On 14-Dec-2004, "Tom Scott" > wrote:
> are the various brand-name accessories (bags, canisters) interchangeable?
> I
> got
> a Black and Decker FreshGuard as a gift, but nobody around here seems to
> sell
> that model, so there are no accessories anywhere. Can I buy any brand of
> bag
> or
> canister? It seems like they all have the same inner workings/design, so
> it
> ought to work - but I figured I should check in with the experts first.
>
> Thanks,
> Jen
> Half the people you know are below average. -Steven Wright
>
>
>
> My first sealer was a Tilia and the one I now own is a B&D. Although they
> say you can use "most bags from other manufacturers", I found the
> gallon-sized Tilia bags were ~ 1/2 inch WIDER and not easily useable.
>
> Comparing the 2 machines, my overall vote would go to the Tilia; it was
> faster and the bags seemed to stay sealed better. My B&D has problems
> with
> the larger bags of their own. They just don't seal as well.
>
> Beware you don't suck much {try not to get ANY} liquid down the vacuum
> port.
> That is what virtually killed my Tilia and they wanted $50 just to look at
> it. That is why I bought the B&D.
>
> I use it a lot.
>
> Best,
>
> Tom
Everybody loves a know it all, so I demand points for researching
"Vacuum Machine 101".
Tilia (Foodsaver) requires 'Channel Bags'. These are custom manufactured
for Tilia by 'Sorbent Systems'. They are multilayer bags specially
formulated
to hold a vacuum. Sorbent Systems is a major manufacturer of commercial
vacuum packaging equipment and packaging materials. Tilia holds the patent
for the channel bags. Sorbent Systems got slapped down for selling them on
the side. You may still see channel bags on the Sorbent website with a
caveat
that they are currently not for sale.
I have a Foodsaver that is too old to even have a model number. It works as
well as the day I bought it. It is heavier then an anvil, but it works as
advertised
and it has a vacuum port for accessories. The only ones I have are adapters
to
evacuate 'Mason jars'. Meal weevils do not live in a high vacuum. I don't
use
my 'Foodsaver' anymore. My Foodsaver will thoroughly crush an aluminum soda
can.
I bought a Sinbo VS 280 from Sorbent Systems by mailorder. It uses a vacuum
system
different then Tilia. It is a snorkel system. That is, it has a very flat
retractable
tube that inserts into the top of the bag allowing a seal to occur that will
support
evacuating the bag. It will evacuate and seal 'Ziploks' quite successfully.
Howver
'Ziploks' are not strong enough nor are they designed to hold a vacuum. My
VS280
will also crush an aluminum can, but possibly not quite as flat as the
Foodsaver
does. The difference is hard to tell. I have no idea what the vacuum is in
mm Hg. I
see no difference in longevity in the freezer.
I buy 6" X 8" and 8" X 12" bags from Sorbent Systems in quanties of 400 (200
each). Total cost (with shipping) is ~$42. (10.5¢ apiece). These bags are at
least
as reliable as the Tilia bags and far cheaper. I don't bother to wash them
out and
I use a lot of them. Like the Tilia bags, my typical method of reheating
vacuumed,
frozen food is to put a bag into a pot of water and boil it for a few
minutes.
Beware of allowing your machine to ingest fluids into the vacuum motor. My
VS280
has gone belly up for that reason. (Damn demon rum). I will order a new one
tomorrow.
They cost about $119 last time I looked. I may query the company about
getting mine
repaired, but they don't seem to have much support for this little machine.
Just my 2¢.
--
Brick(DL5BF, WA7ERO, HS4ADI)
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