[oldschool1982]

Hey Gang!


I have a 4 year old FoodSaver ProII that has toasted the teflon strip. This is the strip that covers the sealing element. I fixed it once already with crazy glue but it has split in half and come undone from the unit on one side.

I have been round and round with the folks at FoodSaver only to find that they offer no repair service nor do they have replacement parts other than the rubber and foam seals. This really ticks me off because this thing wasn't cheap and I invested the extra money for the Pro model so not to have issues like this. The one thing that really gets my blood boiling is the indifferent attitude the on-line rep took as far as not even offering a suggestion other than buying a new unit!!!! Before I bought the pro model, I went through 4 of the ones you buy at the store, all having a similar issue with the sealer element. I really thought the Pro model would be more durable in this respect.

Anyhow, I can't seem to find teflon or non stick sheets so I can make a replacement strip. I remeber getting these sheets for automatic bun toaste/grills but can't seem to remember where.

If anyone has a suggestion on this I would greatly appreciate it.

[PeteMcCracken]

This is what I found at FoodSaver Service and Parts :

For repair and service of FoodSaver products please contact Tilia Customer Service at 1-800-777-5452. Replacement of the FoodSaver sealing strip is done by the Tilia repair department at 1-800-777-5452.

For any FoodSaver replacement parts or accessories that are not listed on this web site please call Tilia Customer Service at 1-800-777-5452. Replacement parts would include: vacuum hose, gasket, accessory hose, seals, and other repair parts.

For questions concerning the operation of FoodSaver products that are not listed on this web site please call Tilia Customer Service at 1-800-777-5452.

For questions concerning the operation of FoodSaver products that were not purchased from this web site please call Tilia Customer Service at 1-800-777-5452.

[phatch]

Would some cooking parchment paper work, at least for one use? Then just trim off the scorched bit and repeat?

Phil

[oldschool1982]

Originally Posted by PeteMcCracken

This is what I found at FoodSaver Service and Parts :

For repair and service of FoodSaver products please contact Tilia Customer Service at 1-800-777-5452. Replacement of the FoodSaver sealing strip is done by the Tilia repair department at 1-800-777-5452.

For any FoodSaver replacement parts or accessories that are not listed on this web site please call Tilia Customer Service at 1-800-777-5452. Replacement parts would include: vacuum hose, gasket, accessory hose, seals, and other repair parts.

For questions concerning the operation of FoodSaver products that are not listed on this web site please call Tilia Customer Service at 1-800-777-5452.

For questions concerning the operation of FoodSaver products that were not purchased from this web site please call Tilia Customer Service at 1-800-777-5452.

Dear .....................................,

Thank you for contacting Jarden Consumer Solutions. We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced.

Although we do not doubt your abilities to repair the unit, we cannot send out internal components. This has as much to do with liability issues as it does certain patent concerns. We do not supply the parts or schematics of what is essentially proprietary company information.

Unfortunately, we do not have a service center available that can repair FoodSaver units.
If you need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us through our toll free number, 1-800-777-5452. Our hours are 8 am - 8 pm Monday through Friday, and 9 am - 6 pm Saturday, Eastern Time.

Sincerely,

-----------------,
Jarden Consumer Solutions

In order to offer you a more extensive line of innovative products for your home and family, we have joined our sister brands under the Jarden Consumer Solutions umbrella.


Pete, Thanks for providing the info and I have no doubt that what you provided was accurate....at one time but this is the email I received from Jardin las week and it seems that Tilla is no longer part of the equation. They are all part of the Sunbeam conglomerate and like most others out there, only want your money and screw the service, customer or otherwise.

Phil, the parchment works for one shot deals like you would think, but when you have a couple gallons of sauce or several steaks you just cut......it get's quite smokey and expensive. Thanks for the input though.

Personally I think it's just amazing that an almost 300.00 piece of equipment can be brought down by a .30cent part. But isn't that the way it is with most things these days? I still say that they should continue to offer a way to repair their products especially when the product has a grand history of this issue! That or change the warranty and grandfather people in! But I don't ever see that happening!

[angrybob]

Perhaps you can find something that will work at fluoropolymerproducts.com.

[mattie405]

I know I have seen thin teflon sheets in kitchen stores and on the QVC home shopping channel, they are the thiness of parchment and are made to be cut to fit the bottom of your oven. Could you maybe use one of these sheets and cut a few strips to make a new part for your machine? I know I even have some sheets of it somewhere around here that I use in sewing, the stuff takes high temps of a full blast iron so I think it would stand up to the heat strip in a Foodsaver. Me, I gave up on Foodsaver, we bought 2 of them (mid level ones) on sale and neither one has lasted......they didn't die from overuse either, we tried them both when we bought them and then they got packed away while work was done on the kitchen, a year later neither one worked when they were taken out of the boxes they came in. I wrote to the company too and their answer was essentially we should just upgrade to their new models. Not happening, fool me once.....I'm going to have a look around this house tomorrow and see if i can find where hubby put the sheets of this stuff, if I get lucky and find it I will gladly send you some, wish me luck.

[oldschool1982]

Mattie, Thanks I'll wait and see what you come up with. I actually bought the pro one because of the amount it's used. Some weeks, we can use it 10-20 times and others as much as 50 times. Then again, it sits idle for a few weeks at a time because we are using up food we made and stored. The only trouble I have ever had with the food-saver was the sealing strip. Most have only lasted a matter of weeks before they burned up the teflon completely and I was able to get this one to limp along for almost 3 years before it burned it up so, I've not had too bad of luck. The thing that gets me is the lack of customer support and repair. I guess it's just my thought process but anything that costs almost what a weeks worth of groceries does is not "throw-away". I buy something, it's taken care of to last for not just a couple but several years. I don't mind spending the extra buck as long as it's worth it in the way of quality. Buying cheap stuff and replaceing it is not only a hassle but it's time consuming.

Bob, I did check out the site and submitted a bid request for two products that I think I might be able to get to work. Just have to hope the cost is not more than a new FoodSaver

[boar_d_laze]

There are some light duty commercial units by well known companies, around $500 (if you look) by Anvil (7200), FMA Omcam (mt500), and MiniPack (Fast Vac). By all means check the warranty and replacement part availibility situations before buying.

I've got a friend who's had good luck with a 15" Cabela's -- which is really a rebranded Weston. If you look, you can find the Weston in either powder coat or stainless for well under $400 new. I don't think he uses his as much as you use yours though.

I've had good experiences going through Restaurant Equipment World for several purchases -- although not a vacuum sealer. They do have a "Vacuum Sealer World;" and you might want to browse the site. Vacuum Sealer World - Commercial vacuum sealing equipment by Restaurant Equipment World

It looks as though they've got an amazing deal on the Orved (Eurodib) EVS at $700, but I'm a sucker for anything with a gauge. One of the nice thing about the REW people is they are very good on the phone, speak knowledgeably, give good advice to the limit of their knowledge based on your needs and not their potential profit, and say "don't know," when they don't.

By way of example, a couple of years ago I went nuts and tried to spend several hundred on a big deal blender and they talked me way down to the little 3/4hp commercial model we own and love. Less than $100, it saved me about $300 compared to what I was going to spend, and about $50 compared to what I would have spent for the same thing almost anywhere else.

Consider them endoresed.

BDL

[MikeLM]

I have a Foodsaver which so far works well, but am appalled at the price of the additional bags. It's the Gillette Razor strategy.

I looked at BDL's referenced site - Restaurant Equipment World - and found vac bags of another manufacturer for a very reasonable price. They are described as "polyamide/PPP" plastic.

Anybody know tha material used in Foodsaver bags? Any reason it wouldn't work in the Foodsaver? It's obviously a thermoplastic material.

Thanks for any help

Mike

[MaryB]

McMaster-Carr carries teflon tape in different sizes and glues.

[oldschool1982]

Many of the sites ya'll have provided have offered a vaiety of options. Thanks a million!!!!

Yet, It would be interesting to know the thickness of teflon tape needed to still allow the sealing element to do it's job thoroughly. I no longer have any sort of Micrometer set since when I gave up Motorsports I gave them up as well. I have a feeler gauge for spark plugs but there is no way to use that to gauge the thickness of the teflon tape. Well no accurate way at least.

If I had to guess I'd say .005 or maybe .015 thick? Anyone have a clue or way to measure?


Thanks again.

BDL, I've seriously considered getting a more commercial model. Just can't seem to find one that doesn't take up it's own room. I'll have to check out the site you mentioned

Mike, I'll have to check out that bag thing. I've noticed that recently the bags foodsaver makes or sells are getting thinner. They seem to get pin holes much easier than they once did. You're also correct on the price. Even with the box that Costco/Wally World sells it's getting ridiculous.

[mattie405]

Old School...send me your address by PM and I will send you some of the teflon sheet that I have here in my little hands! This is good to about 400 degrees so should work fine for what you need it for, it is also 18 inches wide, I'll send you enough to hold you over for quite a few replacements and hope it works well for you. I'll look for a message from you tomorrow in case you don't get on again tonight. Mattie

[MaryB]

For bags try Goodmans on Amazon.com. Very decent pricing if you buy in bulk.

[mattie405]

OldSchool..........you didn't give me a full name to address the stuff to....I put your first name and the address on the envelope and hopefully it will still get to you....it's going out this morning.......I'll check before it gets sent in case you leave a last name to put on it. Mattie

[MikeLM]

Joe-
Dunno if this might work, but you might try the teflon tape used for sealing pipe joints. It's plenty thin, but has no adhesive backing. You would have to stick it down at both ends with something sticky.

Even if it was a one-shot repair, it's cheap enough to use, if it works.

Any hardware or home improvement, of course.

Mike