Review: Rival Food Sealer

[jgros001]

Model: Rival Seal-a-Meal VS120
Price: $65

Not sure how many gorillas use a food sealer for long term box storage but hopefully this may help someone out. I originally had a cheap food sealer that was not capable of the job without it being a painstaking process, so I got a new one.

The Rival has exactly what I needed: a quick vacuum shut off to keep the box from being crushed. [Quick story - had to pull the plug out of the wall on my old model when it started to crush a box of PSD4s - scares the crap out of you when a $180 box of cigars might be ruined and I don't think my vendor guarantees against my stupidity.] It is really not necessary since it also has a delicate setting (supposed to be for muffins and the like but works great for cigars too).

Comes with some gallon bags that are perfect for most boxes. Also comes with quart bags that are essentially useless for my purposes - can't even get a Trini Reyes box in there. Also has a compartment to hold a roll for custom bags and a cutting device - no scissors needed. Actually, I guess the quart bags could be used for shipping.

All in all, great product. Not the top of the line but perfect for the job I need it for.

 

[montecristo#2]

Model: Rival Seal-a-Meal VS120
Price: $65

Not sure how many gorillas use a food sealer for long term box storage but hopefully this may help someone out. I originally had a cheap food sealer that was not capable of the job without it being a painstaking process, so I got a new one.

The Rival has exactly what I needed: a quick vacuum shut off to keep the box from being crushed. [Quick story - had to pull the plug out of the wall on my old model when it started to crush a box of PSD4s - scares the crap out of you when a $180 box of cigars might be ruined and I don't think my vendor guarantees against my stupidity.] It is really not necessary since it also has a delicate setting (supposed to be for muffins and the like but works great for cigars too).

Comes with some gallon bags that are perfect for most boxes. Also comes with quart bags that are essentially useless for my purposes - can't even get a Trini Reyes box in there. Also has a compartment to hold a roll for custom bags and a cutting device - no scissors needed. Actually, I guess the quart bags could be used for shipping.

All in all, great product. Not the top of the line but perfect for the job I need it for.

If you don't mind me asking, why would you vacuum seal your cigars? I have one of these vacuum sealers at home and considered using it for cigars before I put them in the freezer (precautionary 3 day period). But after thinking about it, wouldn't the vacuum sealer suck out all the moisture, I thought this was bad for cigars?

am I missing something? #2

 

[jgros001]

If you don't mind me asking, why would you vacuum seal your cigars? I have one of these vacuum sealers at home and considered using it for cigars before I put them in the freezer (precautionary 3 day period). But after thinking about it, wouldn't the vacuum sealer suck out all the moisture, I thought this was bad for cigars?

am I missing something? #2

No the vacuum sealer does not suck out all the moisture. At least it doesn't if you shut it off before it starts crushing the box. Did a check on one box because I was curious about a month ago. Exactly the same as when first sealed up.

Basically, what I am trying to do is slow down the aging process and by theory from a lot of reading, have an awesome cigar in say 10 - 15 years. Read MRN's thoughts on aging. Not to say he is the be all end all but based on other readings as well, I am going to give it a shot.

A really good read on the subject: http://forums.cigarweekly.com/viewtopic.php?t=78253&highlight=vacuum+seal

 

[Eternal Rider]

I use my Foodsaver vac-sealer to seal bombs that I know are going to take awhile to get where they are going like out of the country. on mine I can seal it with the amount of air I want in it. THey are not going to dry out in shipping, because the air and moisture can't get out and it adds some padding as well.


Harland

 

[palm55]

I have one of the Foodsaver gadgets as well. But I don't use the vacuum pump... Just the sealing device. It seems to be a good way of keeping properly-humidified cigars fresh during travel.

As an aside...

My young son found the device quite fascinating... He caught a frog out in the marsh, brought it inside, and vacuum-packed the poor thing. After five years, it still appears to be quite fresh!

 

[Ivory Tower]

Read MRN's thoughts on aging. Not to say he is the be all end all but based on other readings as well, I am going to give it a shot.

http://forums.cigarweekly.com/viewtopic.php?t=78253&highlight=vacuum+seal[/url]

Although, I would venture to guess that MRN is pretty well near the be-all-end-all, as far as published sources go. I mean, the guy has a tremendous depth of experience with stogies from here to before my parents were born.

Anyways, the seal-a-meal works great if you turn it off before complete compression occurs, like it has been noted. I use it to send stogies in the mail, so that they don't dry out or change humidity too much. Very cool.

 

[raisin]

I use my Foodsaver vac-sealer to seal bombs that I know are going to take awhile to get where they are going like out of the country. on mine I can seal it with the amount of air I want in it. THey are not going to dry out in shipping, because the air and moisture can't get out and it adds some padding as well.


Harland

:tpd:

The vac-bags are very tough, and act almost like bubble-wrap when sealed with air inside. Cheap insurance for valuable sticks!

 

[caskwith]

I use my Foodsaver vac-sealer to seal bombs that I know are going to take awhile to get where they are going like out of the country. on mine I can seal it with the amount of air I want in it. THey are not going to dry out in shipping, because the air and moisture can't get out and it adds some padding as well.


Harland

Those sticks you sent me were in PERFECT! condition thanks to the care you took in packing them.