There are two sizes of the FS canning jar attachments. One is meant for regular mouth canning jars, and the other is for the larger mouth canning jars. Yes, they use the exact same lids used in home canning. The lids are placed on top of the jar, and the attachment is pushed down over it to make a seal between a rubber ring and the glass bead just below the threads of the jars. Once air is pulled out, and you pull off the vacuum hose from the attachment, a tiny 'slug' of air, blasts into the small vacuum hole and the lid is forced down onto the jar and seals it. You remove the attachement then and rinse off the jar if its wet. The seal is very strong and is usually far better than a regular canning process would do. As mentoned, The FS vacuum pump is NOT powerful enough to be safely used as an alternative to regular canning processing. Besides that, if the very small vacuum pump inside the FS gets any trace of moisture in it, it can cause damage to the FS machine. I use a much higher powered piston type vacuum pump and also have a water/moisture trap on the vacuum line. The pump I have quickly goes down to 30 inches, which is sufficient for a decent vacuum. I also vacuum seal dried herbs like dill weed. It remains very fragrent and bright green color, even after 2 years of storage.

I apologize for not answering your main issue, which was around finding a sealer that does not require you to hold it down while sealing. I had never had a vacuum sealer until I bought the Professional II and it is easy to use, as you no not have to hold it down. Everything is automated. Keep in mind that manufacturers have gotten really good in determining which extra features consumers are willing to pay for, which is one reason that the extras often cost so much more than the basic model. This is called "price discrimination" and is a widespread marketing and product positioning technique. It may not even cost any more to make a model with more convenient features than the basic model, but they will charge extra for them anyway as a way to segment purchasers in a way that allows them to maximize profit. So when they say "you get what you pay for" this is not just because better designs cost more to build (which is not always the case), it is also because customers that can afford it are willing to pay for those better designs. L

I'm a Food Saver fan, too. Have NEVER had a new one... all from yard sales or thrift stores. When I bought the first, new to me, unit... after asking if it WORKED (and being assured that it did), asked WHY they were selling it. Seller said she got it because the commercials convinced her she'd save a ton on "family size" packages of meat. When it became apparent to her that a big package of chicken (in nothing more than supermarket packaging) had NO real chance of getting freezer burned in a household with 2 adults and 2 TEEN boys, she quit using it. I'm cooking for 1, so the FS is perfect for me. A typical package of boneless/skinless chicken breasts usually consists of 3-4 BIG pieces... WAY more than I want for dinner... even considering left-overs for lunch. Same with ground meat... smallest packages usually about a pound... too much for one person. I find packages between 1 & 1.5 lbs and vac seal half for later. A half to 3/4 lb is plenty for make something like chili for me. Have found a LOT of their canisters. Like them for DRY stuff that won't necessarily go bad, but will get stale. Found sometimes seal fails... and I'll find the teeniest of crack (on bottom)... at that point the piece is pretty much shot for vac sealing. I LOVE that thing that lets you seal in Mason jars! It's NOT to replace canning, but is great for little pastas, rice, beans, grains. Can be opened and resealed several times... as long as ya don't dent/bend lid. Would work great for storing herbs/spices/rubs. Would love to find LARGE Mason jars... like GALLON size, if they even make that big?? Early this summer, I made MAJOR yard sale finds on FS stuff. Combined total from 2 different sales... well over 50$ worth of bags and rolls to make bags AND a FS unit (called something like Deluxe Game-something & priced on Amazon for something like $139)... for $10! I have never seen the bags ever go "on sale" anywhere, so now I'm set for a good long time.

I too like the Kamenstein round tins with the shaker/pour clear lids. Here in Canada, they are available at Walmart as individual tins, sets with just tins, sets with magnet boards or strips, sets with magnetic tiered shelves. I think that if they're available here, they must be in the U.S Walmarts. The individual tins are available in 2 sizes, but the sets only seem to be available in the smaller tins. A couple of years ago, I bought 3 sets of 6 tins with the magnet strips for $7 each set (50% off). I don't do a lot of baking, so just needed a few. I have them on the side of my fridge (the side that can't be seen from the main part of my kitchen). I bought spice labels at DollarRama for $1 (40 preprinted labels and 10 blank). For $22, I got all the things I needed.