I was wondering what a good grinder would be and one that would be pretty affordable. We have been doing our own game for a while but we started with a cheap grinder and it is on its last leg. We are going to get a new one and I thought I would has your guys opinion on a good one. I have read some stuff and they say that a #8 would be good or something like that. Anything will help. Our budget is about $200 to 300. I would prefer the $200 dollar range. Also if anyone knows anything about the hobart mixer grinder attachment that would be great as well. Thanks

Hobart is the preferred manufacturer for most commercial uses. The problem would be if your mixer has enough horsepower to generate sufficient grinding power. I would personally prefer to go with a grinder, rather than an attachment. Bass Pro has the LEM brands starting at $249.99, and up to $699.99. The major item of importance is keeping the knives sharpened properly, and cleaning the silver skin and sinew from the meat prior to grinding. These will clog up a grinder very quickly, as well as causing the knives to get dull. Check around and see if there are any restaurant supply houses near you, they will often have used equipment for sale (usually from a failed restaurant that was leasing the fixtures and equipment).
You may be able to find some brands for less money, but I would venture to say you would also get less than stellar performance from them.

RT, unless you know something I don't, wouldn't a mixer just make "mush" out of meat?

I bought a Grinder at Wal-Mart a few years ago for $60.00 and it has ground everything I have put thru it, it also has a sausage tube with it!
I called the manufacture before I bought it and asked if it would grind Deer, they said they grind about ten deer a year with the same type I was enterested in!
I have no complaints with the one I have, plus its all stainless steel just like the more expensive one's are!

Grizzly, there are attachment type grinders that fit onto the motor of some mixers. These don't attach where the beaters would be, so know they don't make "mush". These are not hand held mixers, but are the commercial type that are permanently mounted on a stand of some type. The older Hobart, is a prime example.

I ALMOST bought the meat grinding attachement for my Kitchen Aid commercial style mixer,.. but after thinking about it I decided to get a deticated machine built just for meat processing so I purchased a STX Turbo Force meat grinder. Let me tell you,... I WAS IMPRESSED !! This thing can go through the meat !! It cut my meat grinding time by 1/2 !! It has 2 forward speeds, stop, and 1 reverse speed.

http://www.amazon.com/STX-TURBO-FOR...B0012KJBR0

For the $130.00 it cost it,.... was WELL worth the money !!

RT, thanks for the info. Now I know what you're talking about! I remember seeing those old Hobart kitchen stuff. But 7 Mags link looks even better and the price is right up my alley Matter of fact, there's a Amazon.com real close to my house. It's in Campbellsville! One question though. Can I just go and pick one up or do I have to order it thru Amazon

Posted By Grizzly on 04 Sep 2010 05:58 PM
RT, thanks for the info. Now I know what you're talking about! I remember seeing those old Hobart kitchen stuff. But 7 Mags link looks even better and the price is right up my alley Matter of fact, there's a Amazon.com real close to my house. It's in Campbellsville! One question though. Can I just go and pick one up or do I have to order it thru Amazon

I wish I could give you a good hard answer to that question Grizzly,... but I live in Michigan I got mine online. I'm sure seeing you have a local outlet for them a phone call to them would answer your question. I know I'm VERY happy with mine. They had a video of this machine in action back when I got mine,.. I tried to find it and post the link to it as well but I couldn't locate it. They were grinding up whole boned pieces of chicken and pork making what they called "dog food" with it and it cut through them like butter without any hesitation,.. it convinced the hell out of me. I tried the same thing here at home when I received it. Ya' know what ?? It chewed them up just like in the video !!! Great machine for the bucks !!

I'll look into that Terry and I really appreciate the link. I would have never even given Amazon a second look! Next time I go by there, which is pretty regular, I'll make it a concerted effort to stop in. I'll see if I can't find a phone # for them, also.

Well at least you know it's out there,.. and you can order it online if necessary.

Don't wait too long however,.. there will be plenty of people looking for grinders as it's "That time of the year" !!

Thanks for all of the Comments I really appreciate it. Is there a certain size of grinder that would be better for a second grind on some things. I thought I had read something that said a #8 works great for that kind of thing. We grind a lot of deer every year (family thing) and the one we bought 4 years ago is about to die on us I think haha and I have just been looking at some to see what we should get. I will look into that one that you suggested. It sounded pretty good. Thanks again

balesk1,.. If I recall correctly this is a #8 grinder I've purchased and posted about above,..I'm telling you for the $130.00 this thing chews some meat. It comes with 3 grades of grinding fixtures,.. Course, medium, and fine plus a couple of cutting blades AND the sausage tubes for making link type sausages. Lots of stuff for the $$ !

Thanks 7mm We went with that grinder that you suggested. I didn't find anything comparable to it for the price. I think we will be happy with it we will see in a few months Thanks for everything!

Hey no problem,..that's what these boards are suppose to be all about,..hunters HELPING hunters,..

I certainly know that I'm happy with mine,..

well I see ya'll got him steered in the rite direction,I use the one from bass pro shops myself, and love it 369.00 +tax good buy tho.----------

I just picked up a force 2000 grinder from ebaY 129.00 incl shipping. Great unit and not expensive.!!I did a buffalo hunt in early oct and came home with about 250 lb of meat. after processing it i had about 60 lbs to grind. This machine went through it like a hot knife in butter. I have a friend who has one of the expensive cabelas grinders he now wishes he had know about this unit b4 he bought the cabelas unit. Johnny9