You guys think a 1/2 hp meat grinder say a number 12 would be a good starting point or do I need to step it up an get the 1hp #22 think the thing runs off 220 the 1hp guy has he wants 700 for it the head looks good but the body it neat up pretty bad might be a old Hobart idkeveryrhing is rubbed off....or there the 1/2 hp from is it cableas or bps for 400 brand new
I run a 3/4hp #12 LEM big bite , good size for me and a some friends and family getting together to do deer , but if I was trying to make money butchering I would be going much bigger
I think I got my #12 big bite around 2007 or 2008 it was a huge improvement for deer and for 2-3 deer at a time does well
when I did the cows it took a LONG time to grind 208 pounds of burger I got from the one cow.
look at that hobart , outside case means about nothing , all the paint rubbed off probably means it was cleaned a with every use , the gears and bearings matter , the motor windings matter
maybe ask if you can take the case off and see , then get model and SN# check what parts are available
also you say 220 , is it 3-phase 220 and do you have 3 phase ? and if you do , what type ask your eclectic utility. Wild leg is common around here so you have to make sure any relays are wired not to the wild leg it is 208 volts to ground where the other legs are 120 to ground.
the smallest I would go is the #32 1.5hp LEM big bite if I was planning to do more than deer for family.
the #12 head uses a nylon thrust washer , the #32 head uses a thrust bearing
also I would have a spare head , with plates and cutters when you finish some ones order I would start the parts soaking in very hot water to reduce clean up time and keep grinding the next order.
also it may pay to have spare grinder if you rely on it a lot , you have a small window to work with so even a few days down time is a big issue on the processing game.
you can also get meat mixer tubs to run off the grinder motor if you plan to make sausage