Best Chamber Vacuum Sealer - Vac100 - VacNews

Best Chamber Vacuum Sealer

“When shopping for the best chamber vacuum sealer, one must consider these things: Vacuum cycle times (chamber size + vacuum pump flow rate), seal bar length, heat strip width, ease of use, accessory capability, retort capability, support & diagnosis when issues arise, dimensions, mason jar sealing capabilities, ability to view, parts accessibility and self serviceability.

What is a Chamber Vacuum Sealer?

The all-new JVR Vac100! Best chamber vacuum sealer on the market. This vacuum packaging machine is an entry-level chamber-style vacuum sealer that checks all the boxes. You won’t find another vacuum sealer on the market with an ultra-modern, low-profile design that performs as good as it looks for only: $899.00

For over 50 years JVR Industries Inc. has supplied commercial chamber vacuum sealers, vacuum bags, boneguard, and more to various industries throughout North America.  As a result of the increased demand for an affordable chamber vacuum sealer, we’ve worked directly with an overseas manufacturer to develop and refine the new JVR Vac100 – chamber vacuum sealer.

The Vac100 is one of many chamber vacuum sealers in our JVR VacSeries line.  We’ve tested this machine to the same standards as those at a much higher price point and the results have been phenomenal.

 

What makes a good vacuum sealer?

Any vacuum sealer is reasonably good without knowing what you are considering. This industry is so new, it is easy to be overcome with a wave of new knowledge. When shopping for the best chamber vacuum sealer, one must consider these things: Vacuum cycle times (chamber size + vacuum pump flow rate), seal bar length, heat strip width, ease of use, accessory capability, retort capability, support & diagnosis when issues arise, dimensions, mason jar sealing capabilities, ability to view, parts accessibility and self serviceability.

Equipped with an oil-lubricated, rotary-style vacuum pump capable of achieving vacuum levels exceeding 29.5” Hg and a 12.3” seal bar, this machine can handle a variety of food items. Capable of pulling up to 99.8% air out of each and every pouch! 100s of pounds of air pressure at your fingertips! Seal up ground beef, moist foods/liquid rich foods, salmon, dry goods, and so much more!

Seal liquids? Yeah! No problem! Oh, wait, dry pump? That might be an issue!

Liquid-rich foods such as soup, marinade, or brines can cause internal corrosion on all dry piston pumps. Typically external vacuum sealers host the dry pumps, but even some chamber sealers can as well.

Other companies tout the “maintenance-free” as a positive thing. Maintenance-free dry pumps are fine if you are sealing dry goods only. But let’s be real, most of us want to save our steaks, moist foods, and so forth! After repeated rapid boil vaporizations, dry pumps will internally corrode and then fail. Sometimes this process happens rapidly and other times it is a slow and insidious end. Chamber vacuum sealers function a little differently than this!

 

Oil-lubricated rotary vane vacuum pumps are designed with vanes that spin in a cyclical motion. Sweeping vanes just barely squeeze by the outer housing inside the pump allowing for immense vacuum power. Read more below.

 

At the heart of every good chamber sealer is an oil pump with rotary vanes. The oil-lubricated pump in our VacSeries has been shown to last 10+ years with rigorous use and proper care. Just goes to show that an oil pump can largely outlast most dry pumps. We have personally received several calls from customers complaining about how they are either on their 10, 11, or even 12th dry pump edge vacuum sealer. Other times customers call that their unit broke in under 12 months. We have seen this with dry piston pump chamber vacuum sealers as well.

Oil pumps are able to dispel moisture content by separating the liquid from the oil. When an oil-lubricated pump reaches hotter temperatures, the liquid separates from the oil. The moisture content then bypasses the filter whereas the vacuum pump oil is returned back into the chamber vac’s pump for later use. Vaporization removal set these oil pumps apart from the dry pump because they demote the opportunity for internal corrosion with proper care!

 

2) The deeper the vacuum draw, the longer the shelf life. Oil pumps for the win!

Sweeping rotary vanes in the oil pump just barely squeeze through the housing on some chamber sealers. Every vane is thousandths of an inch away from grazing the outer housing. Close contact permits better suction power pulling up to 19.8% more than compare to a dry piston pump in this market. Dry piston pumps in edge sealers remove roughly 80% of the oxygen from a vacuum bag.

Now you may be wondering, where dry piston chamber sealers sit for air pressure and removal! Dry pump chambers pull around 90% air on average, which is still 9.8% less than oil-lubricated rotary vane pumps like ours.

 

3) Noise pollution is everything especially when you want to keep your hearing! Another benefit of an oil pump.

Every oil pump operates up to 20-30 dB quieter than any other dry piston pump vacuum sealer. This is why the JVR Vac100 is capable of being as low as 65 dB when in operation! That is unheard of even when speaking of dry pump chamber vacs.

 

Most of our customers are looking for ways to expedite their sealing process, yet get the smallest unit out there. We created the opportunity to seal some of the most common vacuum sealer bags and do more than one at a time!

The 6″ x 10″ is one of the most popular chamber vacuum pouches in the vacuum sealer industry. 6″ x 10″ is the perfect size for 1 lb of ground venison, beef, elk, bison, and so forth. Fit two of these pouches on the sealing bar simultaneously!

Vac100 Filler Plate

 

Two pouches, 5 HDPE filler plates and reduce your vacuum cycle times by up to 26 seconds! (Save 11 seconds per 5 filler plates and 15 seconds by cutting vacuum cycle times in half!) Talk about comparable to some larger vacuum sealers.

 

A contoured glass lid promotes an easy-to-see vacuuming process!

Most chamber sealers host a translucent and in some cases a fully transparent lid. Typically these lids are domed which can make it a little difficult to view products in the chamber. Not impossible, but not absolutely perfect view of the vacuum pouches.

Another danger is the lid on most vacuum sealers will automatically lunge open which can potentially harm the user or hit a cupboard above. When we designed the JVR Vac100, we took all of these things into consideration and more! On the JVR Vac100, it hosts a unique, shatterproof, tempered glass lid that allows the user to clearly see inside the vacuum chamber and will not scratch and haze up over time like most acrylic lids.

Here are some benefits of why a transparent glass lid is so vital to your vacuum process:

1) Prevent rapid boilovers from crawling out of your chamber bag and into your chamber!

2) Diagnose where your chamber sealer may be leaking. Every sealer will eventually leak, but having the appropriate tools available will make or break your chances of keeping the unit for longer durations of time.

3) Diagnose additional failures such as inlet check valve failure and so forth.

 

Vac100 Shatterproof Glass Lid

 

The discussion of durability and longevity: shatterproof glass lid vs the typical translucent acrylic lid.

Typical acrylic lids are phenomenally durable and long-lasting. Well, why would we change the construction and composition of our lid on the Vac100 then? The acrylic lids are easily formed into a dome, but now leave the end user with a void of air to remove with every single vacuum cycle. The contoured lid removes the need for a higher flow rate vacuum pump because you can simply combat the void with additional filler plates including our circular filler plate for the domed recess in the chamber.

Vac100 Shatterproof Glass Lid

JVR Industries performed a series of stress tests on our contoured glass lid! One test involved driving a forklift over the glass lid. Once the entire weight of the forklift was over the lid, the lid totally conformed to the concrete surface below it! Once the forklifts drove away, the lid then returned to its original state without any cracks!

Acrylic lids typically are long-lasting lids, but we have seen these melt under certain light bulbs. So with proper care, they should last, but with a glass lid, there is no concern of a light bulb potentially melting down your lid!

 

Key takeaways on the benefits of the contoured glass lid of the Vac100:

1) Expedited vacuum cycles are encouraged by the ability to fill the void in the base of the chamber.

2) Durability on our glass lid is not a concern! Our data suggest these lids will conform and remember their original shape even in more rigid circumstances!

3) Long-living products are what we aim for! Acrylic lids have been noted to fail in certain circumstances with improper care. Our glass is expected to carry a similar life span compare to other typical vacuum sealers.

JVR Vac100 - Chamber Vacuum Sealer- Lid Down

The low profile makes fitting underneath any cupboard a breeze.

Reversed engineered chamber and lid made for the lowest profile oil pump chamber sealer on the market! Typical chamber sealers have a domed lid and a flat bottom chamber. We saw this as an opportunity! Using a moldable composite, JVR was able to dome the chamber and keep the lid semi-flat with the contoured lid.

The low profile design measures 8.3” with the lid closed, this provides a modern look to complement any kitchen while the 4.3” deep chamber still provides ample room to seal large items such as whole chickens and roasts.

 

Composite chamber vs stainless steel chamber. Which one lasts longer?

Often customers see the composite chamber on our Vac100 and are instantly turned off. People often think I do not want a plastic chamber! No worries! The JVR Vac100 boasts a composite chamber which is a much more durable material than plastic. For each chamber vacuum sealer pulls 100s of pounds of vacuum for every square inch! Plastic would likely not survive the ride for too long.

Now to the real meat of the subject matter. Which is more durable: stainless steel or composite?

Stainless steel is often seen as one of the most durable materials when it comes to any kitchen appliance. Even stainless steel can distort under the vacuum draw of one of our chamber vacs! In our long service in this industry, JVR has even seen stainless steel chambers crack under a vacuum! Now this is not a normal instance and is pretty rare, it is also something to consider when purchasing a chamber vac.

According to our current quality tests and the units that have been in the market for a couple of years, the composite chamber has proven itself to be as good as stainless steel.

Programmability or presets make for fast changeovers when handling various meats, vegetables, and grains.

Various vacuum cycle times will be needed for a variety of food products. Whether you are sealing liquids, delicate foods, long-term freezer storage, whatever it may be! Programming or generating presets sets you up for ease of use. Having a preset for every scenario speeds up your use of the unit, but also makes it an enjoyable process.

Now sealing times and cooling times could change based on either chamber pouch thickness or pouch type. So if you are switching from a chamber pouch to a retort pouch, these presets also come in handy. With a hit of a button seamless shifts of values of vacuum, seal, and cool cycle times simultaneously!

 

Skip function makes for a spill-free mess when vacuum-sealing liquids!

Use the decrease button during the vacuum cycle to SKIP into the seal cycle on the unit. When the product rapidly boils it will begin to climb out out of the mouth of the vacuum pouch. Skipping past the vacuum cycle during the rapid boil climb ensures a mess-free vacuum seal every time!

 

Most chamber vacuum sealers use the double seal, but we chose a single seal heat strip for our chamber vacuum sealer.

Chamber vacuum sealers typically host a dual seal wire in the heart of their seal bar assembly. The seal wire, otherwise known as heat strip is used to seal off every pouch or bag that is placed in your chamber vacuum sealer. Dual heat strips often come in a 3mm width. It is thought that if one is to break, the second one is an insurance policy to keep running. We personally believe in using single-seal wires on our entire VacSeries line. Single heat strips make for easier replacement.

 

The most expansive mason jar sealing capabilities make the JVR Vac100, the best chamber vacuum sealer

Vac100 Mason Jars

 

No other vacuum sealer on the market is able to seal as many mason jars including large ones simultaneously! When canning, sealing mason jars, or making vacuum cold brews, you need a unit that can do all three well!

The JVR Vac100 can seal the largest mason jar internally! Wait! Is that a typo? Absolutely not. Using the external 3-gallon chamber accessory, you can seal up to two half-gallon mason jars simultaneously. Many commercial vacuum sealers can not even achieve this size and quantity for simultaneous sealing! Open up a new world of efficiency in canning today with the JVR Vac100 vacuum sealer.

JVR Vac100 - Chamber Vacuum Sealer

Retort capability makes the Vac100 not only one of a kind but the best chamber vacuum sealer!

Expedite your seal cycle on every mylar bag or retort pouch with the stunning retort bar assembly! Efficiently seal off up to 7 mil mylar in 2.4 seconds with the concaved 3.5mm heat strip design! Less surface area makes for quick sealing times! The concave “v” style seal wire projects heat sealing all those thicker bags and pouches with ease!

 

Accessory Capability opens even more opportunities for preserving food and sealing liquids!

Every unit sold comes with a free accessory hose! The accessory hose can link up to the vacuum port, otherwise known as the accessory port. The accessory hose can be paired with wine stoppers, VacLok stainless steel canisters, and our 3-gallon external chamber accessory.

 

Powerful and compatible accessory assets that you can select for your chamber vacuum sealer:

When you purchase a JVR Vac100, you will receive an accessory hose, a wine stopper, and a medium VacLok stainless steel vacuum canister.

JVR Vac100 - Chamber Vacuum Sealer | what is a chamber vacuum sealerThe Vac100 has a manual seal button to start the pump while the lid is opened. This promotes accessory capabilities. The hose can provide a secure seal with a full vacuum draw on your wines to make them last up to a month!

Wine preservation may not be the name of your game, but we know preserving food is, if you made it this far! Look beyond seal bags and save delicate foods with full suction power in our VacLok stainless steel canisters.

JVR Vac100 - Chamber Vacuum Sealer | what is a chamber vacuum sealer

 

 

No need to be worried about crushing those leftover berries, grains, and so forth. Our VacLok canisters also promote an environment where a plastic bag is not getting punctured by the food being sealed. Seal up products like coffee beans, rice, and much more without the threat of puncturing a vacuum bag.

 

 

Every unit is rigorously quality inspected and tested. We test for vacuum pressure, a proper sealing process, and full functionality in the USA. Every unit is continually supported and perfected in the USA!

Not every company in the US inspects products imported. Companies across the nation simply import, brand the imported product, and then ship it out to the consumer. JVR Industries tends to be more traditionally run in this way as we do not believe in these methodologies.

Every chamber vac that enters our facility is deeply reviewed, quality inspected & tested for minor-major flaws, electronics failures, and even full vacuum drawdowns. We bench test every single vacuum pump to make they are pulling at least a 4 Torr.

 

What is Torr and what does it mean?

Evangelista Torricelli was accredited for noticing fluctuations in atmospheric pressure. Groundbreaking findings led to new types of studies such as meteorology and so forth. In memory of Mr. Torricelli, millimeters of mercury (mm/HgA) were titled as “Torr.”

In modern-day USA, you can find absolute pressure gauges (not found in a vacuum sealer), that read in the measurement of Torr. Typical vacuum sealing companies communicate in a couple of measurements including mBar, MPa, Torr, in/hg, mm/hg (Torr), kPA, and so forth. A myriad of atmospheric pressure measurement types truly is convoluting the consumer’s understanding of what their vacuum sealer does.

Every VacSeries vacuum sealer is measured in Torr ensuring that each unit read 4 torr or 29.72 in/hg. Often you will see companies round up to 29.8 in/hg. Want to learn more about air pressure in general? Click this link to understand basics such as seal level atmospheric pressure, mBAR, and so on!

https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/atmosphere/air-pressure#:~:text=At%20sea%20level%2C%20standard%20air,for%20pressure%3A%20%22bar%22.

 

Wait, wait, wait! What? What does this mean?

Pulling a 4 Torr, 29.8 in/hg simply equates to pulling 99%-99.8% air out of every chamber pouch. No need to understand these complex systems of vacuum sealing, but it does help to understand the basic translation of atmospheric pressure measurements. Rest assured, JVR Industries inspects every unit so you can have the comfort of knowing you are pulling significantly more air out of every pouch compared to any edge sealer and even some chamber vacuum sealers in the market.

 

What is the difference between chamber pouches and edge vacuum seal bags/rolls?

1) Texture: Chamber vacuum pouches are smooth in texture whereas the vacuum bags are embossed causing a dimpled texture.

2) Standard thickness: Typical chamber pouches are 3 mil whereas vacuum bags are 4 mil on average. The benefit to chamber pouches is the ability to select what mil you like from 3-7 mil.

3) Cost: Save up to $0.47/pouch by switching to a chamber vacuum sealer!

To learn more, read our article on the difference under VacNews.

The cost differences are explained in vacuum sealer types. We explain how much a chamber vacuum sealer can save you money.

The initial cost of a chamber vacuum sealer, especially with an oil pump, is significantly more expensive than a vacuum sealer. The savings is in the bags! If you used 6 pouches a day, the savings alone would pay for any chamber vacuum sealer available on the market.

An analogy that we like to use is quite similar to the health industry. One person could choose to eat at a fast food restaurant on a daily basis but pay more for health insurance. Health insurance with a higher premium will not necessarily save your life, but the initial savings might be nice. Whereas a person who invests in their daily health is often permitted to get insurance with much lower premiums. Why? It is not atypical for a healthier person to make fewer visits, in general, to a doctor or hospital.

 

One of the many benefits of a chamber vacuum sealer is eliminating freezer burn!

Food waste is estimated to be over $1800 per American household every year! That is right! Tired of throwing away your food with freezer burn? We are too! Totally eliminate freezer burn and optimize food storage with a vacuum sealer. Vacuum-sealed food can make products last indefinitely in the freezer! Pulling out almost every ounce of air promotes not only longer storage life of foods but keeps the quality of the food intact without any major dehydration.

Even external edge vacuum sealers have been shown to not remove enough air in order to keep products safe from food degradation entirely.

 

What sets JVR Industries apart other than a unique commercial-grade vacuum sealer? Customer Support!

Every vacuum sealer’s worth is determined by the support you can get for it. The biggest reason why the Vac100 is superior to any other machine at this price point is due to the customer support that only JVR Industries can provide. Our team of technicians has serviced certain lines of chamber sealers for over 20+ years! That is a substantial experience that will easily translate into your JVR VacSeries chamber vacuum sealer.

 

Replacement part availability in the future

JVR Industries carries parts for chamber vacuum sealers that are over 20+ years old still. We believe that reputation speaks for itself! So rest assured in knowing we will always have parts in stock! We are daily seeking out local alternatives for replacement parts on our chamber vacuum sealers. Currently, we have every part, for every chamber vacuum sealer in stock and ready to ship the same day!

JVR Vac100 - Chamber Vacuum SealerThe ease of self-serviceability is another reason why this is just the best chamber vacuum sealer in its class:

Any company that claims their vacuum sealers won’t require any maintenance would be lying. Based on our many years of experience we know this just isn’t the case. The Vac100 was designed to allow for easy maintenance

A fully hinged chamber provides quick and easy access to the vacuum pump and all major components. The slotted side panel provides a view of the oil level while a conveniently located drain hole provides a mess-free oil change.  You’ll also love the tool-less seal bar removal that makes swapping out seal bars a 5-second job.

 

Video walkthrough on how to replace every part of your unit

JVR Industries boasts a wide selection of video walkthroughs to replace every single part under the sun on your vacuum sealer. Access our database via checking our youtube or requesting specific videos for replacement from JVR Industries.

chamber vacuum pouch buyer's guide - unmatched customer service

Let us prove to you how incredible our customer support truly is! Call today!

If at any point you have a question or need technical support then we encourage you to pick up the phone and call us, it would be our pleasure to speak with you over the phone.  If it’s during normal business hours you’ll immediately speak to an experienced technician or you can email us 24/7 and receive a response within a matter of minutes, not days.

Want to read more articles like “Best Modern Chamber Vacuum Sealer” Click below!

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Troubleshooting a Poor Heat Seal

Troubleshooting a Poor Heat Seal

Troubleshooting a Poor Heat Seal

Vacuum Packaging

Heat Seals… the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Having issues? Today we discuss “Troubleshooting a Poor Heat Seal.” Chances are if you’re reading this article you likely have some type of vacuum packaging machine.  Dating back to the 1940s, vacuum packaging continues to be the best solution for extending the shelf life of most perishable goods.  Without the need for freezing or adding unwanted preservatives, fresh meats, and countless other products can benefit from vacuum packaging.  However, the positive results associated with vacuum sealing are greatly diminished when your packaging equipment is not properly maintained.

In this article, we’re going to review a common problem with vacuum-sealed products and a few potential solutions that may save you a lot of time and money.  Commonly referred to as “leakers”, you may find that a percentage of your vacuum-packaged items will loosen up over time thus exposing your product to oxygen and microorganisms that contribute to spoilage.  Since a slow “leaker” is often not immediately identified they can easily be overlooked and sent out to customers.   Many times, defects in the packaging materials are thought to be the cause of a slow “leaker” but more often it is actually the heat seal applied by the machine that is compromised.  So, let’s assume no changes have been made to your process, what should you look for to reduce the risk of “leakers”?

Answer – check the heat seal applied by your vacuum packaging machine.  Is the seal too hot, too cold, not enough pressure, too many creases, or simply no seal at all?  Knowing how to identify a good heat seal from a poor one is critical when determining the cause of a “leaker”.

A good seal requires three things; pressure, temperature, and a flat bag.

Hold your vacuum-sealed bag up to a light so you can really see what’s going on.  Poor seal pressure will result in a seal that looks spotty or broken.  If this is your problem, then you might be tempted to correct it by turning up the seal time, but this won’t provide the results you’re looking for.  The most likely cause would be a leak in your machine’s seal bellow or piston.  Depending on the manufacturer, your machine will either have bellows or pistons located up in the lid or on the deck.  Both systems require either atmospheric pressure or compressed air to be introduced in order to pinch off and seal the bags inside the vacuum chamber.  Over time these bellows or pistons will likely develop leaks and lose their ability to provide adequate pressure during the seal process, thus resulting in a spotty seal and dreaded “leakers”.

What if the seal pulls apart too easily and won’t hold up during normal handling?  You may simply need to adjust your seal time so the wire heats up more.  Or maybe the seal wire you’re using isn’t correct.  Every machine is designed to use a specific width, shape, and thickness of seal wire.  When replacing you must verify that the Teflon tape and seal wire being installed is in compliance with the manufacturer’s specifications.  Another cause for a weak seal might be that your seal wire isn’t properly isolated from the bar itself.  Many machines are equipped with metal sealing bars typically made out of aluminum.  These bars provide significant advantages over fiber bars because they can last forever if cared for properly.  However, electricity will find the path of least resistance so it’s possible that a weak seal may result from a seal wire not receiving the power it needs so check to make sure your wire is isolated properly.

Oftentimes the most likely cause for a heat seal “leaker” is also the most obvious.  Pay close attention when laying bags across the bar prior to closing the lid.  The opening of the pouch should be laid flat across the bar and needs to be long enough that the mouth is able to close.  When it comes to using the correct vacuum pouch, size does matter!  Don’t settle for using vacuum bags that are too short or too long just because your supplier doesn’t carry them.  JVR carries over 100 sizes of 3 and 4-mil vacuum pouches to fit every product.  Improperly sized bags will be difficult to lay flat and you’ll likely discover unwanted creases in the seal area.  Every crease doubles up the amount of plastic being sealed, and most machines are not designed to seal through four or more layers of material.  So next time your running your vacuum sealer check to see how the bags are being laid across the bar because it might be the reason for your “leakers”.

This article is one of a series of troubleshooting articles meant to assist customers in addressing concerns with their vacuum packaging equipment.  If you’re currently vacuum packaging but aren’t satisfied with the results you’re receiving, then please consider contacting tech support at JVR Industries.  Based just outside of Buffalo, NY JVR has specialized in vacuum packaging equipment for over 45 years and offers free over-the-phone technical support for all brands of equipment.

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