mixer v mixer

[beccaboo]

I've had my blue KSM90 300W Kitchenaid mixer, made by Whirlpool, for almost 15 years. It has always worked really well for me--no problems at all. This summer I bought a beige K45SS 250W mixer, made by Hobart, at a yard sale, intending to give it to an under-equipped baking friend for Xmas. Shortly afterwards, when we redid the kitchen, I realised that the beige mixer looked a lot nicer with our new color scheme. I've been using it ever since too see how I like it, and now I have to decide which to keep and which to give away.

As I said, I've had no problems at all with the blue one. The only flaws I've perceived in the beige one are:

--Its slowest speed is too fast, so it throws flour out when starting out. I can work around that, but it's kind of a nuisance.

--The little screw to adjust the beater height seems to be loose--I'm always having to adjust it (like every three weeks, not really always), and I never do with the blue one.

What do you all think?

[Mallet]

I always go for function over form.

[Stephanie Wallace]

I'd be wary of keeping a piece of equipment with which you've already experienced a few small flaws just because it fits with your color scheme. It's nice to have it in your kitchen, but the functionality is much more important. The new mixer may begin to aggravate the hell out of you after a while.

[Jmahl]

The fast start is typical of my 28 year old K45. As far as the loose screw. Try removing the screw and dabbing it with a little clear nail polish and replacing the screw making the adjustment. This should work.

Its like having two girlfriends - what a problem.

[andiesenji]

I had the same problem with my old Hobart and I found that wrapping a fine thread around the screw threads held it just fine but still allowed me to adjust the height.

(I have a copper liner for the bowl and have to raise the beater a little to keep it from striking the bottom of that bowl.)

[beccaboo]

I'd be wary of keeping a piece of equipment with which you've already experienced a few small flaws just because it fits with your color scheme. It's nice to have it in your kitchen, but the functionality is much more important. The new mixer may begin to aggravate the hell out of you after a while.

←

It's just that I always hear about how the Hobart ones are better than the Whirlpool ones, so maybe, 20 years from now, I'd be glad I had the Hobart. Plus it's cute. I'm just really torn. I'll try andiesenji's thing with the thread, and see how that works.

Edited December 12, 2005 by beccaboo (log)

[irodguy]

Well you could just keep both It's not at all uncommon that I have both by KA & Delonghi going.

[miladyinsanity]

I second irodguy's suggestion.

My mom often wishes she had 2--especially when she needs to beat egg whites--but we don't have space for two.

[stef_foodie]

i'd keep both if i were you. i killed two of them, so a spare one is always nice *just in case*. vintage hobarts are precious compared to the new ones, so if in a year or two you still haven't used it you could always sell it on ebay, where people like me are waiting to pounce

if i had found a regular-sized one on ebay i would have purchased it -- but since i didn't i got an electrolux dlx instead -- and been a very happy baker for the past year.

[peppyre]

I would also keep both of them. Then, depending on your mood, you can use the blue one or the beige one. Just think of them like you do shoes.

[andiesenji]

i'd keep both if i were you.  i killed two of them, so a spare one is always nice *just in case*.  vintage hobarts are precious compared to the new ones, so if in a year or two you still haven't used it you could always sell it on ebay, where people like me are waiting to pounce

if i had found a regular-sized one on ebay i would have purchased it -- but since i didn't i got an electrolux dlx instead -- and been a very happy baker for the past year.

←

I love my DLX also. I was shocked when I read in Cooks Illustrated that they didn't recommend it at all.

I guess they never considered that it is meant for large batches of stuff. As they described their test, it didn't sound like a fair one to me.

I can't make dough for 6 loaves in my KA and I have burned out motors on two while trying to knead stiff dough.

I do have a 35-year-old 10 quart Hobart but it suffered an accident and only has one arm to hold the bowl. (Fell off a cart onto the cement driveway and so long Hobart) It is still in a corner of the garage as I keep thinking that "someday" I will have the arm welded back onto the lifter.

[CanadianBakin']

I can't remember where the thread is, but someone painted their mixer to match their decor.

[ScorchedPalate]

That be my suggestion: Take the one you like to an auto-body shop and have it painted whatever color you want.

[Jeremy]

Miladyinsanity, you can get extra bowls for your mixer. I have the one that came with mine and two extra: one for egg yolks, one for egg whites, and one for whipped cream.