Chamber Vacuum Sealers, 2014–

[Steve Irby]

I purchased a JVR Vac100 prior to Christmas to replace a Vacmaster VP-112 that I had for about ten years.  I had very good service out of the VP-112 until the last two years when I ordered some replacement parts on two separate occasions that were somewhat incompatible.  It really pissed me off to spend $200 on mismatched replacement parts from Ary when I could have applied the money to a new unit.

 

I decided to scrap the VP-112 and replace it with an oil sealed rotary unit with a similar form factor.  My criteria were rotary pump, fit on a countertop with overhead cabinets,  seal bar length to accommodate two 6” x 12” pouches, good interior volume and knowledgeable sales/support.  My maximum out of pocket budget was $1,000.  

 

First off I discovered my spec’s aren’t what the market is geared toward.  There are a lot of units with small chambers, weak pumps and glossy, super amped up promotions (Anova in particular).  There are also a bunch of very competent VP-215 & clones with 10-inch seal bars but very few (or none) that had a 12.5” inch seal bar and were countertop friendly.   Lack of after sales support seemed to be a common theme across a lot of brands requiring the unit to be returned instead of a small part being replaced.

 

I had never heard of JVR until   @liliumdavidii posted a link  to the unit on November 8 on this thread.  I followed the link to the website and  was impressed by the Vac100 specs but also that it was being marketed by a company that had been in business for 40 years selling and  servicing commercial packing equipment.   At the end of 2021 the units were just being rolled out and reviews were pretty hard to find.   I called JVR and spoke with Andrew regarding the technical specs. I believe Andrew is the son of the founders of JVR and is responsible for developing the JVR Vac product line.  He was quite knowledgeable and addressed all my concerns.   They also have all the spare parts in stock and displayed on the web page plus a full line of accessories including retort canning supplies.    I know other companies say there units can seal retort pouches but I think only JVR sells a heavier seal bar tape and heat wire that is up to the task.   Here's link to JVR with specs and video's https://jvrinc.com/shop-all-products/vacseries/jvr-vac100/vac100-chamber-vacuum-sealer

 

The unit was delivered by UPS a week or two before Christmas.  Upon delivery I noticed that the overpack was banged up and had probably been dropped pretty hard on the freight dock.  Dam there goes my Xmas package! After unpacking I discovered that the unit had some cosmetic damage but was functional.  I contacted Andrew and he said they would ship out a replacement ASAP and to use the unit in the interim.   The replacement unit was delivered within 10 days with double overpack and a RA for UPS pick-up.  

At work!

 

 

Very handy bag clips!

 

 

Usable chamber depth.  The bag under the clips is 12" x 12".  I've used as large as 12" x 14" for roast.

 

 

Right out of the box the unit has been a work horse.  Fast, quiet and easy to maintain.  I was pleasantly surprised that the brushed stainless steel is non-magnetic alloy and of heavier gauge than I expected.  The curved glass top is really attractive and makes it easy to monitor the transition to the  “boiling” point of different foods.  I’m also getting consistent seals at lower vacuums which was always a problem with the VP-112. 

 

 

 They ship the pump dry so the first task is to fill the pump.  The task is made quite easy since the equipment bay is accessed by removing three screws across the rear of the unit and pivoting the hinged chamber up.  The unit is going to be easy to service as the equipment layout is very neat, modularized and easy to access.   They have provided a knockout plug in the base of the unit so oil changes will be no muss no fuss.  

 

The Vac100 shipped with a very nice canister set, wine bottle seal, bag assortment, spare seal wire, refill of oil, heat strip and operation manual.  They also included a quart oil with the second unit.

 

 

I'm a happy camper six months in with hundreds of bags sealed.

[horseflesh]

@Steve Irby another year has passed, how do you like that JVR Vac100?

 

My mom is looking for a vacuum sealer, so I'm looking for recommendations on units a lot like this, with a good compromise between counter space occupied and interior space... And an oil pump. 

 

I've been out of the chamber sealer shopping game since I got my Minipack about 10 years ago so I don't know what the current value picks are... If anyone has suggestions, please lay 'em on me. 

[Steve Irby]

On 9/10/2023 at 1:24 PM, horseflesh said:

@Steve Irby another year has passed, how do you like that JVR Vac100?

 

My mom is looking for a vacuum sealer, so I'm looking for recommendations on units a lot like this, with a good compromise between counter space occupied and interior space... And an oil pump. 

 

I've been out of the chamber sealer shopping game since I got my Minipack about 10 years ago so I don't know what the current value picks are... If anyone has suggestions, please lay 'em on me. 

I'm very satisfied with my purchase.  I use the unit daily and it has performed flawlessly.  It's been easy to clean and service.  My brother bought one for christmas this past year and he is pleased with his unit too.  

[horseflesh]

10 minutes ago, Steve Irby said:

I'm very satisfied with my purchase.  I use the unit daily and it has performed flawlessly.  It's been easy to clean and service.  My brother bought one for christmas this past year and he is pleased with his unit too.  

 

This is great to hear, thanks! 

[horseflesh]

Hey @Steve Irby one more quick question about your JVR... I cannot figure this out from the manual. 

 

When it is pumping down, can you use the Stop button to stop pumping and immediately begin sealing? Or, does it only abort the cycle? 

 

I am hoping for the former as when sealing liquids I find it easiest just to watch what is happening, and seal instantly if there is an overflow risk. 

 

Edit to add: If I understand this JVR video correctly, at 5:27 he says that hitting the Down button during pumping will skip ahead to sealing. That's exactly what I was hoping for. 

Edited September 13, 2023 by horseflesh (log)

[Steve Irby]

2 hours ago, horseflesh said:

Hey @Steve Irby one more quick question about your JVR... I cannot figure this out from the manual. 

 

When it is pumping down, can you use the Stop button to stop pumping and immediately begin sealing? Or, does it only abort the cycle? 

 

I am hoping for the former as when sealing liquids I find it easiest just to watch what is happening, and seal instantly if there is an overflow risk. 

 

Edit to add: If I understand this JVR video correctly, at 5:27 he says that hitting the Down button during pumping will skip ahead to sealing. That's exactly what I was hoping for. 

Stop does abort the cycle while using the down button progresses to the next step - seal.  The glass lid makes it very easy to monitor overflow.  The keypad has an optical sensor so it's important to let you finger cover the icons.  

[palo]

An aside - Anova has published a recipe for Home Cured Bacon, using a chamber vac - may not be news to many of you, but was to me:

 

https://oven.anovaculinary.com/recipe/vtQJZYP4ioLnmJJlGEVu?utm_campaign=Food Nerd Spotlight%3A Cody Splane [CVAC] 9%2F13%2F23 (01H9P5CACGSM44V6FAB01736HM)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Oven Content Preference Segment&_kx=Wa0km46UIWEH3mHErC3pRla9FuOijo9V2Eo-RDUvmfA%3D.Kxfd42

 

p

[JoNorvelleWalker]

My chamber vacuum sealer is a PolyScience 300.  It came with a length of vacuum tubing to connect to the PolyScience vacuum canister, which I also have.  Each end of the tubing is terminated in a plastic plug.  The setup is a very poor design in that one has to hold the plug in the port on the vacuum sealer with one hand while manipulating the valve on the canister with the other, and operating the controls with the third.

 

Now, ten years later, I have a vacuum pump.  I would like to connect the vacuum pump to the PolyScience canister.  To do so I need to reduce the 5/16" ID vacuum tubing from the pump to the PolyScience tubing.  I'm guessing the ID of the PolyScience tubing is 1/4" but I can't be sure until I cut an end off.  From product pictures it appears PolyScience reengineered the external vacuum port since ten years ago, so the diameter may have changed since I got mine.  The OD of the PolyScience tubing is 7mm.

 

Should I just get a 5/16" to 1/4" reducer to see if the setup works?

 

[palo]

If you're not talking a lot of money (I shouldn't think so) give it a go

 

p

[Smithy]

3 hours ago, palo said:

If you're not talking a lot of money (I shouldn't think so) give it a go

 

p

 

I agree with palo. 

 

I'm a bit confused by your measurements in inches and millimeters, and I wonder whether that i.d. will really be 1/4". (I can see you wonder also.) The flexible 7mm tubing I found on Amazon has an i.d. of 5 mm (13/64"), slightly smaller than 1/4". Is the Polyscience tubing stretchy enough to fit over a 14" adapter?

[Kerry Beal]

One of these?

 

 

 

[JoNorvelleWalker]

16 hours ago, Smithy said:

 

I agree with palo. 

 

I'm a bit confused by your measurements in inches and millimeters, and I wonder whether that i.d. will really be 1/4". (I can see you wonder also.) The flexible 7mm tubing I found on Amazon has an i.d. of 5 mm (13/64"), slightly smaller than 1/4". Is the Polyscience tubing stretchy enough to fit over a 14" adapter?

 

The PolyScience tubing 7mm OD was what I measured with my micrometer.  I was too lazy to convert.  Granted I could just have pressed a button on the micrometer.  I have no idea how well the PolyScience tubing will stretch until I cut off one of the end pieces and try.

 

[Smithy]

7 hours ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

 

The PolyScience tubing 7mm OD was what I measured with my micrometer.  I was too lazy to convert.  Granted I could just have pressed a button on the micrometer.  I have no idea how well the PolyScience tubing will stretch until I cut off one of the end pieces and try.

 

 

The tapered adapter fitting @Kerry Beal showed above looks perfect. 

[blue_dolphin]

5 hours ago, Smithy said:

 

The tapered adapter fitting @Kerry Beal showed above looks perfect. 

 

I agree.  When I encounter such issues these days, I look back fondly on old labs I used to work in where we had all sorts of adapters, connectors and hose clamps that I could at least test out if not ...um....borrow 🙃

[Kerry Beal]

1 hour ago, blue_dolphin said:

 

I agree.  When I encounter such issues these days, I look back fondly on old labs I used to work in where we had all sorts of adapters, connectors and hose clamps that I could at least test out if not ...um....borrow 🙃

The word is liberate!

[Smithy]

30 minutes ago, Kerry Beal said:

The word is liberate!

 

Yeah, that stuff was due to be thrown away anyhow!

[JoNorvelleWalker]

I cut the PolyScience vacuum hose in half.  The ID is 4mm (5/32 inches).  On Amazon I found this 5/16" to 5/32" adaptor:

(eG-friendly Amazon.com link)

 

It would be prudent to wait until next payday, though no one has ever called me prudent.