I been recently looking into storing food, dried fish, meat, etc but one problem im coming across is the food molding in ziplock bags.  I like my meat a little soft on the inside, so i wrap it in newspaper or paper towel and store it in the ziplock bag.  After a few days it starts to mold.  I think with a vaccum sealer it would eleminate this problem cause all the air is out.  You guys recommend any good brands, pointers, things to look out for when buying one?  Any help is appreciated.

I haven't bought one yet.  I'm looking at the tilia foodsaver since the local Wal-Mart carries the bags.  That's probably something that irritates me is if I can't get the refills locally. 

Good point, finding bags is good.  Might go try check out walmart today and see what kind of selection they have.  Anyone else

The bags for consumer grade sealers leak over time and you end up with the same mold.

If this is for long term storage (18mos or more), you should use mylar bags and oxygen absorbers. If done properly, you should be able to keep it packed away for 10+ years. 

I want to "long term store" some of my guns in vacuum bags.

The ones I don't shoot much.

I need long rolls of vacuum bags.

I want to "long term store" some of my guns in vacuum bags.

The ones I don't shoot much.

I need long rolls of vacuum bags.

Don't forget silica gel.

One thing about long term storaging of guns that I see floating around is using the pvc pipe. Throw your rifle in there, throw some dessicants or flood it with nitrogen if you have the resources, and then cap it with an airtight seal.

Hey, don't forget Cosmoline!  A time-proven gun preservative.

I was thinking the same thing. 

One thing about long term storaging of guns that I see floating around is using the pvc pipe. Throw your rifle in there, throw some dessicants or flood it with nitrogen if you have the resources, and then cap it with an airtight seal.

PVC works great. Light oil, oxygen absorbers, dessicant, and some HD polystyrene is all I use. With this set up, I know I can just smash off the cap, throw in a mag and be ready to go.

Hey, don't forget Cosmoline!  A time-proven gun preservative.

It's a nightmare to take off.  Sure it's proven preservative, good for storing weapons crates in some bunker. But only IF you've got a team of guys to clean the goop off. Not so good if one wants something "out of the box" ready. I used to apply cosmoline to rifles for long term storing, but realized if something really bad happened, I might not have the supplies/solvents or time required to get operational...something to consider.

Thanks for the tip colt.  You got any links or do i just google mayler bags?

Some family had a sealer laying around so im going to try it out.  Hopefully the bags wont leak though.

Thanks for the tip colt.  You got any links or do i just google mayler bags?

Some family had a sealer laying around so im going to try it out.  Hopefully the bags wont leak though.

Ok since I opened my mouth, I'll share this with everyone with enough sense to take a interest in survival...

***Disclaimer: Let's not all go running out and doing this (reason at bottom). PLEASE!***

Go to the provident living center aka LDS (Mormon) cannery at the Temple/Church on Kalihi Street. You can order the bags and absorbers for less than anywhere I've ever found. Price list

If you go, be cool. Take a class. Order some beans, rice, or whatever else you might find useful while you're at it.

The reason I don't want everyone flooding into the place is simple. Not all LDS canneries are open to the public and I'd hate to see this place close it's doors to outsiders.

Thanks for the tip Colt. I didn't even know they had a cannery.

I was doing some research on the porcelain throne and just so happen to find this:  www.zcorrproducts.com

If Jaydawg's TV dinner-gun is smothered in Cosmoline inside that bag just for good measure, I'd say that thing could safely be tossed over the side of a boat at a set latitude and longitude, and retrieved a few decades later, looking good as new!

I had run across Zcorr's regular plastic bags before but had never seen those vacuum bags. It looks silly but maybe it would work.

For anyone interested in another source of mylar bags and oxygen absorbers, I had picked some up from OakTea International on Amazon. They have different size bags with oxygen absorbers to match the size of the bag. They are pretty expensive though.
1Gallon Bags
5 Gallon Bags

I wonder where the LDS get their supplies from. I mean, if they are selling them so cheap.

ETA: Wow, after a quick googling, it looks like I can find a lot more suppliers now like http://www.vackpak.com/MylarOxy.html

Wow thanks for all the useful links guys.  This is a huge subject i should look farther into.  So mayler bags are the way to go, got it.  Ok whats the difference between mayler bags and other types of bags like nylon/poly.  Do the mayler just last forever?

Also sorry for being clueless, but what is a absorber, is that how its sealed?  Sorry for the newb questions.

I'm not sure what the difference between mylar and nylon or poly bags are but I'd guess the material is stronger and less prone to leaking. It also blocks out light.

Oxygen absorbers do exactly as the name suggests. They take the oxygen out of anything around it. They look almost the same as the dessicant packets in your furikake and come sealed in a vacuum sealed bag. Once they are exposed to oxygen (containing package opened), they start absorbing.

Or just buy an AK and a Glock and bury them in dirt. No need for sealants, bags, whatever. just dig them up, wash them off, and blast away. 

I wonder where the LDS get their supplies from. I mean, if they are selling them so cheap.

I was told by one of the young elders that it comes from a church run distribution center in the mainland...shipping is free. 

Or just buy an AK and a Glock and bury them in dirt. No need for sealants, bags, whatever. just dig them up, wash them off, and blast away. 

Funny. Sure AK's & Glocks are tough, but with ground termites eating any wood furniture and acidic dirt pitting the metal parts? You'd be lucky to dig up and salvage it for spare parts.