Blendtec Total Blender

[vacboy88]

Hey Everyone,

I don't usually post on here, nor do I take pictures while unpacking a new "toy", but this is an exception.

I am sure most of you are familiar at this point with the Blendtec Total Blender, and the "will it blend videos" posted on Youtube and www.Willitblend.com, but for those of you who are not, be sure to visit the aforementioned website.

When I first saw the will it blend videos, I thought it was great, and instantly wanted to get one of those blenders, but I was skeptical about spending the $400.00 they sell for (after all, that is a rather large chunk of change for a blender). I later showed the videos to my mom, and I told her how I would love to have one.

Well, as a high school graduation present, my mom surprised me by saying she had ordered me one. I was so excited! It finally arrived today, and attached are some pictures of me unpacking the unit.

 

[vacboy88]

Box opened

A yellow piece of paper insisting that their products are of the highest qaulity, and to call them with any problems.

 

[vacboy88]

Paperwork Galore

Previously pictured yellow sheet, owners manual, and an almost 200 page recipe book. Very, very nice.

 

[vacboy88]

After further unpacking

The blender is revealed!

 

[vacboy88]

After removing from the box

Here's the Blendtec Total Blender assembled and ready to go. It feels very solid and well built, and the fit and finish is excellent. So far, it lives up to its name.

 

[vacboy88]

The control panel

In addition to the preprogrammed cycles, you can also manually increase or decrease the motor speed, as well as pulse it.

 

[vacboy88]

Inside the blender jar

Notice the massive blade. Much stronger than your average Waring or Oster.

 

[vacboy88]

Now for the durability test

Doing this to your average blender would most likely damage the blade or yield unsatisfactory results. Here it is loaded with four cups of crescent shaped ice cubes.

 

[vacboy88]

And 35 seconds later...

The blendtec has pulverized the ice cubes into snow! Try doing this with your average Waring or Oster purchased at Wal-Mart.

 

[vacboy88]

A look inside the jar

The blender does not cavitate like most do, and did not require adding any liquids.

 

[vacboy88]

And just how much snow did it produce?

4 cups of ice produced 4 good sized snowballs. I think I might just go outside and see what the reaction is when someone is hit by a snowball in 80 degree weather.

Thats all for now. enjoy the pictures, and stay tuned for future experiments with this great new toy. Can anyone suggest anything to blend?

 

[exploder3211]

kewl... i like it, not sure i could brng my self to spend that much, but hey as a gift its nice

 

[jmirawm]

OH WHAT FUN !!!!

SnowBalls in JUNE !!!! I love it. So cool to see this. <P> Thanks for sharing. <p> How about some peanuts? nhhhh I LUV ME SOME PEANUT BUTTER !

 

[jetcone]

Nice Present Evan

It is very similar to my Vita Mix but I think the Blendtec boasts 3 HP and the VM 2 HP,no?

I use mine VM everyday for smoothies. These machines can do alot much much more than a mere blender! People don't get it becauses they think of them as blenders, I did for many years and that was a mistake on my part.

Enjoy and post some more pics.

Jet

 

[exploder3211]

Maybe i need to look into one.. I drink alot of fruit smoothies and regular bleanders get on my nerves.. Thought it wa sjust a blender

 

[tolivac]

I own both the Vita-mix and Blendtec machines-love 'em both-they both do an excellent job and they are of commercial quality.Now You can do your own "Will-it-blend" videos-just kidding-enjoy your new blender!Its ALL METAL drive-no kidding will blend any foodstuff you care to put in it.The gull wing blade can handle it.You have seen how well the machine crushes ice!That is a really nice and useful graduation gift.Eventually your container will wear out-the blade assembly is sonically welded to the jar-when it goes you will know it-a banshee like scream-this will happen after SEVERAL years of heavy use.My machines are that old.Have three blendtec and Vita Mix machines.Yes-the Blendtec makes EXCELLENT peanut butter-so simple-just dump a can of Planters Cocktail peanuts into it-and hit the pulse button a few times-the nuts are crushed-now have the rubber spatuala handy-pulse some more-and push the nuts back into the blade-BUT NOT WITH THE BENDER RUNNING!or you will get a spatula flavored peanut butter.when the nuts have been liquified-your butter is done and can be poored into a container you can put in the fridge.Your butter is then MUCH better than the stuff you buy at the store!

 

[hoover1060]

wow!

Welcome back Evan, and congrats on your graduation too!

Thats one mean looking blender, I'll bet you could puree old tires with that thing!

One question: How loud is it?

Is the jar plastic or glass? I can't tell from the pics.

 

[jasonl]

Will it blend?

Totally awesome!

Snow smoke... don't breathe this!

 

[vacboy88]

By popular request...

Peanuts!

Here's the obligatory before pic.

 

[vacboy88]

And here's the after...

 

[vacboy88]

And a look inside the jar...

 

[vacboy88]

Jeff,

The blender jar is made of plastic. I was skeptical about it at first, but I almost think that it is better than a glass jar. It is of very good thickness, and does not feel cheap at all. It almost feels indestructible. Because it is plastic, it is fairly light weight, and does not shatter in the event it is dropped.

To answer your question about how loud it is, I would say it is as loud as your average blender on low to medium speeds. On high speed, it is about as loud as a shop vac. This is probably louder than some may prefer, but keep in mind that you usually only run a blender for about 30 seconds at a time.

Evan

 

[scott55405]

Looks like a great machine Evan, and congratulations on your graduation!! Are you off to college, or what is next for you? My youngest nephew graduated this year too.

I have a Vitamix 5000 and enjoy it a lot too. I've primarily used it for smoothies and a few odd other blender like things, but someday I'll play with it more and try some of the other things it does.

 

[buffster]

Evan, Congrats on the new Blendtec

I also have a Vita Mix 5000 and LOVE it! I used to walk past the demos at Costco and roll my eyes... that is until a friend told me how great they are and the health benefits of eating the whole fruit, i.e., apple core and all the nutrients that are in the stuff people normally don't eat. You can't put an entire apple (cut into quarters) in a regular blender and have it come out smoothly. People just don't get it until they try it. And, cleaning is a breeze. Just fill it up half way with water, pour in two drops of dishwashing liquid and turn it on for a minute--instant dishwasher. I'm guessing Blendtec is the same. The Vita Mix Corp. actually recommends that you not disassemble it.

 

[tolivac]

Yes-way to go-that peanut butter you made looks delicious!just had some homemade peanut butter in my sandwich at work.The lexan plastic the Blendtec jars are made of is tough-its used in making bulletproof glass.Vita Mix uses the same material for their 5000 series on up jars.Blender jars for commercial use use Lexan or Stainless steel-these materials are tougher than glass and have the NSF rating.Only one glass container gets an NSF rating-the Waring Quart jars used on their classic type blenders-and with the fixed blade.Jars with removable blades don't get National Sanitation Foundation ratings becuase all the crannies that can trap dirt.For the lexan jars-treat like glass though in terms of going from hot to cold or cold to hot-the material can crack like glass from sudden temp changes.

 

[jetcone]

Vita Mix

did a demo on their jars awhile back by hitting it with a two pound hammer hard! Nothing happend! But I did not know about the temp sensitivity, will watch out for that one for sure.

In the old SS Vita Mix tape they actually take a 2x4 and chop it up into sawdust!!!! But that had a SS container , I don' think these Polycarbonate ones could take that kind of abuse.

I should digitize that tape it would be cool up here on the site.

Jet

 

[jasonl]

Peanut smoke... don't breathe this LOL

One day I'll have a Blendtec blender but first I gotta get a gaming computer.

 

[scott55405]

Buffster, I used to look forward to our state fair every year, which is where I'd always see the Vita Mixes. The stainless steel 2200, then later 3600, were the creme de la creme of that period, and on a hot day I just loved those wonderful drinks they'd make and give you samples of. My mom would never spring for one, but I'm glad I have my own now!

 

[tolivac]

I have the VM video of the Vita Mix tester grinding up the 2X4 blocks in the SS Vita mix machine-was THAT the first "Will-it-Blend"?I got the tape with the 4000VM machine I bought new years ago and still use the machine on occasion-something about those old VM SS "Monoliths"they are kinda cool-and the reversable blade action.I am looking for these at yard sales-got one that way-a 3600.It would be so neat if the VM folks could reissue that video on a DVD instead of the tape-I also have a demo-cookbook video for the 5000 model.One time I talked to the VM service dept and they told me about a customer that used the SS Vita-Mix machine as an ash processor after cremation-they mentioned the container was badly dented and the blades twisted and bent-but its motor ran OK.Certainly a bizarre use for a VM machine-just as bizarre as a person who used his Kirby vacuum to try to clean up gravel,water and other stuff out of a drained swimming pool.Was told by a Kirby sales-servicecenter in forestville,MD,just outside of Wash DC-Was a Classic moel they tore up.Its a wonder the user didn't get electrocuted!On the blendtec "Will-It-blend" episodes-the 2X4 wood blocks would be nothing-In the 5000 video they show the blocks being ground up in the lexan container 5000 VM machine-the container was scratched and clouded-other wise it was OK.I am not going to try it.