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(Darrell Grainger) writes:

>Newsgroups: rec.food.baking
>From: (Darrell Grainger)
>Subject: Kitchen Aid 6 quart
>Date: 29 Mar 2004 01:44:05 GMT
>
>On Sun, 28 Mar 2004, Charlie Sorsby wrote:
>> . . .
>> 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.

I don't own one of these machines (yet) but I often go to our local
"authorized repair center" for various other small appliances.

The senior technician there was telling me that there is very little
difference between the 325 watt and larger motors other than the
windings. i.e., the mechanical parts like armature and bearings and
gear train are the same.

Also, he sells "factory refurbished" K.A. mixers and he likes them
better than new production run machines. I asked him why and he
explained that problems occur on the production line because of the
repetitive tasks performed by humans and by machines. When a mixer
is refurb'd by a skilled technician, everything is checked over and
done correctly by hand and to design specification. The warranty is
the same but, in his opinion, there is less risk of getting something
that is on the edge of acceptable spec.

(Refurbs are machines which come off the production line inoperative,
arrive at the retailer D.O.A., or fail within a short period after
being sold and are exchanged under warranty.)

I know that he as something of a vested interest because he sells
these factory refurbs (he does not refurbish them himself), but I have
done business with his shop for over ten years and he has been a very
straight shooter. (He told me it was not worth spending the money to
repair my son's inexpensive bread maker but he was willing to sell me
the $2 part and explain how I could spend an hour or so installing it.)

Cheers,
The Old Bear