Hubbed vs Reversible Grinder Plates: Which Knife Pairs With Each

What a hub does on a grinder plate

A grinder plate is a round steel disc drilled with holes that sits against the end of the auger while the knife sweeps across its face. Plates come in two styles that are not interchangeable by default. A hubbed plate has a raised center boss on one side, which one supplier describes as extra support for the plate. A reversible plate, also sold as hubless or double-sided, is flat on both faces. Waltons describes its Cleveland-style plates as flat on two sides, which lets the plate lock into the grinder head. LEM describes its #20/22 stainless plates as a hubless, double-sided design that can be flipped to use both faces.

The style has nothing to do with hole size. A 3/8 inch plate can be hubbed or reversible, and so can a 1/8 inch plate. Catalogs that sort parts for commercial machines treat plate size, mounting style, hole size and hub as four separate things to identify, so a listing that gives only a size number and a hole size has left one of the four unanswered.

How to tell which style your grinder head takes

Start with the plate already in the head. Pull it and look at both faces. If both are flat and the plate looks identical when flipped, it is a reversible plate. If one face has a raised round boss at the center, it is hubbed. Then confirm the size number. The Bunzl blade catalog pairs diameters with numbers: #12 is 2-3/4 inches, #22 is 3-1/4 inches, and #32 is 3-15/16 inches. LEM’s #20/22 plates are listed at 3-1/4 inches across, which fits that figure.

That same catalog also asks you to identify mounting style, either Enterprise or Toledo. If you no longer have the original plate, the grinder’s manual or the parts list for your model should name the plate and knife it shipped with. Retail head names often combine numbers, such as #20/22 or #10/12, so read the full designation before you search. When neither the plate nor the manual survives, measure the diameter and note how the plate seats in the head, then ask the maker which style it specifies.

Why the knife has to match the plate style

The knife works by pressing its cutting edges flat against the plate face. The auger pushes meat into the holes and the knife shears it off as it rotates. A hub changes what the center of that face looks like. The knife’s center has to either clear the hub or run on a flat face, so a knife built for one style does not automatically seat on the other. Listings usually say which style the knife is meant for, and some catalogs call out the hub in the part description.

A mismatch leaves a small gap between knife and plate, and meat is not cut cleanly across a gap. It squeezes through and smears, and the knife rides rough against the plate. Venison makes the symptoms worse because silverskin and sinew do not shear easily. They are more likely to wrap around the knife center and slow the auger. LEM says on its knife listings that a matched knife and plate give cleaner cuts and longer component life. Treat the two parts as a pair, not as separate purchases.

What each plate style costs you and gives you

The practical advantage of a reversible grinder plate is that it has two working faces. Because the plate is symmetric, you can flip it when one side wears, and LEM states this is the point of its double-sided design. For a hunter processing a couple of deer a year on a #22 head, that flip is usually the only wear-management feature that matters. A reversible plate also leaves nothing to mis-seat, since both faces are interchangeable.

A hubbed grinder plate gives up the second face, and in exchange it has the supported center. Hubbed plates are common in commercial lines such as KASCO’s Powermate and Bone Collector types, which sell size 22 hubbed plates in sets of four. Material and thickness are listed too. One retailer lists a hubbed #32 stainless plate at 10 mm thick and a D2 steel version at 15 mm. If your head or your mixer attachment came with a hubbed plate, buy another hubbed plate. Do not swap styles to chase a feature, because the knife that came with the machine was built around its original plate.

Buying a plate and knife set in the right style

A listing for a grinder plate and knife set should state four things before you buy: the size number, the style, the hole size, and whether the knife is made for that style. Plates sold in packs are worth reading closely. KASCO lists hubbed size 22 plates as a set of four, which tells you the quantity but not whether a knife is included. Pack contents vary, so confirm what is in the box.

When you search for a reversible grinder plate in your size, look for wording such as reversible, double-sided or hubless in the title or specs. Search separately for a hubbed grinder plate if that is what your head uses. Retailers such as Cutlery Mania and KASCO list both styles, and LEM sells hubless stainless plates in its #20/22 line. Buy the knife in the same listing or confirm it is listed for the same plate style and size, then compare against your grinder’s manual or head markings before you order.

Venison checks after the parts arrive

Before the first batch, assemble the head dry and check the stack. The plate should sit flush against its seat with no rocking. The knife should turn freely by hand, touching the plate face along its edges without binding. Tighten the ring only to the point the manual describes, since overtightening on a worn or mismatched part pair is a common cause of heat and smearing.

If the first handful of cubed, partly frozen venison comes out as paste, or sinew wraps the center of the knife, stop and inspect the pairing. Check that the plate really is the style you ordered, check which face is against the knife, and check that the knife is listed for that plate style. A plate-and-knife pair that fits the head and each other should shear cleanly. When it doesn’t, suspect the mismatch before the meat.

Related guides

• #12 vs #22 Grinder Plates for Elk and Large Game: Throat Size and Grind Texture
• Best Meat Grinder for Elk, Moose and Bear: Is a 1 to 1.5 HP Commercial-Grade Model Worth It?
• Best Meat Grinders for Wild Game: Entry, Mid-Tier and Commercial Picks from $50 to $800
• Meat Grinder Meat Cubing and Pre-Chilling: How to Keep Venison Cold to Prevent Smearing

FAQ

Can I put a reversible plate in a grinder that came with a hubbed plate?

Only if the grinder’s maker lists it for that head. A hub changes how the plate seats against the knife, and the knife in the head was built around the original plate. Match the original style unless the manual or manufacturer says otherwise.

Can I flip a reversible grinder plate when it wears?

Yes. Reversible plates are flat on both faces by design, and LEM describes its double-sided plates as usable on either side for longer service life. A hubbed plate has a raised center on one side, so it cannot be flipped.

Does hubbed or reversible change what hole size I need for venison?

No. Hole size is a separate spec. A hubbed plate and a reversible plate can both come with the same hole size, so choose style to fit your head and choose hole size for the texture you want.