I know it is best to use a stuffer but not spending that kind of money for my every other year sausage making. I just read that it is best to use a stuffing plate and leave the cutting blade off. The problem with mine is if I leave the blade off then things are loose. I am thinking that I need a stuffing plate with a hub.

that's what you need. i just like the stuffer better. i get a more uniform link. it goes so much slower you have time to get it smooth. if you have friends that make sausage, go in partners. my neighbor and i bought the grinder and his son in law has a stuffer. we just pass it around and sometimes do it all together.

They aren't that high. You won't regret it.

When I stuff my sausage, I only use the stuffing tube. My auger is also loose when I start, but I load up the grinder with meat before turning it on and the meat pushes the auger and that resistance holds the auger in place. I have been making several hundred pounds of sausage like that with my electric grinder for years and haven never had any problem. I tried the stuffing plate and had issues with the meat stacking up and not wanting to push through the stuffing tube.