which bacon slicer? - december 2010

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which bacon slicer? - december 2010

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farmershort

Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 124
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Tue Dec 07, 10 2:27 pm Post subject: which bacon slicer? - december 2010

Hi All,

I know this thread has been done a few times, but the best threads I can find are from 2007! failing that, the next most recent ones were 2009, but didn't have much info in them.

so, I was wondering what the latest advice would be about buying a bacon slicer. We have loads and loads of cured belly pork to slice up into streaky bacon. Can anyone recommend a slicer good enough to cut through belly (rind on), that doesn't cost hundreds like the butchers ones?

I've seen this one for sale in john lewis:
https://www.johnlewis.com/230856126/Product.aspx

but I've also seen a very similar looking one in nisbets for a bit cheaper:
https://www.nisbets.co.uk/products/productdetail.asp?productCode=K238

of course there is the chance that all of these food slicers are just toys, and not man enough to cut through pork belly.

very much looking forward to your advice

Adam

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue Dec 07, 10 2:32 pm Post subject:

Adam, even the cheapo slicers will cut streaky bacon fine. The main problem they have is that the bed on which you place the slab of bacon in order to move it back and forth is rarely big enough. As a result the bacon doesn't slide into the blade neatly and the slices go awry.
One solution to the problem is to roll and tie the slab of bacon so that it fits on the bed. Not perfect, and probably not neat enough for sale, but it is a cheap solution!

farmershort

Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 124
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Tue Dec 07, 10 2:35 pm Post subject:

judith wrote:

no intention of selling it, It's mainly for our use, and also for making some "good looking" sliced bacon for xmas hampers for the family.

I take your point about the sliding bed being an issue. I wonder, has anyone managed to get round this by sliding the meat on a secondary base? I'm thinking perhaps a flat sheet of plastic which slides over the top of the original sliding base?

farmershort

Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 124
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 10 8:18 pm Post subject:
Just a quick update - I managed to get this beauty off ebay for £82!!! https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180596830844&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_500wt_950 It's a proper HUGE Hobart meat slicer! I think I'm a little bit in love with it! Now I need to know how you sharpen the blade. It's not bad, it works, but I think it'd be better for a touch up.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 10 8:20 pm Post subject:
That's a good deal! We make very little bacon and use a Kenwood machine but I would still like that. Bet Vegplot would have some idea how to sharpen it.

farmershort

Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 124
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 10 8:59 pm Post subject:

Cathryn wrote:

That's a good deal! We make very little bacon and use a Kenwood machine but I would still like that. Bet Vegplot would have some idea how to sharpen it.

Thanks for the pointer - I've sent vegplot a pm

Pilsbury

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 5645
Location: East london/Essex

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 10 9:08 pm Post subject:
have you actually rcievd the slicer yet? there should be a sharpening attatchment that goes in the metal cover over the top of the blade, you should be able to loosen the attatchment and turn it so it slots onto the blade, i have looked at the pic on the item but the attatchment should be on the other side if you know what i mean

farmershort

Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 124
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 10 9:11 pm Post subject:

Pilsbury wrote:

have you actually rcievd the slicer yet?
there should be a sharpening attatchment that goes in the metal cover over the top of the blade, you should be able to loosen the attatchment and turn it so it slots onto the blade, i have looked at the pic on the item but the attatchment should be on the other side if you know what i mean

Yes I have the item here now! picked it up tonight!

we tried it on some soaked bacon, and it wasn't brill. We then tried it on some unsoaked - firm bacon, and it nwas much better, but still had a tendency to leave a thin slab on the bottom of the meat, as this would get forced down between the shelf and the thickness plate.

I'll have a look for a sharpening attachment - not sure what it'll look like, but hopefully it'll be obvious!

EDIT
***************
Just had a look - there's a large plastic screw at the back of the blade section. I unscrewed this, and it allowed me to remove the aluminium faceplate from the blade. This then revealed a black cast ring around the outside of the blade, and the blade itself, held in with 4 hub screws near the centre.

I couldn't see anything I could use to sharpen it.

Pilsbury

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 5645
Location: East london/Essex

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 10 9:20 pm Post subject:
is there a boxy type thing on the top of the blade? when you take the blade cover off it will still be covering the very top of the blade,

farmershort

Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 124
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 10 9:22 pm Post subject:

Pilsbury wrote:

is there a boxy type thing on the top of the blade? when you take the blade cover off it will still be covering the very top of the blade,

no, the blade edge is completely exposed all of the way round with the cover removed. the casting around the edge is a different shape at the top of the blade, but I think this may just be to strengthen it, and allow it to bolt to the upright post at the back - nothing at all covering the blade edge.

farmershort

Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 124
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 10 9:22 pm Post subject:

Pilsbury wrote:

is there a boxy type thing on the top of the blade? when you take the blade cover off it will still be covering the very top of the blade,

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 10 9:24 pm Post subject:
Sent PM.

Pilsbury

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 5645
Location: East london/Essex

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 10 9:24 pm Post subject:

ok look at this link to nesbits
https://www.nisbets.co.uk/products/productdetail.asp?productCode=CD277
the bit that sharpens the blade is in the block at the top of the blade with the black knob on the top, does yours have this sort of thing?
if it does you normally loosen the knob, swing the block through 180 dgrees and this puts the sharpening wheels in contact with the blade, then just run the blade for 3 or 4 seconds and its razer sharp again, turn the block back ronud and tighten and its ready to go

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 10 9:26 pm Post subject:
I found this. If you know the model number you may be able to get spares.

farmershort

Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 124
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 10 9:58 pm Post subject:

I think I've discovered the purpose of the funny shaped bit of casting at the top. It sort of dog legs , above the top of the blade, not in such a was as to cover the cutting edge, but rather to allow you access to the rear side of the blade - this is the side with the bevel. I imagine it is designed as such so that you can hold an appropriately shaped sharpening stone in that 2 inch or so gap.

Now to find the right shaped stone for a 45 degree bevel, with bugger all tilting room (i.e. a square stone wont work).

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