KitchenAid Artisan Mixer, 350 watts

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bobbyderegis

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 30, 2005
Messages
1,606
Location
Boston
Hi All:
Does anyone know why on the lowest speeds the mixer operates very choppy? It's like a rapid-fire pulse. Is there a relay or something that has gone bad? Any help would be appreciated.
Bobby in Boston
 
I have a 525 watt Professional 6 that has always done that. I just trumped it up to inferior quality on the part of Whirlpool. It doesn't get better with age either!
 
Try turning it upside down and run it for a while (long enough to warm up), then leave it upside down for several days. That should redistribute the grease and make it quieter/smoother. It probably won't fix the choppiness completely.
 
I agree that it may be just the way it is with Whirlpool-made KA's. We have a professional 500-watt model that sounds really raspy in general but even worse on lower speeds.

Ralph
 
My instruction book said that the first few hours of operation the lower speed and in between speeds would be irratic. After I had used mine for a few times it runs perfectly.
 
True the older Hobart units don't do this

My 25 year old KA is and always has been "grindy" on the lowest setting. I think its the plastic gears in the WP units.
My Mom got it for me new and it has never failed but it is noisy.

It was the first year of Empire Red and Bobby you'll appreciate this she bought it at Lechmere Sales over in Camb!
Where the bought their first TV in 1955.
 
Jon--

When I lived in Roslindale in 1981, I loved to shop at Lechmere. I'm sorry it's gone. However, I don't miss Caldor.

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
As we're talking about mixers....

In a few weeks my boss will spend his vacations in the US.
I asked him to bring (or send by UPS) a Kitchenaid mixer.

The other option I have is a brazilian Arno (check the link and the blinking arrows)
This mixer is very famous and respected here in Brazil, not because of the brand, but because these mixers work like horses for years and years without troubles.
People just love them and now they finally changed the cosmetic design, being even more beautiful.

Also, the price is 60% cheaper than a KA (130% cheaper if I consider the UPS freight)

BUT...

Unfortunately it doesn't have those wonderful accessories KA has, like the pasta roller kit that would be very useful in my kitchen (John Buscemi saw and tried my dishes, I love to cook Italian food)

What should I buy?

http://www.arno.com.br/produtos/sua-cozinha/batedeiras/planetaria-deluxe-inox/390/
 
Which mixer to buy?

In choosing the Kitchenaid Mixer you have to consider how often you would use the attachments. I have the food grinder with strainer and pasta plates, pasta rollers & cutters, the citrus juicer. It's not my favorite citrus juicer, fine for a few pieces of fruit. I prefer the juicer of a mixmaster with the joggling strainer. I have the slicer/shredding cones but prefer to use my Robot Coupe food processor. In choosing the KitchenAid you have to consider how often you would utilize the attachments. I did because I do canning, freezing of seasonal fruits & vegetables and make pasta that is not common in the stores nearby. That in addition to baking cakes, pies, cookies, and breads.
 
Kitchenaid governor

Low speed is the test of how well a governor works. The raspy sound is caused by the constant opening and closing of a contact point the energizes the motor to maintain the speed setting. The use of resistors and condensors in the circuitry is supposed to reduce electrical interfearance and smoother operation. Members having more experience I hope will "chime in" and add their thoughts. My back ground is not in physics or in electrical engineering. I wonder if a shortcut was taken that is causing users to report this observation. I have a friends that just bought at Artisian mixer but not noticing any audible difference to my K45SS. But then, I haven't placed them side-by-side to compare.
 
Thomas:

It's hard to answer a question like if you should import a KitchenAid mixer with just a "yes" or "no". Truly, it depends.

KitchenAid mixers got their reputation nearly 100 years ago, for multiple reasons. Back then, electric motors were expensive to make and buy, so a machine that provided one powerful motor that could be used with multiple accessories was a big plus. Also, the machine was used for things that got better alternatives today. For example, besides the usual beating egg whites and whipped cream (with the whisk) and making bread dough with the dough hook, people started using the flat beater (for cakes and batters) to cut in fat in flour (primarily to make pie dough, biscuits and cookies). Today, it's much easier to make pie dough, biscuits and cookies with a food processor, for example.

It's also true that gone is the day when one is allowed to have only one mixer, and if you can have several, the balance of power (no pun intended) changes. Many people here have a KitchenAid for heavy duty stuff and a hand mixer for things that the KitchenAid is not as good at. Other people have a Mixmaster (Sunbeam, I think it's Brittania in Brazil?) and a KitchenAid, or a Mixmaster and a food processor. I hear on the net ("So it must be true..."[tm]) that if you're making primarily cakes, a machine like a Mixmaster is better, if you're making primarily cookies/bread/pie dough, a KitchenAid is better. (BTW, anyone knows what happened to Kelly, aka MixFinder? Haven't heard from him in a while).

There are a couple of Yahoo! groups dedicated to mixers, one of them I think is named WACEM (We Actually Collect Electric Mixers) and the other one is Mixer-Owners, where you can get all the ins and outs of each different brand/model.

Just to pile more onto your plate: I have a KitchenAid, and I don't use it very much. I use a food processor way more often. For things I use a mixer for (primarily bread), I use a Bosch UniversalPlus or an Electrolux Assistent. I also have a Bosch Compact that I like a lot, I actually use it more often than the KitchenAid. Remember that for all the machines, including the KitchenAid, each accessory tends to cost nearly as much (sometimes more than) the equivalent machine with a motor: you can buy a citrus press complete with a motor for less than a KitchenAid citrus press alone, for example. Same thing for a pasta machine or a meat grinder. Also, remember that with the European machines (Bosch or Electrolux) that they're engineered for the recipes/processes people in Europe use, so, unless you start with butter completely at room temperature, you'll break the whisks -- do not make anything like pie dough or cookie doughs that need refrigerated or frozen butter with them -- you'll need to use the dough hook in the Bosch machines or the roller/scraper in the Electrolux for that. If you get the Bosch UniversalPlus, get the cookie paddles and the whisk for heavy batters too. If you get the Assistent, make sure it comes with the plastic bowl and whisks to make cakes (it's easier than using the roller/scraper for most recipes). And unless you're completely averse to paying less and having citrus press, meat grinder etc with their own motors or need to save space, I'd pass on buying accessories for the machines and get the standalone gadgets.

So, to summarize -- unless you want a KitchenAid mixer as a status symbol, I'd buy something else, considering how much the thing weighs (which increases the transportation costs) and how much customs you'll pay on top of that. If you just want something similar in function, you'll probably do well with the Arno mixer. If you want stuff that is heavier duty, I'd go with either of the Bosch machines. If you want the Ferrari I'd go with the Electrolux Assistent (although the Assistent does have a very steep learning curve, it's not the easiest to use, but then again, lots of people love driving the sports car that is temperamental).

You can find a KitchenAid or a Mixmaster almost anywhere, so I won't include a link for that, but here's a link for the dealer I got my Bosch machines and the Assistent from, PeteK suggested them and I was very happy with the service. The Bosch machines are right at the home page, for the Electrolux Assistent, type "DLX" in the search box and it will come right up.

Good luck with your decision!

http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/
 
Thanks for the info!

I've seen this Electrolux mixer many years ago and I didn't mind buying it or even asking for one (I could have had one of those for free if I wanted to).

A long time after I discovered they are excellent, but it was too late, I couldn't find them anymore, gave up and forgot them.

Thank you very much for showing me a place I can find it. That will be my mixer!

I have a Walita (Philips) electronic control food processor. It's excellent and it has an extra bowl like this Electrolux even the egg beater is almost the same but after many years of moderate heavy use it's not working so well. The new Walita food processors are crap like the mixer.

Paulo, vc é nota 1000!!!! Obrigado!
 
Thomas said: "Thanks for the info!"

You're welcome, I'm glad I could help!

Kelly said: "Thank you for inquiring, Paulo. It is time for a homecoming."

There you are! Welcome back! We've missed you, happy to see you you're back!
 
Back door

Toggles, I appreciate the excitement, but if its okay with you, I'll just slip quietly in the back door.
 
Chopping on Low Speed

Kitchenaid mixers were not cheapened by Whirlpool. I perceive the biggest change came in the late 80's when the addition of a label indicating solid state control was added. In the 90's and even today, adding more wattage and greater torque to an existing drive and gear system is going to get a user in trouble faster than the older unit that just bogged and slowed down. Classic, Ultra and Artisan are the equivalent of Honda, Accura and Lexus. Same innards, thicker skin. There has always been a sacrificial nylon worm gear from the first home models of the 30's and 40's. To say Whirlpool added plastic gears, so I want an old one, is not to fully understand the issue or the past contruction. The bowl lift models have become a radical departure using motors made in Switzerland, gears from America and processors instead of governor based speed controls. The processors are sensitive to power surges, flour dust and heat. A thermal link fuse that used to burn and require services is replaced with a thermal overload that stops the machine while it cools and an offending load or blockage is removed and restarts when the motor has cooled. The newest mixer is exponentially more powerful than it's predecessors and just like an off road vehichle, its easy to get in over your head. Many of the mixers today, of all brands, are in the hands of inexperienced but hopeful cooks who haven't a clue what creamed until thick and lemony, doubled in bulk or pulls away from the bowl mean. Its not uncommon for me to use 20 pounds of butter and 100 pounds of flour a month and I have never had a failure with Kitchenaid. I am currently using a Pro620 which is propriety to Williams and Sonoma. It is copper and while it offers no advantage to mixers half the cost, the copper model retailed for $899.99. I bought it on ebay from an especially cranky seller. The insipid questions and failure of buyers to read the descripters made him crazy enough to drive away potential bidders. I got it for $212.00. It had been a window display and never plugged in. NO new mixer is without faults, nor could I advise one above the other. Use the one you like. The "tailgating" surge and pause of Bobby's Artisan simply indicates it's not under a load. If the motor turns too quickly the power is cut to maintain speed, so you get an on and off pulsing until the mixer is loaded or the bushings begin to wear a bit needing a warm up period. Kitchenaid customer service is the best of all. Its easier to poke a stick in your eye than to deal with Cuisianrt customer reps. The best plan is to buy from a reputable retailer and return the unit for exchange if you're not happy.

6-30-2009-10-07-14--mixfinder.jpg
 
I often wonder if the failure mode with the KitchenAid mixers is more due to the ads/boxes they come in. The one I got (KitchenAid Accolade, I believe, 400W) claims to be "Flour Power: 9 cups", that is, supposedly, it can make a recipe of bread that uses 9 cups of flour. It also says very clearly to never knead bread above speed 2, I think. I know people don't usually read the user guides, I do, and I can't remember if it's supposed to be speed one or two.

Anyway, I can't remember if the box mine came in had small text with asterisks talking about the flour or not. Apparently, it can use up to 9 cups of flour if it's white flour. Some people claim to have burned/broken their KA by using whole-wheat flour. I can't attest to that, given that they are people on the net that I've never met personally, but I can say that when I've tried to make a recipe of bread using 6 cups of whole-wheat flour, the machine strained a bit. I never repeated the experiment, given how hot the casing got and the noises it made. On the other hand, one would expect the overload breaker to stop the machine, instead of breaking gears like people talk about -- either way, neither of the two situations ever happened to me, but I figured I'd get the sturdier mixers that were more in line with what I'm using them for.

I don't blame only clueless users. People who ought to know better (professionals) often write recipes and demonstrate them on TV at speed higher than 2. Maybe it will work the couple of dozen times they do that, but if done frequently it might damage the machines? I'm not sure.

Currently, for bread, if it's 3-5 cups of flour, I use the food processor, it's fast and easy. More than that and I reach for one of the other mixers I mentioned.

I tend to reach for the KitchenAid when it's a new recipe (particularly cakes) to me, because it's often what the other people who gave me the recipe have, so I want to make it at least once the way it was intended, next time I'll probably use the Bosch Compact now that I know what's supposed to look like. My KitchenAid came well adjusted (I tested it with the coin trick) but it still doesn't mix all the ingredients and forces me to stop a couple of times and scrape the bowl, which I think is really annoying for a machine that expensive -- apparently not a problem that I'm the only one to notice, I keep seeing recipes and chefs on TV stopping their machines and scraping and telling us to do the same. I don't remember my mom stopping her Mixmaster to scrape the bowl ever, unless she was scraping the batter into the baking pan. But my mom has been dead for nearly 20 years, so maybe my memory is playing tricks on me.

I'm beginning to get fascinated by baking cakes, it'd be a nice skill to have. I may get a Mixmaster or not, I don't know yet. Yes, I know about the bad musician blaming his instruments, I'm not like that, I promise, I'm fully capable of just using what I have and not complaining. Aloud anyway. No, no, I'm not addicted to buying new toys, I can stop any time I want... ;-)

Cheers,
-- Paulo.
 
Scraped

You are so right. Flour power claims are not unlike poundage claims in washing machines. Regardless of what comprises a "load" it must be able to circulate freely. The thermal protector is used only on the Pro series Kitchenaids with Swedish motors and the micrprocessor speed control. Classic, Artisan and Ultra just keep chugging along until it begins to smoke. The gears are more apt to fail in use of an attachment than mixing. The Bosch Compact is an amazing mixer. I did an estate sale for a couple who had one. I made dinner for the assembled group each night and I was very impressed. The Sunbeam with Bowl-Fit beaters knocks the socks of all competition for making fine grained cakes and aerating while whipping. I seldom, if never, scrape the bowl. The trick is increasing the speeds slowly without plastering all the food to the sides of the bowl.
A huge close up showing the function of each style.

7-1-2009-10-13-7--mixfinder.jpg
 
Kelly:
Thanks for your input. That's my machine you posted with the Sunbeam. I only tested it with no load. So you are saying the "chugging" intermittent pulse on low speeds is normal? I thought it was a malfunction because my older K-5 does not do this. So all is OK with the Artisan?
Bobby in Boston
BTW, welcome back!
 
Clean Sweep Beater

I haven't used the silicone beater since I haven't found bowl scraping to be an issue. Many members on the Kitchenaid Forum have them and speak well of the later versions. Kitchenaid is clear it is a warrantee violation. Bobby, the Artisan has a lower, more growley throat. It is the same mixer as the Ulta and Classic with a few more watts, which may contribute to its want to surge. The Kitchenaids made before the 80's are far and away quieter. I remember Hamilton Beach, Waring, Sears and Kitchenaid all touting Solid State Control in the early 80's. I wasn't impressed. The 4C with it's all purpose beater is the cat's pajamas.

7-1-2009-13-50-10--mixfinder.jpg
 
Pro620

The last incarnation of Kitchenaid is the best and worst of technological innovation. I have chafed at Kitchenaid mixers leaving a small bit of unmixed batter in the cone of the bowl when mixing double batches. Even the 30 quart professional Hobarts do the same. The Pro has a wider bowl and flatter beaters and mixes perfectly without scraping or stopping the mixer to turn the dough over. It also comes with an 11 tine whip which is really fast and becasue the bowl is so wide, it doesn't splatter like earlier Kitchenaid's when trying to whip cream. It also comes with a spiral dough hook that does a good job of rolling yeast doughs over while kneading. That said, on speeds above 6 this mixer is loud enough to make your ears bleed. I use it for dough and all double batches, but do cakes and icings in the 4C or my Sunbeam.

7-1-2009-13-56-13--mixfinder.jpg
 
Hi Bobby. I have a K45 that is about 25 years old and made by Hobart. When it is on low (Stir) it does make this sound. I do quite a bit of baking and some with yeast dough for which I use the dough hook. Have put in over 8 cups of flour and the machine handled it. I love this Kitcheaid. I would like to get a new larger capacity, but one of the nicer things that I like about my old one is that the wire whisk is made of stainless steel, and can be put in the dishwasher, not like the newer ones that are made of aluminum.
 
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