Walton's Grinders
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Should I pull the trigger and get the new Walton’s #12 grinder or wait and get the #22…what are the pros and cons…I’m just a hobby sausage maker and do a 12# batch every week or so…no I don’t eat 12# of sausage a week, I give most of it away to friends and family :)…thanks in advance for your thoughts !!!
Mcjagger If you are fine with the extra cost, weight and size of the #22, I can’t imagine how you’ll ever go wrong with a #22 grinder. That said, a good #12 (and I have every reason to believe that the Walton’s #12 is excellent) serves a darned good portion of all home processors.
I have a #12 (not the Walton’s since I bought it before Walton’s got their own brand), and I am very happy with it. I do 10# batches of sausage, and I’m settling in to to around one per month. That’s about as much of my grinder as I ask, and I know that my grinder can handle at least twice that demand. There may be a day when I’ll want a #22, but it’ll probably be a while.
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Mcjagger If you are fine with the extra cost, weight and size of the #22, I can’t imagine how you’ll ever go wrong with a #22 grinder. That said, a good #12 (and I have every reason to believe that the Walton’s #12 is excellent) serves a darned good portion of all home processors.
I have a #12 (not the Walton’s since I bought it before Walton’s got their own brand), and I am very happy with it. I do 10# batches of sausage, and I’m settling in to to around one per month. That’s about as much of my grinder as I ask, and I know that my grinder can handle at least twice that demand. There may be a day when I’ll want a #22, but it’ll probably be a while.
TexLaw I agree, I have a #12 & #22 and my #12 gets the majority of the work these days. The #22 gets called in when we have a 100lb+ long weekend 2-3X a year. Bought the #22 first as was the best deal at the time and my small #12 died at the start of a long sausage weekend.
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I have only owned a #12 commercial grade grinder and while a #22 has some appeal, I have never felt like I needed more speed or capacity. The grinding rate is never the bottleneck in my meat processing operation. If I were doing more than 50 lbs of meat at a time, then I might consider upsizing the grinder, but that won’t be happening in my lifetime.
IMO, for the hobbyist doing batch sizes of 50 lbs and under, a more important factor than grinder size is over-all build-quality and features, like a steel gearbox, a decent quality electric motor and quality knives and plates kept sharp.
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I have only owned a #12 commercial grade grinder and while a #22 has some appeal, I have never felt like I needed more speed or capacity. The grinding rate is never the bottleneck in my meat processing operation. If I were doing more than 50 lbs of meat at a time, then I might consider upsizing the grinder, but that won’t be happening in my lifetime.
IMO, for the hobbyist doing batch sizes of 50 lbs and under, a more important factor than grinder size is over-all build-quality and features, like a steel gearbox, a decent quality electric motor and quality knives and plates kept sharp.
processhead wanting a grinder… looking at #12 / #22… #32 is way to big as I have used a buddies… I will be processing 200# meat each year and will probably do that over a couple of weekends… I should have bought the Waltons when they threw them on sale… wonder when that will happen again… lol what do you consider a commercial model?
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processhead wanting a grinder… looking at #12 / #22… #32 is way to big as I have used a buddies… I will be processing 200# meat each year and will probably do that over a couple of weekends… I should have bought the Waltons when they threw them on sale… wonder when that will happen again… lol what do you consider a commercial model?
Ozgrams said in Walton's Grinders:
processhead wanting a grinder… looking at #12 / #22… #32 is way to big as I have used a buddies… I will be processing 200# meat each year and will probably do that over a couple of weekends… I should have bought the Waltons when they threw them on sale… wonder when that will happen again… lol what do you consider a commercial model?
A commercial model would be one designed for use several times a week and possibly even daily in a business operation. They have good quality motors, gearboxes and bearings that standup to regular use. They usually are built to higher sanitary standards and hold up to regular washdowns without the water getting to the electrical system or gearbox.
Contrast that to consumer grade units that will skimp on the above features to keep them affordable for the hobby processer who will use the grinder a few time per year.
A couple of commercial brands are Hobart and Biro. Do an ebay search for used commercial grinders and you will see the commercial types. Commercial grade stuff is pricey, even when used. If you watch the business auctions for restaurants, caterers, grocery stores, deli’s you can sometimes pick up a good unit for a lot less.
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processhead wanting a grinder… looking at #12 / #22… #32 is way to big as I have used a buddies… I will be processing 200# meat each year and will probably do that over a couple of weekends… I should have bought the Waltons when they threw them on sale… wonder when that will happen again… lol what do you consider a commercial model?
Ozgrams I have the weston butcher series #12 from waltons. Very happy with it. The problem for me with something like a hobart is you need a place to set it up and leave it. If you dont have a place to leave one set up, I really recommend you look at the weights of each one
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Ozgrams I have the weston butcher series #12 from waltons. Very happy with it. The problem for me with something like a hobart is you need a place to set it up and leave it. If you dont have a place to leave one set up, I really recommend you look at the weights of each one
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kyle yea that is a consideration… I am sure I would use one more often if I had it more then one month out of the year .
Ozgrams
I have the #22 Butcher Series. It’s a beast. It will also run the mixers if you need that. -
Ozgrams
I have the #22 Butcher Series. It’s a beast. It will also run the mixers if you need that.PapaSop that might be a future purchase… how much do you use the #22… seems some have a larger grinder and then a #5 or so for some small weekly batching… hows the Waltons models doing … I liked the looks and I think they are built by Weston, correct? Hearing rumors of Bass Pro / Cabelas possibly having new manufacturer OR eliminating them all together so even though I could get one from them its not sounding like a great investment.
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processhead wanting a grinder… looking at #12 / #22… #32 is way to big as I have used a buddies… I will be processing 200# meat each year and will probably do that over a couple of weekends… I should have bought the Waltons when they threw them on sale… wonder when that will happen again… lol what do you consider a commercial model?
Ozgrams I have #12 & #22. The #22 was our work horse until I purchased the #12. We used to to an average of 100+lbs a month when everyone’s family was younger, still use it for the holiday making events. The #12 is now my primary, about 30 lbs/mo with no issues. Buy something solid and with a good rep. Lots of good input here from folks.
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always get the best quality you can afford even if you need to save for it and you will never be disappointed
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Ozgrams I have #12 & #22. The #22 was our work horse until I purchased the #12. We used to to an average of 100+lbs a month when everyone’s family was younger, still use it for the holiday making events. The #12 is now my primary, about 30 lbs/mo with no issues. Buy something solid and with a good rep. Lots of good input here from folks.
YooperDog and others … i know go big or go home… lol I am torn between the 12 and 22… if a 12 will run say 200# one month and then just as needed I think 12 would be fine as I have access to a #32 if I need to run larger batches. seems Weston and also LEM are front runners on the home front. I am still looking used but only if its a clean well taken care of unit . love the comments
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YooperDog and others … i know go big or go home… lol I am torn between the 12 and 22… if a 12 will run say 200# one month and then just as needed I think 12 would be fine as I have access to a #32 if I need to run larger batches. seems Weston and also LEM are front runners on the home front. I am still looking used but only if its a clean well taken care of unit . love the comments
Ozgrams don’t be like a neighbor though. Borrowed my #12 almost a month ago to grind up his deer, still hasn’t started. My sausage making is falling behind and he is running out of time. He will repay me with some quality craft beers, but he is quite the procrastinator. I am guessing he is hoping that I will come over and do it for him. This is his first time doing any processing of his deer, so I will give him a break. For now.
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I was in the market for a #12 and had my heart set on a cabelas carnivore for the reverse feature. Retail new $399. I then found a new in box #22 on fb marketplace for $400. Bought it for $300 cash. Glad I found it when I saw how much larger the throat was over the #12. Now I can run larger cuts thru and the extra 1/4hp should push a mixer nicely.
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I was in the market for a #12 and had my heart set on a cabelas carnivore for the reverse feature. Retail new $399. I then found a new in box #22 on fb marketplace for $400. Bought it for $300 cash. Glad I found it when I saw how much larger the throat was over the #12. Now I can run larger cuts thru and the extra 1/4hp should push a mixer nicely.
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I have a #32 with a belt pulley and 1 1/2hp motor. Built it 20 plus yrs ago and ground tons of venison with it. Love that giant grinder plate. Eats fast and efficient but can’t hook a mixer to it. So I bought the #22 carnivore. If I could get a #32 for the price of a #22 I would have jumped on it for the throat size alone. Although a #22 is bigger than I really need. I tell the wife it’s not always about need…
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PapaSop that might be a future purchase… how much do you use the #22… seems some have a larger grinder and then a #5 or so for some small weekly batching… hows the Waltons models doing … I liked the looks and I think they are built by Weston, correct? Hearing rumors of Bass Pro / Cabelas possibly having new manufacturer OR eliminating them all together so even though I could get one from them its not sounding like a great investment.
Ozgrams
Probably 4-5 times a year. Went with the #22 just for driving the 44# mixer if I need to. -
Just found WAY more venison than I thought I had. Lucked out and found cabelas mixers back in stock. Supposed to b on the fedex truck today… the waiting is killin me! Have 30lbs of meat thawing right now
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well went and looked at the carnivore since i do have a gift card and something about HAVING to have a cooler collar on it tells me its riddled with issues and reviews stating it can cook meat in the grinder. have no doubts its an ok grinder BUT i dont want to have to disassemble mid way… was going to get the #22 Weston Pro BUT saw Bed bath and beyond carries the Pro #32 and 20% off its same price as the #22… went big … hahaha appreciate all the input… did see a pro-cut #22 for $250 near the house but was missing tray and the gland nut and plate… mfg in 2019… sounded like a headache with a potentially great grinder …
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