Blender help
 

I'm shopping for a new blender. The flange at the bottom of mine is broken and I'm just bored with my old one. I tried the Vita-Mix, but it broke and this one has only lasted about 30 yrs. I like Osters Beehive model with just two speeds, but I can only find it in red. I don't like red for appliances. Furniture maybe, but a red appliance just doesn't seem proper. Brushed metal maybe. Anyway I want one that'll last a lot longer than this thirty year cheapo. The chrome is peeling off for gods sake.
I'm not sure there are any classic blenders I could get a good deal on and those small appliance repair places are dieing out because of WalMart.
Any other appliances you guys are into? I know we had a toaster thread, and a hot water heater one, but I'd never seen one about blenders. Help!

Years ago I read a column by Peter Egan in Road & Track about the total count of pistons a person owns as some measurement of being a gearhead. The prelude to the article's discussion was a story about the owner of a P-51 Mustang that would bring a gas engine powered blender to fly-ins so that they could have frozen drinks out at the remote strips. That would be manly! :D


Okay, so you don't want exhaust gas in the kitchen. I would suggest that you stop by your local restaurant supply warehouse. They usually sell retail and they all have bar quality blenders and accessories. Go stainless and more than 2 speeds is just showin' off.

Industrial strength? I don't think my blending is that serious. Banana Orange mush sometimes, health shakes, Cream Cheese and Garlic spread. I don't really need a “Bassamatic”. I don't need anything that serious, but I'm wondering – were Daiquiri's not invented until we had electricity or were there hand crank models in the bars. Fresh lime Margarita's – no blender needed

I have been using a Kitchen Aid blender for years with no problems.

The 'classic' blender is the Waring 2 speed. I have one of those as well as a Kitchen Aide fancy one that I never use.

The real Waring 2 speeds ain't cheap, btw.

btw, Hammlacher-Schlemmer has been selling gas blenders for at least 10 years. I have seen them at tail gate parties. Loud as hell!

We had a less than satisfactory experience with KitchenAid regarding a blender. When one of the gaskets (jar lid) needed to be replaced, I was informed that the design had been changed and that the part was no longer available. The customer service representative thought that it was completely reasonable not to sell common replacement parts for a unit that was 3 years old. I managed to find the gasket still in stock at an independent appliance repair shop, so the blender did get a new lease on life.

When the second gasket finally gave up the ghost a few months ago, the blender was replaced with a Waring. So far, so good, but we'll see how we feel about it in a few years.

I second the Waring blender. I also second the fact that they are not cheap at first, but they become cheaper as the years go on.

Try a restaurant supply store like www.discrest.com or www.foxrestaurantequipment.com

They have blenders from $75 up to around $1k

I purchased a KitchenAid blender from their refurbished web site. My model has a stainless "jar" instead of the glass. I don't have any problems or regrets with it however a good number of people have had problems with the rubber coupling giving out. I purchased a "back-up" coupling for around $5 just in case.

You can't go wrong with either Waring or KitchenAid, just stay away from the cheapo light-weight Walmart type of blenders.

My Kitchen Aid is sitting in the garage - same gasket problem, little factory support, plus the only way the damn thing would crush ice in a smoothy was if you used the blender as a hammer on the ice before adding it to the ingredients for yopur drink - otherwise it gave smoothies with ice cubes!