How the....

[Jeff T]

heck do you all get sheep casings on your stuffer tubes?

I bought Lem brand 19-21mm 3/4inch natural sheep casings & used the smallest tube that came with my stuffer. I believe the tube size is 1/2 inch.
I`ll be damned if i could get em on without ripping them.
I soaked in warm tap water for an hour, changed the water three times. I lubed the tube with olive oil also. Still would rip about half way on the tube.

I was trying to make snack sticks. I ended up making very small hot dog looking snack items.

What did i do wrong? Wassup?

[JamesB]

I had the same problems my first time stuffing sausage. Best advice I've been given was to push out just a bit of the meat mixture out of the tube, just a nub poking out of the tube. Then slide the casings on. The fat in the meat lubes the casing and on it goes.
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[salmonclubber]

Jeff
go buy a 3/8 inch tube it is what i use and have no problems i also use the 21 mm colegon casings for snack stix they are much easier to use
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Happyness is a full smoker

[Damar12]

Also, you might soak your casings in vinegar for an hour or so. It makes mine swell nicely and get real slick.

[trapper]

I fought with the same thing this weekend but I think my casings were a little bigger, 22mm or so. I will be getting a bigger tube but I did get these to work. I took the tube off the stuffer and once I got the casing barely started I put the whole thing under water in the bowl I had the casings soaking in. Sometimes it helps to get the tube full of water and pick it up so the water runs down through the casing. It seemed like I would struggle and then all of a sudden it went on real easy.

[Jeff T]

Thanks guys, good info.
I`ll try the vinegar soak next time. I`ve heard of that but forgot.
And when i use up the ones i have i`ll try the Collagen casings with a smaller tube for stix.
I want to try my hand at hot dogs also, so it looks like i need more stuff.