Dave,
Glad to see the new avatar is popular, Hot Dog!!
Thanks for giving it a go, not surprised the planings were a little damp, they have been in the garage in a binbag for over 1 year, not the end of the world to grind a few down and use them as needed, even if they need to oven dry for a bit. I think I will still go ahead and get one, not the end of the world to have to buy some sawdust, can give the planings to a neighbour to bed their rabbit in.
The vacuum packer is a foodsaver Compact II, bags are from Weschenfelder, the packer is the best £80 I have spent, it will take bags up to 300mm wide, more than enough to get a hunk of meat in a roll. Everything gets vac packed, we throw so little away now, used to have a freezer full of frost burnt food, not anymore.
Will get my order placed.......