Vacuum Packing

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alexlark
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Vacuum Packing

Post by alexlark » Sat Sep 10, 2016 7:15 am

Would never have thought how satisfying vacuum packing hops could be!

Bought the Andrew James vacuum packer off eBay £39.99, free postage compared to Amazon.

Just used it this morning to re-seal the hops after using what I needed. Also sealed another bag of hops all weighed out ready for the dry hop. Just wished I got one sooner rather than messing about with sticky tape. A cracking purchase.

gobuchul

Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by gobuchul » Sat Sep 10, 2016 7:34 am

I bought the same one last year.

I bought mainly as I bought some bulk hops and wanted to split them up.

I have used it to prepare hop additions a few days before a brew day, so I end up with 3 or 4 bags, for 60, 15, 5 and 0 minutes etc.

You can also use it to reseal the small bags of malt crystal and the like.

Very handy.

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Wonkydonkey
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Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by Wonkydonkey » Sat Sep 10, 2016 8:49 am

I got one, 2 years ago and have found that I seal everything up that I can nowh.
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alexlark
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Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by alexlark » Sat Sep 10, 2016 9:24 am

I think it's great that you can cut the bags and re-seal them, plus also re-use the empty hop bags. Mmm... what can I vacuum pack next lol

Matt in Birdham
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Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by Matt in Birdham » Sat Sep 10, 2016 9:46 am

alexlark wrote:I think it's great that you can cut the bags and re-seal them, plus also re-use the empty hop bags. Mmm... what can I vacuum pack next lol
I've also got the Andrew James one - great bit of kit! Now you can start sous-viding in your mash tun.. works great with a herms rig. I also vacuum pack my phone before I go fishing, screen works fine through the plastic and it's 100% waterproof.

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donchiquon
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Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by donchiquon » Sat Sep 10, 2016 1:40 pm

Did anyone look at the AJ model that uses a roll of film - any benefits in this or is the standard bag model the one to go for.

Any excuse for some new kit!
Ian

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Hanglow
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Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by Hanglow » Sat Sep 10, 2016 2:08 pm

Does this work with mylar bags?

Matt in Birdham
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Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by Matt in Birdham » Sat Sep 10, 2016 2:08 pm

donchiquon wrote:Did anyone look at the AJ model that uses a roll of film - any benefits in this or is the standard bag model the one to go for.

Any excuse for some new kit!
The one I have can use either - actually, I guess any can? The roll is just a tube so you make your own bags effectively by sealing two ends. The unit has a holder for the roll and a cutting bar so you can cut lengths to size. I have rolls and bags - bags are a bit less effort to use because you only need to seal one end but you can customise your size a bit more with the roll.

BrannigansLove
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Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by BrannigansLove » Sat Sep 10, 2016 2:58 pm

I bought a roll one the bags that came with the unit ran out. I prefer the ability to choose bag size that the roll offers.

MyQul

Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by MyQul » Sat Sep 10, 2016 3:25 pm

Hanglow wrote:Does this work with mylar bags?
No I dont think you can. As mylar bags are smooth and the vacpac bags are textured so the air can be drawn out by the vacpacer. You can seal mylar bags with an iron or some of those hair straighteners the Mrs uses. To make them 'vacpaced' you put a couple of oxygen absorbers in with the hops

phil.dadd
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Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by phil.dadd » Sat Sep 10, 2016 8:01 pm

I use this one personally, can't recommend it enough:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00OB8ZRSM?vs=1&vs=1
Image

BenB

Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by BenB » Sat Sep 10, 2016 8:12 pm

There are ways of sealing with mylar with those simpler vacuum sealers. I've seen people using short sections of straw or grooved plastic sheets that fit inside the bag and provide a way of the vacuum getting to the bottom of the bag. Personally I bought a snorkelvac- cost me just over a hundred and seals mylar bags beautifully.

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Sadfield
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Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by Sadfield » Sat Sep 10, 2016 9:26 pm

An alternative is to buy the Andrew James canisters, once you open a mylar pack, pop it in the canisters and vacuum seal.

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Wonkydonkey
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Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by Wonkydonkey » Sat Sep 10, 2016 10:36 pm

phil.dadd wrote:I use this one personally, can't recommend it enough:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00OB8ZRSM?vs=1&vs=1
Image

Shiney porn at its best 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) :=P :=P :=P
And even some tasty meat in a bag,,,lol
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f00b4r
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Re: Vacuum Packing

Post by f00b4r » Sun Sep 11, 2016 11:23 am

Expensive though and at that price you don't have to spend that much more to get a chamber vacuum sealer.

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