Don Gray > wrote in
:

> In message Melba's Jammin' >
> wrote:
>
>> In article Salty Thumb > wrote:
>>
>> > Should I splurge and get the Foodsaver or is the Black and Decker
>> > or Rival okay? Not expecting to be using it a lot, maybe once or
>> > twice a week.
>>
>> I just bought an inexpensive Tilia at Tuesday Morning - $30, I think.
>> It will only use the 8" wide rolls. I don't know if that's good or
>> bad. I'm thinking about getting the gizmo that will let me vac seal
>> jars. That sounds appealing to me.
>>
>> I just bought replacement bag product at Wally World for HALF of what
>> Tilia costs at Sam's. Half. And a friend has suggested a way to get
>> more mileage out of those bags by making the bag way bigger than
>> you need it the first time, and re-using. Tilia suggests the same,
>> I believe.
>>
> I bought a Tilia back in England about 4 years ago (Mail Order), and
> have used it consistently ever since. I bought the 2 sizes of bags
> available and also the 'make your own bag rolls. After a bit of
> faffing around I got the hang of it. It was a real boon for those
> 'special offer' days or 'out of season' produce!
>
> Then we moved, because of work commitments, to Belgium. I've brought
> over enough food, sausages, smoked and plain bacon, haddock plain and
> smoked, and a variety of English cheeses (unobtainable over here) to
> half fill a chest freezer. I return annually to stock up. It's not
> that I dislike European produce - I just love foods that I've grown up
> with and hundreds of the recipes I use and develop could not otherwise
> be made.
>
> Anyway, unfortunately, the machine gave up the ghost this year! I
> don't know if I worked it to death, but I can say that it is now
> sorely missed. I have tried to replace it but can't find a source for
> purchase :-(
>
> Anyone know if it's possible? Perhaps an American PX store at a German
> base? By the way, I got my bags sent over by a friendly lady who I
> email weekly in Colorado. They cost me an arm and a leg because the
> Belgian customs put a tax on equivalent to the original price of the
> goods - greedy leeches!!
>
> Cheers
>
> Don
>

The rival Seal A Meal VS150 ($85) seal a meal rated fair (performance),
very good (convenience) and $0.54 cents square ft. plastic, plus hands-
free, roll storage and accessory hose.

The black and decker "Fresh Guard VS300 ($80) rated very good
(performance) fair (convenience), $0.45 cents square ft. plastic, no
hands free, no roll storage or hose.

Food Saver V840 ($140) rated very good (both performance and convenience)
but $0.70 cents square ft. plastic, no hands free but with roll storage
and hose.

The high end was the "Food Saver Professional II" ($290) rated very good
(both), $0.70 cents square ft. plastic, hands free, roll storage and
hose.

None achieved "Excellent". No Tilia models tested.

According to consumer reports.

Andy