On Sun, 28 Mar 2004, Charlie Sorsby wrote:

> In article >,
> sgumpel > wrote:
> = I currently have a 4.5 quart Kitchen aid 325 watt mixer and am
> = considering getting the 6 quart model to have greater capacity.
> =
> = I am very happy with the 4.5 quart model except for the fact it is
> = very difficult to double recipes.
> =
> = What do people think of the 6 quart machine? I had heard there were
> = some quality issues when the machine first came out, problems with the
> = motor.
> =
> = Peoples thoughts?
> =
> = Thanks,
> =
> = Susan
> =
>
> Well, here's my experience. Quite a few years ago, the old
> KitchenAid (made by Hobart) went with my ex-wife in the divorce.
>
> Fewer years ago, I bought the KA 5-quart mixer and noticed that,
> while it works "OK" the manufacturing is somewhat crude. I
> complained to KA and they agreed to swap for the 6-quart which I
> agreed to try.
>
> When I took it out of the box, I was DOA. When I advised them of
> that, they offered to replace it but I chose to keep the 5-quart
> which at least ran. Just before returning the larger mixer, I
> tried it again and it ran. I'm guessing a loose connection that
> made contact sometimes.
>
> Some things I don't like about current KA production (in no
> particular order):
>
> 1. The naked metal paddle and dough hook. They claim, as I
> recall, that's to make them look "professional"; I suspect it's
> because it's cheaper not to coat them. If you get this sort, don't
> let them soak in water--they get little chunks of white cruft on
> them, at least they do with my water.

This strange. My paddle and dough hook are coated. It was a selling point.
The whole idea is that the cheaper models come with the bare metal paddle
and dough hook. You can purchase the coated one as an accessory. The
higher end models (over 400 Watts) come with the coated paddle and dough
hook. Maybe things are different in the USA.

> 2. The various beaters don't seem to fit the bowl as well as I
> remember the old Hobart-made version.

This makes me wonder. Someone else posted that for small recipes the 6
quart might not work well because the paddle will not get the stuff in the
bottom very well. My KA has an oddly shaped bottom (little cone shape in
the centre of the bowl) to ensure that it does scrap the bottom very well.
Maybe this is different for KAs sold in the USA as well.

Actually, my wife just came in and asked what I was doing. When I told her
about this thread she pointed out that the Professional Series 6 quart KA
does not have the coated paddles and might not have the same bowl as mine.
Apparently, the Custom Edition is better and addresses the problems you
are noting here.

> 3. Manufacturing quality is poor. E.g. the ventilated back cover
> of the motor housing is not centered properly. Removal shows that
> the hole for the attachment screw is off-center. That is not a
> functional problem but if their manufacturing process is so sloppy
> what else may be wrong that *will* eventually affect function?

That would worry me as well. I looked at mine and it is very well made.
There is a definite attention to detial in the Custom Edition.

> --
> Kind regards,
>
> Charlie "Older than dirt" Sorsby Edgewood, NM "I'm the NRA!"
> www.swcp.com/~crs USA Life Member since 1965
>

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