Well, two Foodsavers and a lot of reading on this forum took me back to the old rule: Do not buy cheap tools. My new Weston Pro 1100 came today and I had work ready for it.
The Pro 1100 for 11" bags is the smallest of the Weston Pro line. The other model, 2300/2100 will take 15" bags but that is bigger than I need and more storage space than I want to tie up. Interestingly, the 1100 has more sophisticated controls than its big brothers. Sealing time is adjustable and there are digital progress readouts on sealing time and on vacuum level. It also features a roll holder and cutter that (unlike Foodsaver) will take 50' rolls. Though unmentioned in the product literature it came complete with a 50' roll of 11" bags, so there is $15 or so of value. A spare gasket set and heat tape were also included, another $20 of value.
It came carefully packed and its construction is high quality. Bright stainless sheet metal, sealed front panel pushbuttons, and the power switch is sheltered by a silicone cover so whatever is on your hands cannot crawl in and find the electricity. Even the roller bar for the bags is machined aluminum. It is not going to win any beauty contests, however. Square corners and very utilitarian overall. The only potential weak point I see is that the tabs used to lock the cover closed are made of plastic. Time will tell whether wear here is an issue or not.
It works great! Manual sealing the first end of the bag is similar to Foodsaver, but at the end of the cycle the vacuum pump runs, ensuring good clamping force as the bag material fuses and cools. I have read that the seals are 1/4". They are not that wide but they are probably twice the width of the Foodsaver seals where I had to routinely double-seal the bags.
The vacuum sealing phase seems to pull a harder vacuum than the Foodsavers do. During this phase, a digital readout counts from 0 to 9, indicating the vacuum level. At "9" it enters sealing mode and a second readout counts down sealing time in seconds. When liquids head for the seal area it is easy to terminate the vacuum phase by pushing the "Manual Seal" button. I had a couple of bags where liquid did get past the seal but from careful inspection the seals still seem to be good. I deliberately did not double-seal so I can see if they leak.
As far as buying goes, the list price is $300. Weston offers refurbished machines on their web site (http://www.westonsupply.com/Refurbished-Products-s/147.htm). In a couple of weeks of watching I did not see an 1100 come up but the discounts on the 2300 and 2100 were in the neighborhood of one-third, so I'd expect to see $200 for an 1100 if one appears. While I was watching the refubs a NIB 1100 come up on eBay and I got it for $177. That's Foodsaver territory, so I am also happy with that.
Any questions, just ask.
The Pro 1100 for 11" bags is the smallest of the Weston Pro line. The other model, 2300/2100 will take 15" bags but that is bigger than I need and more storage space than I want to tie up. Interestingly, the 1100 has more sophisticated controls than its big brothers. Sealing time is adjustable and there are digital progress readouts on sealing time and on vacuum level. It also features a roll holder and cutter that (unlike Foodsaver) will take 50' rolls. Though unmentioned in the product literature it came complete with a 50' roll of 11" bags, so there is $15 or so of value. A spare gasket set and heat tape were also included, another $20 of value.
It came carefully packed and its construction is high quality. Bright stainless sheet metal, sealed front panel pushbuttons, and the power switch is sheltered by a silicone cover so whatever is on your hands cannot crawl in and find the electricity. Even the roller bar for the bags is machined aluminum. It is not going to win any beauty contests, however. Square corners and very utilitarian overall. The only potential weak point I see is that the tabs used to lock the cover closed are made of plastic. Time will tell whether wear here is an issue or not.
It works great! Manual sealing the first end of the bag is similar to Foodsaver, but at the end of the cycle the vacuum pump runs, ensuring good clamping force as the bag material fuses and cools. I have read that the seals are 1/4". They are not that wide but they are probably twice the width of the Foodsaver seals where I had to routinely double-seal the bags.
The vacuum sealing phase seems to pull a harder vacuum than the Foodsavers do. During this phase, a digital readout counts from 0 to 9, indicating the vacuum level. At "9" it enters sealing mode and a second readout counts down sealing time in seconds. When liquids head for the seal area it is easy to terminate the vacuum phase by pushing the "Manual Seal" button. I had a couple of bags where liquid did get past the seal but from careful inspection the seals still seem to be good. I deliberately did not double-seal so I can see if they leak.
As far as buying goes, the list price is $300. Weston offers refurbished machines on their web site (http://www.westonsupply.com/Refurbished-Products-s/147.htm). In a couple of weeks of watching I did not see an 1100 come up but the discounts on the 2300 and 2100 were in the neighborhood of one-third, so I'd expect to see $200 for an 1100 if one appears. While I was watching the refubs a NIB 1100 come up on eBay and I got it for $177. That's Foodsaver territory, so I am also happy with that.
Any questions, just ask.
