Dehydrator recommendation.

[Brambles]

Well, the poor old thing is finally on it's last legs so I'm in the market for a new dehydrator. I had my eye on the new Excalibur stackable but that has just shot up in price and now exceeds my budget.
I can go up to £50ish
So to the other dehydrator owners out there, what do you have and what are they like to use?

[jaffab]

Going to say I am interested in this as well (my birthday is coming up, and I have been dropping MEGA BIG hints to wife this is what I way).
I am going to be using my to make Jerky- not sure if the type of food being made changes the options for recommendations.

[Plymtom]

Going to say I am interested in this as well (my birthday is coming up, and I have been dropping MEGA BIG hints to wife this is what I way).
I am going to be using my to make Jerky- not sure if the type of food being made changes the options for recommendations.

They all do the job I'm glad I got the Excalibur 9 tray when I did.... dries cases too Shocker for reloading

[shocker]

Hah! Another point to convince the newly converted shooter mrs with ! Nice one Tom

I have just been looking at cheap models on ebay- there seem to be a lot of £25 ish, 240 watt electric models there...I have NO experience of this kind of drying. I have made air dried hams and sausage on the farm, hot and cold smoked all sorts but never this.

We have a fair bit of excess heat from the server that does our bitcoin mining heand I was hoping to harness that somehow. It has already negated the need for central heating and the tumbledrier so maybe with the use of digi thermometers I could use the drying trays of a dehydrator above the airflow..?

Thoughts on cheap units, homebuild, or hot server air use ?

[Plymtom]

I could use the drying trays of a dehydrator above the airflow..?

Remember that moisture goes somewhere, you wouldn't want it condensing on anything it'll damage that's why some of us have dehumidifiers too.

[shocker]

Good point, it had crossed my mind. We have a dehumidifier that we cant afford to run ! But a bit of ducting would take care of that, directing hot air into a box with trays and a drip pan...both of us at chez shocks favour building or repurposing what we can. Cos we is tight as a ducks with the folding stuff

[Deeps]

Hah! Another point to convince the newly converted shooter mrs with ! Nice one Tom

I have just been looking at cheap models on ebay- there seem to be a lot of £25 ish, 240 watt electric models there...I have NO experience of this kind of drying. I have made air dried hams and sausage on the farm, hot and cold smoked all sorts but never this.

We have a fair bit of excess heat from the server that does our bitcoin mining heand I was hoping to harness that somehow. It has already negated the need for central heating and the tumbledrier so maybe with the use of digi thermometers I could use the drying trays of a dehydrator above the airflow..?

Thoughts on cheap units, homebuild, or hot server air use ?

I'm no expert Shocker but getting one with a timer seems the way ahead, I also use baking parchment if I'm doing small stuff or dehydrating spag bol etc. You can buy plastic 'sheets' but the parchment works well enough. As I said on the other thread, have a look on youtube for inspiration. Some stuff does smell too so if you have a shed or garage with power its an option to stop stinking up the house. Loads of reviews etc on Amazon and elsewhere too. You'll need airtight/watertight containers for your produce too. For my 'ready meals' I've bought a vac sealer too. You can use these for a range of things though, not just scran.

[shocker]

Food for thought not just the drier, thanks again Deeps

somewhere, I have a hand cranked can sealer...if I can find it, and its a big if, I was hoping to use that now that can blanks are available in the uk again, along with oxygen absorber sachets. My last vacuum sealer got lost in the last move

funds are at an all time low and with our new shooting interest spare cash is rare

[Plymtom]

Food for thought not just the drier, thanks again Deeps

somewhere, I have a hand cranked can sealer...if I can find it, and its a big if, I was hoping to use that now that can blanks are available in the uk again, along with oxygen absorber sachets. My last vacuum sealer got lost in the last move

funds are at an all time low and with our new shooting interest spare cash is rare

Little steps then eh? that's how we do it as a former club secretary put it you could spend more money supporting a football team these days, but I know how it must be

[shocker]

Thanks Tom

thats me all over, always got a dozen things on the go at once, never mastered the moderation thing - though age and ability have slowed me down