I purchased this grinder about a year ago during the "mad cow" scare...It's nice to be able to control what is in your ground meats and sausages.
When I want to make a batch of hamburger, I buy 15-20 pounds of beef, trim off the fat, gristle, and sinew before grinding. I add an appropriate amount of fat evenly to the meat chunks as I grind them. It's actually fun and goes so fast. I wrap and freeze the freshly ground beef in one pound packages. I also make my own bulk sausage, using the recipes included with the grinder. Delicious! As with the hamburger, when I am ready to make sausage, I buy 15 to 20 pounds of meat--pork, turkey, and/or chicken--and just follow the recipe. This fresh sausage is also wrapped and frozen in one pound packages.
The hopper handles a large amount of meat, and all I have to do is keep piling on the large chunks, guiding them into the feed tube. I have not had to use the "pusher" because the grinding screw easily pulls the meat down and through. The grinder has never bogged down or clogged up. I usually grind more than one type of meat and/or sausage in a session, so to clean out the grinder between products, I run saltine crackers through. Then I'm ready to continue with the next project! Speaking of crackers, this grinder also makes terrific cracker crumbs...And I have yet to try out all it's other capabilities, such as grinding fruit, nuts, and cheese.
The cutting plates will rust if one does not follow the instructions for cleaning and storing them. (After washing the plates, I dry them in a warm oven, oil them lightly with vegetable oil, and wrap them in waxed paper.) If the directions are followed, there will be no problem, and the grinder will be ready for the next big job...
This grinder is loud--I plug my ears with a bit of tissue, which takes care the noise--and it has one speed, which is not a problem--one speed is all it needs. I like the simplicity of this machine; there are no "bells and whistles" to figure out and break. It is a straight-forward, hard-working, no-nonsense appliance.
I enjoy using my grinder. It is powerful, fun to use, and economical. I buy quality meats on sale and in bulk, which saves me quite a bit of money. Also, I feel good about knowing EXACTLY what is in the ground meats/sausage I feed my family and friends, and how fresh it is! I can highly recommend this model for anyone who desires a dependable and powerful meat/food grinder.