So about 20lbs into the grind my Cabelas grinder stripped one of the smaller inner gears, not to be fixed. Was only the second time to be used. So my question is, does anyone know of a grinder less than $350 that has all metal gears with at least 1.5hp motor.

I know I have a $29 meat grinder attachment for a kitchenaid stand mixer I got on Amazon that I have ground at least 20 30 lbs of meat over the last 2.5 years. Still works like a champ.

There's some meat grinders in Austin at XTC that are much cheaper

Not sure if they are all metal, but I keep getting ads for the "MEAT" brand stuff on FB.

MEAT

Looks basically like private label LEM stuff.

You sure you need a 1.5 HP motor? How much are you grinding at a time?

I have an older Northern Tools grinder that is 1hp. I was grinding 3-4 deer on it each year (all at once) and it has been awesome.

Weston

Get a Pokert grinder with a crank that is hand-powered and it will never fail. I have used one to grind multiple deer and make sausage each year for 30 years now. Hasn't failed me yet!

I have a Chinese #32 from Harbor freight that's a 20yo hand me down from my dad that's been solid

"Less than $350 that's at least 1.5HP"

Going to be tough to find a quality grinder that large, that inexpensive. That said, why do you want 1.5HP? How often do you use it, and for what?

In a typical year I process several deer, 15 - 20 pigs, 1 - 2 nilgai, and sometimes an elk. I have 2 grinders, a 1/2 HP Enterprise and a 3/4 HP Tor Rey. The Enterprise is a late 40's, early 50's model that came out of a meat market owned by my family around the same time. It still works great, but its difficult to sanitize so I put it away and got the Tor Rey about 10 years ago. I have been very happy with it.

They have rebranded themselves as pro cut. They do have all metal gearing but do not meet your size/price requirement.

This is the same as the one I have:

https://www.davisonsbutcher.com/meat-grinders/pro-cut-electric-meat-grinders/procut-kg-12-fs-meat-grinder-free-shipping/

Which cabelas grinder?

I have their commercial 1/2 hp model and it grinds faster than I can feed it even when prepped.

I have used it for 3 years and have done several elk, two nilgai, a moose, and countless deer with zero problems.

Pretty sure it is all metal too.

I think the LEM products are often recommended as well.

if you already have a KitchenAid mixer, i would also recommend their grinder attachment. lost count of the amount of deer meat we ground over the YEARS and it is still going strong. Sadly just not as often now

Pro tip: spec out your stripped gear and look for it on McMaster-Carr website. Download engineering drawing, load file into slicer, make a 3d printed copy, start grinding again.

As a previous owner of the Kitchenaid grinder attachment, let me state this unequivocally:


Buy a real grinder.

AggieChemist said:

---

As a previous owner of the Kitchenaid grinder attachment, let me state this unequivocally:


Buy a real grinder.

---

I concur.

AggieChemist said:

---

As a previous owner of the Kitchenaid grinder attachment, let me state this unequivocally:


Buy a real grinder.

---

I agree. I have the Kitchen Aid grinder. I use it when I want to make a finer grind of chili meat, etc. I cant imagine processing an entire animal through it.

skelso said:

---

AggieChemist said:

---

As a previous owner of the Kitchenaid grinder attachment, let me state this unequivocally:


Buy a real grinder.

---

I agree. I have the Kitchen Aid grinder. I use it when I want to make a finer grind of chili meat, etc. I cant imagine processing an entire animal through it.

---

I did several. It was maddeningly slow, and I burned up my wife's first Kitchenaid mixer doing it. (It was replaced under warranty, but they REALLY, REALLY didn't want to do it and tried their best to find fault with us).

When I bought my first real grinder I couldn't believe the difference in performance.

And that was a cheap, $99 grinder.

It gets even better with good ones.

So if 1.5 hp is more than most people need, what should he be looking at 1/2, 3/4, or 1 hp. Are metal gears more important than hp? Ease of cleaning more important?

RCR06 said:

---

So if 1.5 hp is more than most people need, what should he be looking at 1/2, 3/4, or 1 hp. Are metal gears more important than hp? Ease of cleaning more important?

---

How the thing is made is more important that the HP in my opinion.

Example: A 5 qt Kitchenaid Stand mixer is almost 1/2HP. I have the 0.35HP LEM #8 grinder, and it blows the stand mixer out of the water. It's faster, easier to clean, and all metal, so even if I bind it up (which I do from time to time), it holds up.

I've had it for over 10 years now. I do 2-3 deer every year along with assorted pigs and sausages. No issues.

And that's a "small" unit.

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/lem-8-035-hp-electric-grinder#repChildCatid=726354

I prefer all metal and sturdy construction over a bigger motor.

Buy a Hobart.

AnScAggie said:

---

Buy a Hobart.

---

aaaaaaaaaand there it is.

I concur on the Hobart, brother got one that was used in a commercial kitchen with the mixer and everything for free. That was a grinder. I needed the stouter motor on mine because I tend to grind my meat while still almost frozen. I know I could probably wait on it to that a bit but then it aint winter and I aint outside. So I do it in the house while still fairly stiff. Grinds good with no stick but it strains the motor somewhat.

The Cabelas got hot which was partially my fault for pushing it so hard and I probably should have taken a break. But alas it is what it is. Had about 5lbs. of meat left and wanted to get finished. I dont think metal gears would have given out like it did. But like I said, I digress. I'm just not partial to plastic gears in any situation where heat can come into play. So those two reasons I prefer metal gears and a stouter motor.

Thanks for all the responses though. I'll look into some of the suggestions.

Not to be fixed? Is it out of warranty? I have the 0.75 hp from Cabela's which has only been used once. Hope it doesn't break next time!

skelso said:

---

AggieChemist said:

---

As a previous owner of the Kitchenaid grinder attachment, let me state this unequivocally:


Buy a real grinder.

---

I agree. I have the Kitchen Aid grinder. I use it when I want to make a finer grind of chili meat, etc. I cant imagine processing an entire animal through it.

---

Only takes about 3 days ask me how i know.

I upgraded to a Carnivore 3/4hp from bass pro, that thing is lightning fast and surprisingly quiet for its size. Ground and stuffed a precubed doe in about 45 mins. Prep and clean up definitely took more time than the actual grind.

skelso said:

---

AggieChemist said:

---

As a previous owner of the Kitchenaid grinder attachment, let me state this unequivocally:


Buy a real grinder.

---

I agree. I have the Kitchen Aid grinder. I use it when I want to make a finer grind of chili meat, etc. I cant imagine processing an entire animal through it.

---

I did a whole doe with one last year. I will probably do the same this year. It did not take long. Now, I would not do no do an elk.

I recommend whatever Carol Baskin uses.