Meat Saws

[zuiko]

Anybody have a meat bandsaw? Any problem cutting through frozen solid (0 degree) pieces of meat with one? I got some frozen meat that needs to be cut up and I'd rather not thaw and refreeze if I can cut it while frozen. I've been thinking about getting this one from northern tool.

Northern Industrial Electric Meat Saw/Grinder | Meat Saws | Northern Tool + Equipment

I don't have much need for a grinder but it seems like you always get one.

Harbor freight sells one too but it is really expensive for some reason:

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

Not sure what they are thinking there... I could get a grizzly saw for that price.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

We have a couple meat saws but they are heavy duty saws (Hobarts if I recall). Depending what we are doing we will intentionally freeze meat before we cut it on the band saw. As for the built in grinder I have no experience with those as our units are pure band saw. We have an extreme heavy duty grinder for making hamburg and sausage.

 

[schmism]

there was just a post about these not to long ago.... you might do a search for it.

 

[zuiko]

Any idea what to search for? The only thing I could find was one from back in July about using a wood saw for cutting meat.

 

[scgargoyle]

Frozen meat cuts very easily, as does bone. It'll make ya think twice about getting your fingers near the blade! I've cut frozen meat on a cheap Sears 12" bandsaw- zips right through it. Make sure you clean the saw thoroughly afterwards- inside and out.

 

[GregMVT]

My hunting buddy down in Virginia bought me the Northern Industrial saw a couple of years ago for Christmas. He knew I was planning on having pigs last year. That model worked really well on the 5 pigs we raised last year, only have 4 this year. The only problem I had with it was 1 of the pigs I had to cut up the day it was slaughtered, my brother had welded me a stainless steel syrup pan for my maple syrup evaporator in exchange for one of the pigs. We were meeting up that evening to make the exchange. That night it dropped down to low 20's, great for the hanging pigs, but I hadn't cleaned up the saw. The blade drags fat/meat onto the wheels and it had frozen. So when I started using it the next morning the blade wouldn't stay on the wheels until after I had cleaned it. If you get one it'd be worth getting an extra blade or two. I haven't had a problem with it getting dull or breaking but I'd hate to get half way through a pig and not have a backup in case it broke. When you are done make sure you clean it REALLY well inside and out. Meat/fat goes all over with them.

Greg

 

[aczlan]

we have had good luck with a sawzall and a 12" wood blade when cutting up deer.

Aaron Z

 

[zuiko]

I found one on clearance and picked it up. It is a pretty impressive machine... cuts through solid frozen meat like nothing. Clean up is certainly a chore... the meat "saw dust" gets everywhere in the saw so it takes a while to clean, but it is still a big time saver over doing it by hand, and I can do it without thawing and refreezing. It looks like all the components are stainless, painted steel, or cast aluminum so it should hold up to the cleaning. It's nice being able to cut steaks to an exact consistent thickness (using the fence) as well.

 

[moeh1]

Depending on how much meat you have frozen, they do make some hand models, sort of like a big hacksaw. Pretty cheap and easy to store for next time and easier to clean up.