Snack stick blues
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Where did you find your actuator? That looks sorta like the one on the dump box of my UTV.
Great looking retrofit. -
I also stripped the gears on a cheapish stuffer, but reworked the mounting system, took out the crank, and installed a linear actuator (12 v, 330 lbs thrust) with a transformer and bidirectional switch. Works great, now!
It’s a 5-lber, and I have a load of horns for it. Kitchen counter for size, lazy susan for sausage pickup to make it an easy 1-person job. Maybe you can do something similar.
Cheers from chilly Winnipeg!Harkness pretty ingenious
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Where did you find your actuator? That looks sorta like the one on the dump box of my UTV.
Great looking retrofit. -
glen an 8 point socket will work auto parts or farm supply , they use square
bolts on farm equipment -
When using a conventional stuffer Instead of using a crank, I use a socket and a 1/2" ratchet which enables you to pull all the time and not have to push on the back stroke which is a lot harder for old fellows.
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There’s also the “Universal Socket Fit” on Amazon and Ebay which is essentially a socket with rods that fit around the head/deformed or not; they start at various external diameters and work down. If that’s the way you want to go, ebay is cheapest and Amazon is quickest. Cost is inverse to speed. Cheers from Winnipeg!
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bobfrapples
I had the same problem with my cast iron stuffer when making small diameter sticks. They just don’t have the mechanical advantage you need to push the meat through that tiny stuffer tube.I made a longer handle for more leverage. It works wonders and makes the old cast iron stuffers usable for stuffing snack sticks.
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bobfrapples If the seal was the right way and you had so much water and pressure that it broke the seal and splashed yu in the face I’d guess something is blocking your tube? I never asked what size stuffing tube you were using? Is it possible that a chunk of something blocked the tube? I have experimented with stuffing partially frozen meat, and if it gets blocked what you are describing can happen.
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I also stripped the gears on a cheapish stuffer, but reworked the mounting system, took out the crank, and installed a linear actuator (12 v, 330 lbs thrust) with a transformer and bidirectional switch. Works great, now!
It’s a 5-lber, and I have a load of horns for it. Kitchen counter for size, lazy susan for sausage pickup to make it an easy 1-person job. Maybe you can do something similar.
Cheers from chilly Winnipeg! -
bobfrapples If the seal was the right way and you had so much water and pressure that it broke the seal and splashed yu in the face I’d guess something is blocking your tube? I never asked what size stuffing tube you were using? Is it possible that a chunk of something blocked the tube? I have experimented with stuffing partially frozen meat, and if it gets blocked what you are describing can happen.
Jonathon the stuffing tube doesn’t have a label but I think it’s an un-tapered 12mm. I don’t think anything was blocking the end because it happened too many times. However, I did some closer inspection last night and the seal does have a little nick in it, not sure if this happened before our struggle or during our struggle but I’d suspect that could be a big reason as well.
Some very good points and ideas on here, thanks everyone. Now it’s decision time for me, fix “cheap” stuffer, improve cast iron stuffer as shown above, or buy one of the stuffers on this website. I must admit, the smooth elbow at the bottom, having 2 different crank speeds, etc. seem like a big advantage. From what I’ve read and seen online, they also look very well built.
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processhead I think the problem is the cast iron doesn’t have the air release valve. Same issue I had when using my grinder as a stuffer. I have the Lem 5# and love it. I know Walton’s has several similar. Highly recommend!
jjischke I personally have not experienced trapped air in my cast iron stuffers.
I generally just fill the cylinder with sausage mix and as I compress the mix during the first couple of cranks, I hear any trapped air vent out past the piston.
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