The old Hobart grinder gave up the ghost right before the Saturday rush last week.
I had to finish a 50-pound batch of breakfast sausage by hand, which took me back to my first job at Miller's Meats in '98, but honestly, what's a good electric grinder brand that won't quit on a busy morning?
What kind of power are you looking for in a new grinder? My shop's LEM has been solid for years, but it really depends on how much you're pushing through it each week.
Honestly, that Hobart was probably just tired. A hand grind builds character, makes you appreciate the work. Maybe just fix the old one instead of buying new.
Builds character" sounds like something you say when you don't want to spend money. It's just grinding meat. If my old machine is broken and I have fifty pounds to do, that's not character building, that's a sore arm and wasted time. Fixing it might cost more than it's worth anyway. Sometimes a tool is just done.