The Innovation brand has worked well for me Steps but mine needs new seals now. A commercial wac sealer will out perform all the portable ones though but are expensive and hard to find second hand

This topic has been dealt with several times on the forum so a search of relevant posts should provide some info ... however like asking "What is the best tow wagon" be prepared fot a deluge of opposing  opinions"

This topic has been dealt with several times on the forum so a search of relevant posts should provide some info

 Im a great one to mention old threads.. a I know there is something way back but only come up with a couple resent vac pak theads more how to than recommened.

 Jac yeah looked at that...lower end commercial.. have put on the list to submit to the Accountant..

 Innovvation has been sort of the std for few yrs now.. have borrowed /used one yrs ago when looking around .. (That old thread cant find)... and seems like Smudge they are loosing their pumps / heating like our current.. with less use than ours.

What have found, like mincers/ slicers, vacuum cleaners etc when look at wattage, the innovates,food savers, low end home use to low end commercial they are all around the 100 to 200W... and have limited number seals before have to 'rest' (welders have a term for it cant rem off hand)
 So looking more the 400W plus now
Maybe something like a Sico

Also need a new 10 android pad with gps as the current one running navionics ias bit old gets hot and screen shuts on a hot day after 4 or 5 hrs.. doesnt loose tracks or anything ..
 And missus thinking about a bigger TV .. she decided to re arrange the lounge while back and now have trouble reading a few things...

Maybe a trip to HN or NL see what can do as a package... again.?

I think the term you are after is -Duty Cycle, Steps.



I know this sounds a bit..overboard(??)  sorta right word.
 As I/we have got older, we buy things on a different basis.
Our cash up and down size (well the land size) and get something that doesnt need painting, re building, unless we want to do so.. for next 20yrs.
Sell the vintage cars, 69 camaro, (which also used daily for decades) buy new, no more 'tie rod ends chassis mounts stuff. .. for next 20yrs
... for next 20yrs
 Full new
Etc.
We can, scratch together and do now but will not be able in a few yrs time, and apply to the smaller stuff as well like vac pac.Brevelle expresso coffee machine, Leaf blower/vac full on stil

Do our best now not to have stuff wear out/ break down before we move on.

Would like to do same with the boat, but that goes beyond  our means. On the other hand it is solid, motor solid low hrs, just the Bimini is getting towards replacing in next couple yrs...maybe this winter?

So current thinking for vac pac is go at least 400w that goes up around and above the $500/$600  Hard to justify a grand or so thu.

My Innovation has done a heap of work, the seals are very easy to replace and I've had the thing at least 10 years I am guessing. Never had to change the seals before. They go alright.

Its the duty cycle that gets us annoyed..
Smoke up a bin limit large 45/ 70cm  (30 plus ky ) then vac pac
Break down a home kill
 Its a lot coninious vaccing 2 ppl going non stop then had towait for cool down, duty cycle.
Then throw in its usually end of a hard out day...

 You guys with Russel Hobs/ innovates etc dont have it?
 When we borrowed several (including a RH and innovate,) l in the past to decide what to get.. and pretty broke at the time, duty cycle kicked in fairly soon.
 The draw type commercial borrowed works cool, bit slower than the food saver... but its big heavy and not enough room to set up in the butlers pantry.

Considering a  Sico S250 atm $600 

OK Before bring the vac pak back into the kitchen I hasd a thought..
 Will it vac pac a ziplock bag? not use the zip bit

1/So took a strip of each side of the vac roll put the bag thru it and into the vaccuum part and the vac pac roll part over the sealer....Thinking was  dont need to melt plastic onto the element..
Sealed excellent but no vacuum.

So now thinking , one side of the vc roll is bumpy, maybe that enables the vacuum to go into the back.???

Took a  small slice of the rough side of the vac roll, slide that into the top of the zip lock, placed so over one side of the rubber seal,  crossed fingers hoping it would not stick to the heat bar...pressed the button...
And the big rag in the ziplock shrinks down to near nothing, sealing light goes on...
 Lift the lid and damn perfect vac and seal of the ziplock bag



And I now know why one side is smooth and the other rough

So now have a use for those off cuts of vac rolls.. well at least the rough side....seal ordinary plastic bags.

Yeah sometime we just do stuff with out much thought, o bare min espec when like vacing of stuff end of the day.

It all became clear.

Looking around thu, seems like most things its about wattage, and kept going back to  Sico S250  $600 if was going to replace the food saver (has roll inside it)

Try pre-frozen fish (frozen cast iron plate with fish on top in freezer, rapid freeze) in zip lock, dunk in water to expel air, lock and put in oversize vacuum bag. Vacuum. Zip lock can be cleaned for reuse, vacuum bag normally clean, or easy to, and can be reused until too short.