Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss The sound of telphone dials and TV tuners

I manage a beyond-the-state-of-the-art facility that employs some of the smartest people on the globe. Yet, going shopping can sure make one feel dumber than a rock.

I've got about 50 lbs. of ground "cured" and seasoned meat ready to be packed into casings for various kinds of smoked sausage and snacks. I'm short on hog rings, and the string I have unravels so badly, it is hard to tie off sausage links.

I was in seven different stores this evening looking for string and/or hog rings. Nobody -- and I mean nobody -- knew what a hog ring was! Not one single store had string.

The first store I went into was a "big box" outdoor outfitter store. I couldn't find either. I saw a guy about my age at a checkout row who had some sausage casings in his hand. I asked him if he knew were I could find hog rings and string. He pointed me in the right direction. I got there, and the "helpers" had no idea what I was talking about. I found the holders for "3/8-inch hog rings" and for "Sausage String." I was told "we don't usually stock those items"!!!! She led me to a display of tape!

It all went down hill from there. Does anybody know what I'm talking about when I ask for string or hog rings? Does anybody remember what a telephone dial sounds like going backward? Does anybody know what a TV tuner sounded like before remote controls?

The Old Curmudgeon.

Well, I don't know what "sausage string" is, but I am quite familiar with hog rings, at least I think I am?

Try an upholstery shop...they used to use hog rings to attach the fabric to the springs on automobile seats... unless you're talking about a completely different kind of hog ring?

Oh if they only knew the delicacies you were going to prepare with those hog rings.....

What's a hog ring now?

http://www.hogrings.com/

Who woulda thunk it

Anyone here besides myself who's actually installed one in a hog? I've got the battle scars to prove it, too. Those hooves are sharp.

Hogs, in general, are not fond of the installation procedure.

Meat Twine, String, Thread.

I've used things similar to "hog rings" in lots of things -- thankfully, not hogs. I'm guessing that anybody about my age had to "crunch" a ring through something's nostrils. My first was my 6th/7th grade 4-H steer. The "tactual" sound and feel haunt me to this day. (My steer wasn't nearly as distressed as I was.)

Anyway, I need to start stuffing some "gut."

Ken

Dwight -- thanks.

As I was walking around in the various stores, I was thinking that I'm glad I have Pond Boss friends, and that I know people like Dave D., Esshup, and Dwight. These are real people, who would know what I'm talking about.

Dwight -- the items in your link is all I wanted to find in a local store. These things seem to only be available on the Internet anymore. Last night, I had to order "popcorn salt" through Amazon because there are no more local distributors selling "Flavacol". Two large cartons of Flavacol was about $4. The shipping was about $12. Yeesh! This should at least be a life-time supply for me and my two sons.

Similarly, I hope that Hinkley, MN won't disappear. What would the world be without a piece of pie or a hot and gooey roll from Toby's??? on the the trip between the "Cities" and Dooluut? Where would RFD-TV be on Saturday night without Big Joe Polka -- or our good friend Bing?

I wish we could slow down time!

So is there something about it, aside from it's 100% cotton composition, that renders it acceptable for foodstuffs?

I got home late, and our youngest grand daughter was already here for Movie and Pizza night. So, I didn't stuff my sausage yet. We had our pizza. Lynda, our grand daughter, and our two fuzzball cats are watching Toy Story II.

In the morning, I'm going to make my own "hog rings" with my Harbor Freight wire bender and some #14 wire. I also "stole" the grandkid's kite string from our "beach kit" to replace the awful string I had.

Life is good -- just way ahead of its time.

Self sufficiency is still a great alternative; making due with available materials.

Hog ring?

Absolutely. It probably doesn't have to be cotton, I'm just not sure what else works. After I posted this, I "Googled" string and many other variations. I didn't find anything suitable.

I grew up on a farm and in a "general store." My father was the local "butcher." I thought I knew what string was. Every counter in our store had a roll of string. Most counters had their own big roll of brown, white, wax, etc., paper that was wrapped with this string after it was filled with some delicacy, like meat, sausage, cheese, fish, etc.

Nylon melts in the smoker. Jute and is way too lose. I obviously don't know what to call it.

I was in one big national box store where they had an electronic locator. It only permitted the entry of three letters. I put in "str" for string. The returns I got were for "string cheese" and "light strings, holiday." I put in "twi" for twine. The only return I got was for "twizlers."

I did find a guy about my age who took me to the automotive department. We did find string amongst nylon rope and ratchet straps. But it was twisted nylon, and extremely expensive in my opinion -- $7.95 for 250 feet.

Not long ago, a great old co-op hardware/farm store about 30 miles from here closed when the proprietor fell off a ladder and was seriously injured. The store closed and was auctioned. Before this happened, I kept thinking that this store needed to be on the Internet, where people like me could find what they wanted.

Anybody want to start an old time general store on the Internet?

Ken:

Tractor Supply, Rural King, Farm & Fleet all should carry what you are looking for.

You're spending too much time in the city!!!!

If you need, I know I have a bag of hog rings here. I also have that funny 4-fingered tool that you slip a good sized "O" ring on. You should know what it's used for, but I used it to pinion Wood Ducks and Mandarins when I raised them so they couldn't fly away. The nice lady that ran the bird exhibit at Sea World San Diego told me about that. They found it worked better than cutting the wing and cauterizing it.

A store like this?

Martins Hardware Store

I'm sure I still have a rotary phone somewhere around here in a box.

You remember the black bakelite "Felix the Cat" clock?

Not mine, but a spittin' image

Ain't that the truth!!!

Help me escape!! I spent over an hour on Monday evening trying to get just one mile away from the office. I nearly ran out of gas getting to the gas station about 2-miles from the office. It took me 3-1/2 hours to get home. By the time I got home it was nearly time to get back for another 12-14 hours of bliss. I think I might need a new career!

Worse than remembering these old clocks -- we get one to two mailings per week, and several e-mails per week for these old-style Cat Clocks

My grandfather owned a country grocery store, where they had two gas pumps out front, a meat counter inside, sold ground feed and grain in the back, and a former blacksmith shop in another building off to the side. By the time I came around the blacksmith had long since departed, but everything else was still in operation. It was a great place to be a kid, and just hang around the stove in the wintertime.

I have no doubt he carried hog rings.

I've got the DVR set!

Wow. I'm killing time waiting for Hee Haw to come on by watching something from the DVR. A guy named "Fred", who looks incredibly like our Pond Boss friend "Bing" shows up on Larry's Country Diner hawking radios he said he's been building since the early 1900s. Thelma's sister Nadine sat down in front of one of the cathedral radios from 1932. I sure was hoping this guy Fred was going to get up and sing with Linda Davis and Nadine, but I guess he was too bashful.

Anyway Fred, you looked and sounded great.

I haven't installed a hog ring but I watched my dad do it.
I found a box of hog rings and pliers on the shelf of a local hardware store. The owner said they had been there for years.
Hog rings work great for making fish traps.

Hey Cat/all:

This may seem sacreligious, but I see there are vegetable alternatives to using intestines as sausage casings...but I've never heard any feedback on their experience with them. I could enjoy bratwursts and sausages with a clearer conscience as I already informed the wife they were now made from vegetable matter. I pride myself on being honest and forthright - but honesty falls on the wayside when it comes between me and my brats.

So - anyone ever mess with these vege-casings before? Are they sacrelicious?

Considering what's put inside them, does it really matter?

That is unless you're making Tofu brats or something like that.