner.

[DGW]

We bought the 1hp grinder from cabelas  and have used 2yrs. so far it works great and with the tube and bags and tape machine it makes grinding go fast.

[wingnut]

I've also got the 1 hp from Cabelas.  It doesn't even know it's got a load when you grind a hog or deer.

We've done 3 hogs in one morning.  Also buy about 10 turkeys this time of year and grind them.

Mike

[Recurve50 LBS]

I have a hand cranked onne I bought from Wally World that I use as a back up. I also have one that attatches to my Kitchen Aide mixer and cost $50.00. I don't kill many deer but this grinder works for what I use it for.

[huntingarcher]

I would go with the 1 hp grinder from Cabelas.You won't be sorry with going with a larger grinder than you really need.I just got a Hot Buy sale catalog from Cabelas yesterday and thier grinders are on sale now.The 1 hp with reverse is 399.99 sale ends Dec.5.

[Bjorn]

The 1 HP job from Northern Tool is great and you can get it on the Internet!

[MTArrowLauncher]

i use the one that  attaches to my KithcenAid mixer as well. works great

[guspup]

I use the kitchen aid attachment also. Works great, and has a sausage stuffer attachment also.

[Richard in OK]

When my mother passed away I inherited her mother's hand grinder -- certainly older than I am (67). It works fine and, best of all, it cost nothing and connects me to family history.

Richard

[PICKNGRIN]

LEM 3/4 h.p. works great!  I have also had good luck with the $129 one from Northern Equip., but it alot louder than the LEM.

[Hawkeye]

Thanks to everyone for the information and ideas.  After a lot of research, my two leading contenders were coming out to be the 3/4 HP LEM and the 1 HP Cabela's grinders (either can be had for $399 if you watch what you're doing).  I was hoping there might be something else good out there that I not aware of, but you've reinforced my thinking.

I actually bought a 3/4 LEM last week off Amazon (through a business marketing through them) for a too-good-to-be-true price of $198 plus $30 shipping. The photo was right, the description was right, it had all the accessories and a two-year new factory warranty.

Well, it evidently WAS too good to be true! I received order confirmation and shipping info on the correct product, but what arrived by FedEx was an LEM Insulated Electric SMOKER!

They are "apologetic" and will give me a refund, but will NOT ship the grinder I bought in good faith. They said they don't even carry the grinder, and the whole mistake is not THEIR fault, but that of the distributor who printed the SKU number wrong. I am disputing their business practices with them, but don't expect I'll get anywhere in the end. We'll see what Amazon has to say about it all...

So, I'm still leaning toward the LEM, but some of you have impressed me with your comments on the Cabela's 1 HP.

I grew up on a farm, and have done MANY dozens of hogs and deer through a hand crank grinder.  While my Dad was living, we converted it to pulley and belt drive, but it was a finger amputation waiting to happen, and takes two people to operate.  

Tried the grinder adapter on my wife's Kitchen Aide mixer, but it felt like too much for it.  The $60 Walmart special I got from a friend has worked, but takes W-A-Y too long!  That's why I'm looking.

Thanks again for your help and comments.  I really appreciate it all!

Daryl

[oxnam]

Originally posted by huntingarcher:
I would go with the 1 hp grinder from Cabelas.You won't be sorry with going with a larger grinder than you really need.I just got a Hot Buy sale catalog from Cabelas yesterday and thier grinders are on sale now.The 1 hp with reverse is 399.99 sale ends Dec.5.

I bought this earlier this year and have ground three mule deer.  The grinder is awesome and had no trouble at all even with the second grinding.  This one gets my vote.  Never have needed the reverse yet.

It is fast and has a lot of power.  It ground everything as fast as I could put it in.  To top if off, Cabela's provides a great warranty on these.