VacMaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer review and price compare 2025

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Product overview

Brand	Vacmaster
Material	Stainless Steel
Color	Silver
Item Dimensions LxWxH	20 x 14 x 15 inches
Item Weight	84 Pounds

product features

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Equipped with a 1/4 HP rotary oil pump that can manage larger loads.
Overall Dimensions (WxDxH): 14” x 20” x 15” | Chamber Size (WxDxH): 11.25” x 15.25” x 5” | Weight: 84 lbs
Heavy-duty yet easy to use, the VP215 extends food's shelf life up to five times longer.
A double seal on each bag ensures a complete and lasting seal that's twice as strong as other machines.
This reliable and quiet vacuum sealer is perfect for small restaurants, culinary institutions, delicatessens, catering, or hunters and fishers.
The VP215 can vacuum package liquids and liquid-rich foods like fresh meats, soups, marinades, and stews.

From the manufacturer

Take on even the toughest jobs!

With its heavy-duty oil pump the VacMaster VP215 will take your vacuum packaging experience to the next level! Buy the VP215 and enjoy all the benefits of a chamber vacuum sealer with an oil pump. Unlike run of the mill vacuum sealers, the VP215 can be run continuously. Because of its oil pump, this machine doesn''t need any cool-down time in between bags. Oil pump machines like the VP215 are also much quieter than other machines that have a dry pump! The VP215 is the solution to all your storage problems, no matter how heavy the load. The VacMaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer is the last chamber vacuum sealer you will ever need!

product description

The VacMaster VP215 Chamber Machine is engineered for superior performance and is the cornerstone unit of our VP Series machines. This machine is efficient, reliable and easy to use, making it an essential part of any operation. The VP215 is perfect for small restaurants, culinary institutions and delicatessens. It is also a valuable tool used by serious hunters and fishermen. With a 1/4 horsepower rotary oil pump, the VP215 is efficient and dependable, runs fast and quietly and performs consistently, making it a top-seller. The VacMaster VP215 Chamber Machine is the last vacuum packaging machine your customer will ever need! How does the chamber machine work? When sealing with a chamber machine, the vacuum pouch is placed inside the chamber and the lid is closed. Air is sucked out of the entire chamber, not just the pouch itself, allowing air pressure on both the inside and outside of the pouch to remain equal and liquids to stay inside the pouch. The pouch is then fully sealed and air is returned back into the chamber. It really is a whole new way to vacuum package. The VP215 accepts chamber pouches up to 10"W x 13"L.

product details

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Questions about VacMaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer

Has anyone tried to seal Quart Jars in this units yet and if so how well did it work or not

Answer: Yes, I seal quart jars (both regular and wide mouth) by leaving the bands loose and placing the jars on their sides. You can seal up to three quart jars at a time. I set the vacuum cycle to 70 seconds, seal to 0 seconds, & cool for 0 seconds. Since the jars must be placed on their sides, vacuum packing flours does not work well for me, but larger particle contents like beans, peas, or even steal cut oats works very well.

Answer: I do it all the time. Just put the lids and rings on loosely and lay the jars on their side for non-liquids only. (Liquids will spill out sine the lid is loose). I also remove both of the white plates, and lay a tea towel down and pull some of the fabric up between the jars when sealing multiple jars so they don't bump together. Be sure to set the heat sealing to 0.0 so you don't damage or wear out the seal tape unnecessarily. When done, remove the jar rings as they are no longer needed.

Answer: Ok, on youtube there is a guy who does video on most of the VacMaster models. He sells these products. He will show you how to operate and how to do the jars and other things. You can even wash your kids stuffed animals and vacuum seal them.

Answer:

Answer: No. I don't think it is intended for such. We've sealed thousands of pounds of 'wet' and dehydrated produce over the past few months without a hiccup. Sliced dehydrated apples have sharp edges and can pierce the bags if not wrapped with a paper towel on inside or bag or similar approach. We didn't have this problem with dehydrated pears or other fruit. We're very pleased with product thus far.

Answer: The chamber would not be tall enough for that

Answer: No I haven't but that is not a good idea. Use it for as intended and you will be more than satisfied.

Is this machine fit for home use? Or just commercial use?

Answer:

Answer: Yes this if fit for home use. It's heavy duty and works awesome. I use it for home use and it's used often. I was recommended this model by my brother in law who has two of them. One in Alaska and the other in Michigan. If you don't mind spending the money it's worth it! It is rather heavy at just over 100 lbs. So it's not something you will be moving around much!

Answer: I use it for a commercial kitchen but it would easily work for home use as long as you have counter space for it.

Answer: It can fit for home use for sure

Answer: home use, but it is really heavy so we have it on a cart and it stays on the rolling cart. we use it to pack our subsistence fish in our home every summer. You have to either put it in one place and use it there or do like we did because you can't move it around. It is awesome.

Answer: I both to use in my house

Answer: I use it in my home kitchen, but I am slightly ridiculous.

Answer: It is a bit big about the size of an electric roaster for a turkey. However it will change your life with the easy of packaging your food either cooked or not. Even liquids can be sealed in less than two minutes.

Answer: We use it for both, it's large and heavy but does a great job vacuum packing

Does this do retort sealing?

Answer: The vp215 is NOT approved for sealing retort pouches.

Answer: No,

Answer: I have been using this unit with retort bags for three years now, occasionally a bag will fail during pressure cooking, typically its the factory sealed portion of the bag that fails. Inspect each bag completely after processing/before opening as you would any other method.

Does it give loud noises when it's working?

Answer: The only 'loud' noise (by comparison with generally quiet operation) is when the vacuum sealing process completes. This unit is much quieter that my FoodSaver unit .

Answer: There is sound from the vacuum pump removing air from the chamber, but I would not characterize it as either loud or noise.

Answer: Not really: when sealing, the hum is so quiet I would use it under the bedroom of a light sleeper. It's practically unnoticeable. But when the seal releases and the air rushes back in, there's a sudden poof and rushing air noise, louder than when the air is being removed, and because the sound is sudden, it could wake someone, especially if you keep doing it. It's far more quiet than a Food Saver type of machine, even when the air rushes back in.

Answer: That's one of the advantages of an oil based vacuum pump is how quiet they are. When it first starts to evacuate the chamber, there is a slight sound, but its no more than that. It quickly gets quieter as it pulls the remaining air out of the chamber. Then when the process is complete, there is a release of vacuum chamber vacuum, which refills the chamber with air to release the lid. All in all, a pretty quiet routine. Love the machine.

Answer: The unit is much quieter then the food saver unit I had been using. Very happy with the purchase. Seals great.

Answer: No I don't think it's noisy at all

Does it come with bags?

Answer: what size bags does this machine take

Answer: yes-it comes with a good number of bags in an assortment of sizes.

Answer: what size bags does this machine take

Answer: Comes with a small assortment

Answer: Yes. I can not remember how many, but mine came with 2 sets probably 50 small and 50 large (just guessing on #)

Answer: Just a few you will have to order more. Be sure to get the different sizes. This machine is something you will treasure for what it does for you.

Answer: Yes it does. Love this machine

Answer: A small assortment

Watching this item is rediculous. the price goes from $659 to $904... all within two weeks. at $659, is it worth it? i know it's not @$900.

Answer: Different sellers have different prices and they will usually update them to match others. Sometimes Amazon will also show you different sellers depending on when you open the page so that can also contribute to the massive fluctuation.

Will this work with Mylar bags?

Answer: I haven't tried Mylar Bags, but I don't see why they wouldn't work. The sealing element on the VP215 just heats up the bar that the plastic bags rest on and seals the bags, in the same way that an iron heats the Mylar Bags and Seals them. Should work just fine in my opinion.

Answer: http://goo.gl/P1SSmA is a link to a review of mylar bags from a VP215 owner. He shares his settings.

Answer: Yes sure will. Increase seal time

Can I seal a lamb leg or arm?

Answer: Sure - use a foil lined heavy bag designed for vacuum sealing, subsequently placed in freezer.

Oil on machine

Answer: Not a lot to go on. This model is the smallest version that uses oil for the vacuum process. If you have oil leaking from the machine, remove the rear access cover and check the oil tank and oil lines. Beyond that I have not a clue.

Answer: Yes you have to put oil inside. Machine comes with it. I still do not suggest buying this machine.

Answer: Don't know. Call manufacturer.

Answer: I don’t understand your question.

does it come with oil and what kind is it?

Answer: It does come with oil. I am not sure what type of oil.

Answer: It does come with some oil. It is a 10 wt, non-detergent, hydrolic oil, kind of like air compressor oil.

Does the free shipping include Alaska

Answer: NO, They will ship it Alaska Marine Lines and or Alaska Airlines any where they go in AK. but it's weight is W/ palate attached quite expensive. I guess it

Answer: With Prime I was charged $28 to ship to Wasilla. 2 two shipping. Witht he shipping cost still saved a couple of hundred from the Bass Pro shop price.

Can you fit roasts in this chamber? And what about multiple cuts side-by-side? The shape of the lid makes me think you can only fit 1 item at 1 time.

Answer:

Answer: You are only restricted by the size of the vacuum bag. Inside the chamber you have white plastic type boards that can be removed to increase the volume of the chamber. You can only do one bag at a time as their is only one heat bar. I suppose you can do several bags at a time if they are thin and can be placed side by side on the heat seal bar. The vacuum time and heat bar time can be adjusted as the factory settings are very conservative. If you want to do multiple items at a time I would suggest a much more expensive commercial sealer.

Answer: anything at will fit under the dome lid with the 2 inserts out should seal.

Answer: Thon meats side by side Roast sliced would work. We use it to package pepperstick and jerky. Works great.

Answer: No, you can't do either. Just one at a time. Also , ours broke about 6 months in.

Has anyone tried using the clear plastic foodsaver containers in this unit? I am wondering if they will successful seal when the vacuum is removed??

Answer:

Answer: HAVE not tried it but don't see any reason to do so. The VacMaster pouches are less expensive, much thicker and perform superbly even in the microwave where if the contents boils the pouch will simply expand.

Is it possible to adjust the vacuum setting and to seal original potato chip/ cracker bags without crushing the contents?

Answer: Yes, you can adjust the vacuum time to whatever you want,I keep mine set at 40 seconds and stop the vacuum sooner for items that are more fragile

Can i use a regular zip lock bag on this machine? thanks.

Answer: No. They are not thick enough. Zip-loc bags will not keep a vacuum once sealed.

Can I use food saver style bags with this unit ?

Answer: NO, I've have 3 of these in AK. and 1 @my home and these require there own vacuum seal bags. there are 4 mil. bags that you can buy

Answer: The answer should be; why would you want to use foodsaver bags? They are extremely expensive compared to regular bags for this unit. It is something like 72 cents per bag vs 17 cents per bag in most cases. The two biggest selling features of this machine is it's much easier and effective than foodsaver and it gives about 45% better vacuum than foodsaver. If you can use the bags, you should not use them is my answer. Hope this helps

Answer: The bags that VacMaster says the bags that can be used with this machine are All Purpass VacStrip Storage Bags, Full Mesh Storage Bags and Bag Rolls.

Answer: Yes you can, but if you buy in bulk, there is a tremendous savings.

Answer: Yes, but it is way more expensive.

This machine is designed for continuous work 8 hours or more?

Answer: It is quite sturdy and will crank out cycles. I wouldn't want it to be used like everyday, but surely would feel comfortable with it a few days a week. I would change the oil every hour or two if you are running non-stop (i.e. 40 second draws, 60 times an hour); I believe in keeping things well maintained. Never want to overstress vacuum pump oil, AC servicing machines recommend changing the oil every time you evacuate a system (15-60 minute runs). I think I've done about 20 cycles in a row no problem; it was still ready for more.

Answer: I am pretty sure it would. Have only used for an hour or so, but this is a commercial machine and very heavy duty. Weighs about 65lbs

Answer: I have used it for 5-6 hours without any problems, it's definitely a heavy duty machine

Answer: Yes, this machine is designed for commercial and continuous use.

Answer: I have used mine for a couple of hours straight. Oil gets hot and breaks down. Don't think it would run 8 hours.

Answer: Yes. As others have posted, just keep the oil changed. Me and the wife have used this on all day "family projects", running it when my entire family goes to the big discount stores and buy large quantities of things on sale. We make an all day family thing out of it. This machine has run non-stop with no problems doing bags and 1/2 gallon mason jars one after the other with fast cycle times. Like I said, just keep the oil changed and you should be good to go.

Answer: Maybe 5 at most before a 15 minute breather

What’s the machine weight without acessories (bags and plattes)?

Answer: Never weighed it but my guess would be 25-30 lbs, It’s a solid machine. I’ve had mine for about three years and I love it

Answer: About 85 lbs. I am a 70 year old man in good shape. I can still move it around from table to table but don't care to. Not for a woman to move. For a younger man with good strength, should be no problem moving.

Answer: Did not weigh it, but it is very heavy, near 80-100 pounds.

Answer: I think it's 85 pounds by itself. That said, a healthy tall lady could not lift it, but a brawny man can just manage to carry it around a short distance.

Answer: HEAVY!!!! Takes 2 people to move or carry it!

i want to use this for commercial use, for ham, chicken, fish. is this good for it ?

Answer: Works good for any fresh product for freezing. Not sure how many cycles the vacuum pump is good for but spare parts are readily available from Indiana. Will handle a

Answer: I believe it would be good for lite commercial use. It is heavy duty with an oil pump. I can vac bags in rapid fire, but modern does not get daily he y use.

Answer: Although it is commercial grade, the process is slow for doing large volumes. Also it can only do one pouch at a time as it only has one sealing bar.

Answer: You can vacuum pack anything. This is a great sealer. I would advise reading the book because of the liquids that might be with the items but other than that you are good to go

Answer: Yes! I bought it for home use, but I believe it was designed for commercial use...

Answer: Technically yes, we used it for commercial. Unfortunately it broke after a year

Answer: Yes would work fine

How wide a bag can be sealed? My 210 will do 10". How about this one?

Answer: I experimented and found out that you can fold the sides of a bag over and it will still seal. Interestingly, the inside of the bag will bond to itself, but the outside won't bond to the outside. The bag can be unfolded after sealing, but it will still be sealed all the way across. Doing this, I found a 16"x18" allows using the entire volume of the chamber with some slack in the bag for ease of handling. Not worth going any bigger unless you've got a bigger machine. I use 1.8sec sealing time for this.

Answer: I have successfully sealed larger than 10" bags with this by sealing the left side of the bag, and then placing the bag at a slight angle and sealing the right side of the bag... making sure the seals cross over each other. The result is a seal resembling an X. This has worked for me but the only reason I did it was to reseal a larger bag that my butcher had packaged steaks in. I wanted to re-use the bags for aging purposes after seasoning the steaks and then was able to use them for Sous Vide.

Answer: 10 inches wide and 13 inches long

Answer: 10 inch as well

Answer: 10 inch

Answer: Same

Would this machine be okay in a garage during cold winters? Or would that not be sustainable for the mechanics or oil etc..

Answer:

Answer: Well i am not an expert but the oil will not freeze. It might get thick. But should not hurt the machine. Mine stays in the Kitchen

Answer: We keep ours in the garage. Our garage is sheetrocked and insulated. Also our winters don’t get cold for very long. 30-40 degrees. We keep a towel draped over it to keep the dust out. Hope this helps.

Do you have stock with 220/240volts 60hz for shipment to manila, philippines? where can i get one with this electrical specification?

Answer: In the U.S. we only stock 110/120 volts. We do have other voltages available from other distributors in Europe and Asia Pacific.

Do vacmaster make this model for eu too?

How deep is the vacuum chamber?

Answer: HI William E,

Answer: Hello,

Answer: It has two plastic boards that you use to take up space for smaller items. Once removed, I can easily do a large chicken or rib roast. A turkey would be pushing it. The depth on the sides is about 4 inches.

Answer: About 5 inches in the center, less on the sides. A one quart canning jar fits on it's side.

Answer: I am able to bag 6 lb chickens , not sure if that helps you out

Answer: two & a half inches

what is the difference between the vp15, 12 and the 10 ? Thanks

Am I allowed to return this? It is not mentioned on the page. Thanks

Answer: Look under delivery or pricing option s most items have a 30 day return policy.

does this have a port for doing mason jars?

Answer: The model does not have a port for doing mason jars. However, you can vacuum seal jars if they fit inside the chamber. I have sealed pint and quart jars. Pints will sit upright. Quarts you have to lay on the side.

Answer: no, but i have use a half pint jar with in a bag for crab so it does not squeze out the juice

Answer: It does not have a port. Smaller jars will fit right inside. And works great.

Answer: We have been able to seal 3 pint jars at a time

Answer: I beleive they just fit inside of it

Answer: It does not as far as I can tell

how do you seal a pint jar? do you use the canning jar lid or do you have to put it in a bag?

Answer: The VacMaster doesn't have an accessory port. You could put a pint jar in a bag, but you could just seal the contents (liquid and all) in a bag by itself. One of the advantages of a vacuum chamber!

Any knowledge based suggestions on the oil change interval based on no more than 5 bags per week?

Answer: Every 60 hours, approximately every case of 1000 bags. Any other questions can be answered from their company, 1-800 821-7849

Do they have covers for this sealer?

Answer: Yes go to the manufacture they have covers for all

Answer: No - easy to make. Or just throw a large bath towel over it.

Answer: No. Most people who own one use it frequently. It IS a good looking countertop appliance.

Answer: I have not seen any, but my wife made one out of extra upholstery material.

what are the dimensions of the vacuum port in the inside of the chamber (back left)? I need to know the diameter and depth.

Answer:

Answer: The port diameter is 1-1/4", and it sticks out 1/2". This is measured from inside the vacuum chamber.

Is it support 220vAC power?

Answer: Mine is 120 volt

Answer: Mine does not.

Where is this made?

Answer: Mine has has "Made in China" on the label. Built 12/2017

Answer: This machine is not made in china but the USA

Answer: CHINA

Is there a variety pack for different sizes of the bags that one could buy?

Answer: Not on Amazon from what I have seen but this website here does offer a variety pack http://shop.vacuumsealersunlimited.com/300-Chamber-Bag-Combo-Pack-CHCOMBO6810.htm

Answer: Yes, I've seen them Sept. 2018.

What is the maximum size bags for the machine?

Answer: I've found you can use up to 16"x18" by folding the sides over to fit at the seal bar. That's large enough to use the entire volume of the chamber with some slack in the bag for ease of handling. Not worth going any bigger unless you have a bigger machine.

Answer: I'm not sure about maximum size, but I've used bags as large as 10"x13"...

Answer: Supports pouches up to 10-inches by 13-inches, as per factory information associated with the product pages. We have successfully used pouches of that size for strip loins.

Answer: When reading the description it clearly states The VP215 accepts chamber pouches up to 10"W x 13"L.

Answer: I have been using 10" x 15" for larger items. You must be sure you don't block the air valve in the back.

Answer: 1 gl

Answer: 11x13 i believe

will this can tomatos

Answer: No. You need heat to seal the jars and keep the content sterile. You can't put hot-pack jars in a vacuum-sealer, because room-temperature liquid can 'boil' during the vacuum process. You could dehydrate tomatoes and pack them in jars and vacuum seal the jars, and they should keep on a shelf. You could vacuum-seal tomatoes in plastic bags and freeze them. But you can't put tomatoes in jars, vac-seal, and keep them on a shelf. They'll spoil. It might extend their refrigerated life span a few days, though.

Answer: It can certainly pull a vacuum and seal mason type jars, I do that all the time with things like guacamole. However, tomatoes and other preserved items typically require boiling in a water bath to make them safe.

Answer: we had nothing but problems with this machine. after sending it back the second time they finally refunded us our money.

Answer: It will seal them in plastic but not sure what you mean by can them. This is a fantastic device.

Answer: Not safely. You need a pressure cannner for that type of process.

Answer: In short jars.

Will this do two bags at a time ? What's the dimensions

With the inserts removed does it measure 5" to the top of the dome? Or is it 5" deep plus the height of the cover?

Answer: The measurement of approximately 5" is with the inserts removed, lid closed to the top of the dome. Have had this machine and have never had an issue of there not being enough room based on the height.

Answer: mine is 2 inches from the bottom to the metal top of the chamber. 5 inches to the top of the dome. What are you trying vac? Mine will only do 2 pint jars standing up. but plenty large for any bag I've tried to use. Hope that answers your Q.

Can I do retort bags with this?

Answer: The VacMaster is designed to pull all the air from the pouch then seal it, product is then usually frozen or has a limited refrigerated life ie: cry o vac meat. The retort bags are designed to allow food to be put into the pouch and sealed, then go through the sterilization process with high heat. There is a lot of info on the web about the use of retort bags and they say the 1/8 inch seal that the vacuum pack machines make is not enough to go through the heat process, they recommend 1/2 inch wide seal, and they don't use a vacuum. So I would say probably not, as it is two different processes

Answer: No! The heat bar is not wired correctly and the transformer is to small. There is no way to upgrade this unit as it is a China knockoff of a real commercial unit. Sorry

Answer: I do not see a reason why you could not use them. It vacuums up everything we have thrown at it. A+ machine.

Can I use this machine to vacuum seal foods that are already frozen?

Answer: I don't see why not. I repackaged some frozen meat that I had vacuum sealed with an inferior vacuum sealer and it worked just fine. Good luck

Answer: Absolutely! I've used mine used mine to break down larger packages from warehouse stores, items for sous vide, smoked meats of all types. The VP215 has helped us reduce food waste and help us with portion control.

Answer: yes, must be sure there are no sharp ice points and can make a hole. Also if you let it start to thaw it will loose its seal

Answer: There is no reason why not. Could help prevent freezer burn too!

Answer: Yes

Can I seal And vacuum bags of plaster?

Answer: I don’t know of any reason you can’t. I vet used mine to seal bags of powdered sugar with no problem.

Answer: Probably can IF you stop the process about half way through.

Answer: Excellent machine.

Answer: As long as it fits in the bad

Does this machine overheat and needs time to cool with continuous use??

Answer: I have never had it overheat, even with heavy use.

Answer: I have never had this overheat or have any issues what so ever. I wish I would have got this 10 years ago vs the 8 other ones we have owned.

Answer: We have not had any issues with overheating. We buy Costco sized packs of meat that we breakdown into smaller packages. We also do our own meat cutting and canning. This is the best vacuum sealer we have owned.

Answer: I have never had a problem with overheating

Answer: I have never had a problem with it overheating

The chamber and seals are dirty with a grease that comes out when wiping them. Is this normal? Is this safe from a food contamination perspective?

Answer: No not normal there should be grease from the machine. Is there any chance it could be from the food that your sealing?

Can somebody tell me if these come with oil' the vessel to fill the oil and the white trays you see when open. .Thanks

Answer: It includes enough oil for the initial fill and then enough for roughly 5 oil changes which should last the average home user at minimum a year. it is suggested to change the first oil after 25 hours of use but after 60 hours after that which is over 3000 bags. Of course sealing in high humidity areas or items with lots of liquid could force oil changes more often.

Answer: Yes it does, comes with everything you need

Answer: It has all of that.

Answer: Mine included both.

Is it safe to seal ammunition in bags at the 60 second setting?

Answer: Somewhere I came across this on the internet. They said you can seal ammo, but do not vacuum, because it may pull the bullets out of the casings. I don't know enough science to explain that. If you simply seal the bags and nothing more, it will protect the ammo from corrosion or whatever happens to it on the shelf. Sealing your ammo would also make it waterproof.

Answer: The boiling point of wzter changes dramatically with the amount of vacuum. In space fir example, our blood would boil us inside out. That being said, I have no idea what effects vacuum has on gunpowder or primer. I would imagine that this is a question for manufacturer of ammunition. No you can seal bags with no vacuum, or various degree amounts of vacuum. I simply don't feel qualified to give you a yes or no answer to something potentially dangerous. Sorry

Answer: Not sure, when I sealed water it came to boil. It's something I would definitely find out about before I tried it.

Dose it work for the bags with flat surface instead of texture surface?

Answer: We recommend using the chamber pouches (flat surface) but the texture surface can be used as well.

Answer: Flat surface are the only bags I've used , never realized they had textured bags

Answer: Yes. The bags we use have no texture. We use the bags the manufacturer and Amazon sells.

Has anyone used ultrasource vacuum chamber pouches with this chamber vacuum?

Answer: It won't matter what bags you use as long as they can hold a vacuum and can be heat sealed. There are adjustments for how much vacuum to use and how long to seal the bags

What different types of bags can be used?

Answer: It will seal bags made for vacuum chamber machines as long as the bag isn't wider than the sealing bar. I do not know if it will seal the foil bags used for canning products eg. fish.

Answer: It will take any plastic bag in my experience. I have tried a bunch of old sous vide bags that I had, plus the bags it came with and it sealed them all fine. I haven't tried the "roll" style bags because I'm too lazy for that- seal something twice? I'll go to the gym if I want to work out. It can also reseal all kinds of stuff that came in its own bag like chips etc, although results vary.

Answer: There are a variety of sizes that are offered by the VacMaster company. I would not recommend other brands as these work so well and have a heavy gauge to them. This is one very fine well engineered piece of equipment that will last you for years. It could not be simpler to use. We own two of them at our different homes.

Can I seal mylar bags with this unit??

Answer: I use the bags that are food safe and sold by amazon, uline or the company that makes the machine, they are very strong and work very well under all storage conditions. I poke a small hole if I reheat in microwave If you are referring to the silver mylar bags, they are mostly used for electronics and I don't think they are vacuum sealed only heat strip sealed

Answer: Unfortunately, mylar bags will not work with our machines.

Answer: Not designed or recommended for mylar but hear you can do it by increasing seal time.

Answer: I do not know, have only used their bags which work extremely well. They are more then adequate for storage in freezer, for heating in the microwave, or in a SouVide water bath. They are also low cost from Amazpn. Suggest you call the manufacturer.

How long is the cycling time

Answer: For your cycle time, add together your vacuum time, seal bar time, and seal bar cooling time, plus maybe 2 seconds for the air to rush back in and the lid to pop open by itself. A normal seal would be 40 sec vac, 1.2 sec seal, 2 sec cool, and 2 sec to pop open, or 45.2 seconds per bag. There is no wait time; just take out the bag, pop a new one in, and off you go, as long as you're using the same settings. Once your bag is in place, you need to hold the lid down with a finger for 2 seconds until the chamber seals and the lid stays down by itself. So you have 43.2 seconds of time to do something else.

Answer:

Answer: It depends what you are sealing, if it's going in the freezer for a period of time I will go 40-50 seconds ( watch the gauge you can adjust the time) salads in the fridge, 3 seconds. All depends what you are doing, awesome machine

Answer: The cycle time is 20-40 seconds.

Answer: ...depends on what your packing we do mostly fish and ours is set at 1 minute 20 seconds.

Answer: I pack fruit at about 40 seconds per bag.

Product reviews of VacMaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer

Michael L Janes : We like this vacuum sealer.

We like this vacuum sealer. At first it would not suck 100% of the air out. It seems like it needs to warm up before it runs at 100%. After it warms up it work great. Its built like and is a commercial product so the more you use it the better it works. I normally run a30 sec cycle before I start with food. No big deal. With the dome it will accommodate large items. I recently made a bunch of lasagnas in deep loaf pans about 4.5 inches deep and vacuum packed them all. It is also nice to vac the large mason jars. Because the pressure is equal inside it will not suck up liquid or powders. That is very very nice. Its worth the money.

XUCHUAN L. : Very bad quality

Bought on May 17th, gone bad on Dec 26 just 7 months

matteo : Good machine

Great machine hard to ship with out damage? Weighs more than my mother in-law. Very heavy! having said that a little TLC to one corner of the machine. I used my medium hammer to fix and i was in business. It works better than any other food saver any given day. Different tech. It sucks out the air in the chamber so you can even do soup or gravy or any thing. That you want to freeze or refrigerate.

DCG : Super High Quality

Wow! This thing is HEAVY. And that's good. No cheap parts here. It built like a tank and will be passed down to my kids. Professional quality through and through.

ALVARO CASTILLO : Great Machine

Great machine, machine I brought it to Ciudad Bolívar Venezuela, it comes well protected, I am very happy with its power and easy operation

drbius : Very happy with my unit

Awesome unit. It produces so much vacuum that water boils at room temperature in this thing while operating. I’ve used mine for awhile and I’m very happy with the purchase. This thing weighs 80 pounds.

LuAnn : Well worth the price.

So far this has been a great sealer! It's really heavy so find a spot for it so you don't have to move it very often. The cord for it is at least 8 feet long and I really love that, it gives you more options on where to put it. I should have bought this years ago. If you seal a lot of food, one of these will be well worth your while as I went through Food Savers once a year then bought another, more commercial sealer and it did last 5 years but that was $400. We upgraded even more and now I can't wait to seal soup in it.

Shaun Elder : Sad...then, SUPER GLAD!

So when I first hooked it up it wouldn't pull a vacuum and seal bags properly. I was initially pretty upset, but called ARY customer support. Tech talked me through some troubleshooting and discovered that some tubing got damaged during transit due to rough handling. Apparently that happens pretty often.

Per the tech's instructions I cut the hose that was leaking, reconnected it and bammywam...worked like a charm. Troubleshooting and fix took less than 15 minutes...thanks ARY!

I did a TON of research on chamber sealers and this was the best. I had this in my Amazon list for over a year before pulling the plug being a pretty big chunk of change for home use. I use it almost daily doing Sous Vide and repacking primal cuts of meat bought in bulk.

NO REGRETS! Buy the VP215 once or buy others several times to save some cash...you decide.

Sherri L. Donovan : weight & damaged

I bought this for a gift and when it arrived it was dented and a piece of plastic was broken. It works fine but cosmetically not fine. It is extremely heavy so the person I bought it for didn't want to return it. I have asked several times for a possible discount on the price with no response . I am still waiting for a response!!!???

Amazon Customer : Unit quit

Unit worked great but quit after 60 bags and never worked again.

SimmonsNWA : Uhhh, WOW! This thing is amazing!

This thing is HEAVY DUTY! It is one of the best investments I’ve made. I process 6-7 deer a year along with leftovers so I can Sous Vide them while I work all day. If you are thinking about making this purchase to replace your Walmart vacuum sealer, DO IT! You will not be disappointed!

Ethan A. Olson : No more problems with moisture getting in the pump!

No dislikes, this is my 4th vacume machine. All the others were exterior sealers and I hated dealing with moisture getting into the pump. This unit solved my problem. I love it and it works flawlessly, whether bagged goods or in quart jars, wet or dry. Marinating problems are gone.

Buyer : This is an excellent machine in nearly every respect

This is an excellent machine in nearly every respect. Super top shelf chamber vacuum sealer. Dont waste your money on suction sealers. It is very, very heavy -- but that's just an indicia of quality. It is extraordinarily well built. Solid.

Der w3A : Awesome Custumer Support

Awesome product. When you first use the machine be sure the seal bar is sitting on top of the pistons. Mine wasn't and I damaged the bar when I first used it (burnt through the wire). Called custumer support and talked with Larry and Gary. Turns out VacMaster supplies a tool kit with the unit and all of the material to re-build the sealing bar. Gary explained the procedure to me (easy) and I rebuilt the bar in about 10 minutes -- worked great!! They also sent me a back-up bar in case of any future problems!! AWESOME COMPANY AND PRODUCT!

XUCHUAN L. : Very bad quality

Bought on May 17th, gone bad on Dec 26 just 7 months

Elizabeth Felterman : Quick and easy!

Totally satisfied, just what I thought it would be. Commercial power, excellent seal and very easy to use.

Pantep Robroo : I'm just really sad, bought two of these machines

I'm just really sad, bought two of these machines, both were damaged during the shipping. I'm scare to order another one. I really need it, my husband fish a lot, we package the fish and give it out to people that we know. The first one, the compressor and the connection were broken, the 2nd one, it was broken with oil spilled all over. Anyone have any suggestion??

Michael L Janes : We like this vacuum sealer.

Amazon Customer : first Vac chamber purchase

this is the first Vac chamber machine I have purchased, I have always bought food saver machines, I don't think this VAC215 machine will totally replace my food saver but it does a better job at vacuum sealing foods for either freezing, long term frig storage and liquid types like soups chili anything with lots of moisture. Not to mention the bags are CHEAP! only thing I wish the VAC215 had a port on the machine that I could use the hose and mason jar attachment that came with my food saver, I would just drill a hole in the plastic top and then put a plug but I am afraid the top would crack over time. So far I give it a 5 star, changing oil in the unit is no big deal especially if you are handy and I think the novice could to it too

ALVARO CASTILLO : Great Machine

Great machine, machine I brought it to Ciudad Bolívar Venezuela, it comes well protected, I am very happy with its power and easy operation

DocWalker : This thing sucks. Better than any vacuum sealer I have owned.

This thing sucks... In a good way. I have owned several of the traditional foodsaver external type sealers and burned them up with use. They are just not designed for heavy household use. I had many worries about sealing too many bags in a session causing it to overheat, then bags would not seal, or the vacuum was just not good enough. Worst of all was having to worry about liquids getting out of the bag and into the sealer which would basically ruin it. With the Vacmaster VP215 I have none of these worries. I have used it quite a bit the last few days and did my first oil change just to be safe.

An even bigger plus is that with the foodsaver I always had to worry about making sure all of the air came out of the bag when cooking Sous Vide. With moist ingredients you could not draw a hard vacuum for fear liquid would get out. Thus some air bubbles were left behind and the bags floated. With the chamber vac design the air is drawn out leaving nothing to really float the bag except the natural buoyancy of the material being sealed.

I can fill up a dozen bags of food and then seal them one right after the other without any worries about overheating. With the foodsaver I would have to fill a bag, seal it, then wait for a few minutes for it to cool down. If not, it would get very hot to the touch after a few bags and then would not draw a vacuum or it would start having issues sealing until it cooled down again.

A final plus I will list is that I like to share my cooking. Giving someone a vacuum bag with the grid lines it is hard to tell exactly what is inside due to the texture of the plastic. Some people might be a little leery of opening the bag let alone eat it. With the Vacmaster bags, you can see everything inside in full glory. It actually makes things look great to eat right out of the bag. Compress some watermelon and you will see what I mean.

Pros: It works, great. It looks like a tank and built like one. Simple to operate, and clean.

Cons: Size, and weight. Its not as simple as tossing this in a closet like some would do with a traditional sealer unit. Its also not exactly portable. I have a cart dedicated to rolling it around the kitchen and storage when needed.

C. Coombs : Very well made beautiful machine.

after battling with foodsavers and Seal-a-meal machines for years, I finally broke down and got this machine. What a difference. The uses are endless. Quick marinade, fruit infusion, sous vide cooking, fast curing bacon, and CHEAP bags. Well worth the price. It's heavy....so pick a spot on your kitchen counter and plan on leaving it there. You will also need sufficient space next to it to be able to slide it sideways and access the back for occasional pump maintenance. You may notice a faint Vacuum pump oil odor. not bad, but it's there.

JVDW : Excellent Sealer and fun too!

I bought this for Christmas for my hiusband who loves to cook using sous vide. He had had two vacuum sealers previously and always had troubles with the bags not sealing properly and the bags were super expensive. Not with this machine - we have sealed everything (even watermelon) and the bags are very reasonably priced. The machine is really heavy and a bit large so best to make sure you either have counter space or a cart that can wheel this baby around. By the way, everyone loves to actual Warch the air being sucked out of the chamber, the liquid bubble and then the air flooding back into the chamber sealing the food! Tons of videos on the internet showing fun things to make using this sealer.

Joshua Cameron : Terrible Customer Service for a Faulty Machine. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT.

I do not and will not recommend the VacMaster VP215 or any of the Ary Inc. products to anyone.

When the machine works, it works well. I followed that operating manual and did everything properly to in accordance to Ary Inc to care for and extend the life of the product. After 6 months of light home use the motor decided to stop working. I placed repeated calls to Ary Inc which all but the last one lead to unfulfilled promises of a call back to deal with the issue. Finally I received a call back from the tech department after being told yet again that I should be receiving a call back and me firmly expressing that I was tired of the hollow gesture.

Instead of replacing the machine, or taking full responsibility for their product that is still under the full 1 year warranty, they informed me that they won't pay for the shipping of the unit to the company to be fixed. After spending almost a thousand dollars on purchasing this item and paying for shipping the first time, I was told I would have to pay more to ship them a faulty unit for them to hopefully fix it properly. It's as if I'm being slighted twice: once for getting a unit that broke within 6 months, and again for having to pay more for them to fix their mistake. If it is as good as the first time, hopefully it will work for at least another 6 months before breaking again.

On the phone I was told that they can't change the warranty policy and that I would have to eat the cost. Had I known that their "full warranty" was not truly a full warranty at the time of purchase, I would have reconsidered.

I was very excited when the VacMaster first arrived and was happy with the way it was working. I was even optimistic once the machine broke that they would send me a box, I'd send the broken unit off, then they would send me fixed machine ready to start vacuuming again. Instead it is poor customer service and the hassle of finding a box that fits, buying bubble wrap and such so that it doesn't get beat up in transit. Hopefully nothing happens to it along the way, but if it does get superficially damaged in transit I can't imagine they would take the time to replace a dented panel. Then it is eating the cost of shipping an 84 pound item. On top of that, my only means of transportation is a motorcycle, which means I'll have to pay to take a car to the post office to send it off.

Overall I am very upset with the way they have handled this situation. Had they just taken the full responsibility for their product and taken care of the cost of shipping for their faulty product this could have been a totally different review. Please reconsider buying this product if you are on the fence about it. They don't care about your satisfaction, they just want your money.

CARMEN LAGRUTTA : Mi máquina de vacío vino rota por dentro

Compré dos maquinas de vacío vac master vp215 y una de las máquinas trajo el filtro roto y le faltan un pieza

Rick M : Meets expectations

Have only had this sealer for about a month, but am very pleased. Did I need this, no. Am I glad I got it, yes. I'm lucky to have the counter space to put this on. Otherwise, it could prove a bit of an issue moving it around. But, it can be done. So much better than the suction sealer that I have used for years. I would recommend this, or maybe the non oil version, for anyone who does more than just an occasional sealing. Lets you buy in bulk, marinate and store without a mess.

Amazon Customer : This thing sucks!

I was fighting the food savers for years and eyeballing this unit for a while. After trying to seal some chicken in a bag with marinade for twenty minutes and making a god-awful mess, I was ready to take that &%$@ machine up in my airplane and drop it into the open pit mine near town. Fast forward to this unit. Soooo easy to use! From bags of smoked ribs to bags of water (had to try it!) to sealing small canning jars with dry goods. Note: The wide mouth pint jars fit but the narrow mouth are slightly taller and will touch the vacuum chamber lid as it sucks down. Cycle time is about 40 seconds but probably 30 seconds is sufficient. This thing is HEAVY! Another person here bought a cart to set it on. I finally did the same a couple days ago. So far, loving it!

Amazon Addict : Great Sealer

Knew I was buying a machine that was capable of a much greater workload than what I needed. I primarily use it for my spaghetti sauce and dividing larger cuts of meat from Costco. Has performed flawlessly in almost a year of use. No complaints here.

Donald Blauser : Chamber Vacuum Sealer

This was purchased for household after seeing & using one like it at the son-in-law's. If you have purchased numerous vacuum sealers that do not last long; purchase one of these. It is worth every penny. It does weigh about 80 pounds & will require a sturdy counter or cart. We have ours on a wheeled toolbox; it works perfectly, has storage for the oil, bags, etc., & can be wheeled to where we are going to seal foods for the freezer. Be sure to read the instructions completely. When sealing be sure to hold lid down until the needle on the gauge begins to move; it will stay closed. Love it!! One of our better purchase decisions!

D. Modisette : This product is solid

This product is solid. I had a FoodSaver for years and got tired of the really expensive bags. If you are going to bag in any real quantity the VacMaster will be cheaper in the long run, and is a superior unit. This thing is a tank, weighing in at 85 lbs. Highly recommend to someone who wants to store a lot and have a good seal that lasts.

Grant S : Died after less than a dozen cycles, warranty support nonexistent

Bought my VP215 a couple months ago now and, after less than a dozen cycles, I now have a 97 pound paperweight. I have made 4 attempts at contacting ARY over the past couple of weeks via phone. Each time I am told by the receptionist that the tech guy "Gary" is busy and that she will take my name and number and have him call me back. FOUR TIMES I have done this, and I have never received a call back. I am not sure that I'll get anywhere, but I am taking this issue up with Amazon now as ARY has proven to me that they don't value their customers or stand by their products. Spend a bit more money and buy a Polyscience instead to save yourself the trouble.

Kathy : Great for sealing liquid... meat vegetable anything love it

Best sealer on the market I promise you will not be disappointed. I've done liquid I've done soup and lots of meat. This product is truly amazing well worth the money in the long run it is an investment

Debora F : Love it but heavier than expected

Commercial like quality

Very heavy
We invested in a cart with wheels for storage

You tube videos by customer owners of this product were super helpful

James Esteban : Best investment ever for my Home.

The VacMastrr VP215 is the greatest investment I have ever made. I buy in bulk and save lots in money. The bags are super cheap! It comes out to 5¢ a bag and that’s cheaper than most zipper bags. Vacuum sealing liquids are easy and worry free. I usually set it and walk away setting the next bag.

My least favorite is the big and heavy the machine is. But it looks like it’s built to power through long days.

VAM : Five Stars

Great and very robust machine! "Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten!!"

XUCHUAN L. : Very bad quality

Bought on May 17th, gone bad on Dec 26 just 7 months

Daniel Skauge : great machine

little spendy but wish I had one long ago

Steve Bowman : This is an excellent piece of equipment

Arrived promptly. This is an excellent piece of equipment. I use it both for preserving foods and for cooking sous vide. It has never failed me.

Shaun Elder : Sad...then, SUPER GLAD!

Donald Blauser : Chamber Vacuum Sealer

KingGeLLC : Machine is Leaking oil

This machine is leaking oil within two months. We would like to contact the seller. This machine may not be a brand new machine. We don't even know how to contact the seller to resolve this issue.

Amazon Customer : powerful

Hate we wasted money on cheaper brands.

Amazon Customer : powerful

Hate we wasted money on cheaper brands.

Chad Cardinal : I really liked to vacuum pack food that I dehydrate and Always ...

Just got it today. WOW. Over the last 15 years I've gone through about 5 or 6 foodsavers. I really liked to vacuum pack food that I dehydrate and Always vac-pac meat before freezing. I wish I had found this thing 15 years ago! Yes, the upfront cost is a little high, and it weighs a TON! A bit unwieldily to move around by yourself, so find a place and call it home. :) Here are my first impressions. 1. Whisper quiet! Compared to a regular foodsaver this thing just a light buzzing noise, not as loud as a portable space heater. 2) Build Quality, Fit and Finish. Excellent! I was worried that it was made in China, but hey, Most Apple stuff is and they have good build quality, so fingers were crossed. I was not disappointed. This is NOT a toy!! It is a heavy well made tool. 3) Ease of use. I've not had a chance to give it a workout yet, but everything I did with it tonight has been a snap! Practically 0 learning curve. The buttons are very easy to use, and there are a few You-Tube vids out there to explain things if the rather clear instructions cause confusion. so far I give it a MUST HAVE to anyone who hunts, fishes, or gardens. It's a prepper's dream. :) 4) no funny smells. Some people on here have complained about an oil smell. I have not noticed anything like that.

The only negative is not really a negative. It is very heavy. It's a negative if you don't have a dedicated space to put it, but it's not really negative, because to me (at least) the weight comes from the solid metal construction, beefy pump and motor. Yes VacMaster makes a plastic model at 1/2 the weight, but hey... I like Heavy Metal!. :) I highly recommend.

Almetha Doreen Ford : I will never buy from this merchant's store again

I initially liked the machine but I noticed that it did not come with all the accessories that it was supposed to. The merchant did not follow through on crediting me for the difference and when the device malfunctioned 30 days later, it was difficult to returni the device because of the merchant expected me to lift the almost hundred pound box and drop it off for pickup. I had to come out of pocket to get the heavy device picked up from my home because I am a single senior citizen and could not carry the 95 lb. box. Getting the device returned was such an unnecessarily time consuming task.

LuAnn : Well worth the price.

Brandi Ross : I’m in love

Best thing I’ve bought all year. Lots of power. Seals so quickly and easy!

greenscar : Great product and amazing service from the seller.

First, let me speak for the seller: I received my unit in the mail with the box in perfect condition. I got everything opened & there were no dents anywhere. When I finally got the unit out, I found the lid cracked & was fearing the repackaging & shipping of the entire HEAVY unit just for some thick plexiglass. I contacted the seller that night with a picture early the next morning I received an email they would be sending me a replacement lid immediately. Soon thereafter, I received the shipment notification & a few days later, the lid. A+++ seller.

Regarding the unit: You get what you pay for & if you do a lot of vacuum packaging, this unit is well worth it. I don't pack commercially, so I'm not going at the unit 40 hrs / week; however, I purchase a whole pig & a 1/2 a cow every couple of years. I also fish quite a bit so am regularly sealing what I catch. The cost of the bags is a fraction that of standard home units & I don't need to worry about freezing anything before sealing.

Only regrets: I should have bought this thing, from this seller, years ago.

Daniela : SENT IT BACK, WAITING FOR REFUND:-(

Awful. It worked poorly on the first try and then completely stopped working. The company sent a technician who couldn’t fix it so we sent it back. Terrible:-( We are bummed and waiting for our refund.

Oreo : Poorly designed controls, Garbage vacuum pump.

Edit: 8/31/2021 - My unit is still going strong. It gets light to medium use. I've had no malfunctions or breakdowns. I discovered you can seal extra-wide bags by folding the mouth of the bag to fit. The seal-bar has enough heat to seal through the fold, but the outside of the bag doesn't stick to itself so the sealed bag unfolds after. Useful trick for large chunks of meat that max-out the chamber volume.

Stars removed for the cheap-garbage vacuum pump, and the annoying controls. Details below.

1. The lid latch design is stupid, and a hazard. They should have used a toggle latch. The lid always wants to spring open and the latch doesn't hold the lid down all the way. So, if you accidentally bump the latch the heavy lid swings open unexpectedly. Its especially concerning when moving or carrying the appliance. Its not a deal breaker, but definitely disappointing considering the price.

2. The control interface is fiddly, and cycling through the options every time I want to make a change is tiresome. Separate buttons for each of the three settings (vac, seal, cool down) would have made adjustments so much easier. Fine if you're doing twenty of the same thing, but if you're doing a bunch of different things that require frequent changes, < groan>.

3. An hour meter on the back would have been a nice way to keep track of oil changes.

4. From the outside it looks and feels like a commercial grade appliance. However, the vacuum pump is the cheapest piece of garbage they could get to do the job. At least it should be easily replaceable aftermarket even if VacMaster goes out of business.

5. Definitely change out the first oil fill after about 10min of run-time to flush the pump of dirt. My first (second, and third) oil came out dark gray with a lot of fine magnetic particulate settling out of the oil. (Apparently other reviewers have experienced this too.) Typical of cheap Chinese made equipment is poor machine work finishing, like they didn't bother to clean the machined parts before assembling. (If you're especially mechanically inclined, pull the whole pump right away for tear-down and cleaning. It will probably last a lot longer.)

I'll update if I notice anything else as I put some hours on the machine.

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