[Marzoli]

I had bad experiences with the KA Artisan. I used the first one maybe 3 times-it had a gear go out. I got a replacement mixer from KA and I've used it maybe 2 times so far-it has begun to make the same alarming noise the first one did before the gear went out. Naturally, with the replacement, I have no warranty-they sent NOTHING with it. So now I'm afraid to use it! I know it will go out the next time I try to stir up a cake. That's about all I use a mixer for, and we don't have cake often. Sooner or later . . . it will go out.
I'm hoping for a different brand and a really tough one-something that will be able to stand up under the strain of my mixing needs. I've wondered if the Viking mixers are good . . .
If I didn't have hand issues, I would just get a cheap hand mixer and forget about it, but . . .

[Dagger]

KitchenAid has a record when they sent it so don't worry for a year. KitchenAid also said sometimes they will go over the year if they feel it's the mixers fault just so you don't lose respect for the brand

[kuan]

Originally Posted by Dagger

We recommend that you knead the dough on Speed 2 for approximately 2 minutes which is equivalent to 12 minutes of hand kneading. Initially, some consumers may mix the dough longer than necessary (and at a higher speed than necessary) because they are not familiar with the Planetary mixing action.

Oh please gimme a break! What hogwash!

Haven't seen kokopuffs in a while. He traded his KA for a Kenwood I think.

[KyleW]

I chucked my KA for a Kenwood a while back, and kokopuffs followed suit. I agree that the KA Mantra "2 Miuntes at Speed 2" is nonsense. Planetary action or not, it takes at least 5 once the dough has been fully mixed for the gluten to develop.

Lately though I have been relying less on my mixer for gluten development and more on several stretch & folds during fermentation.

[rzn]

I got mine about 14yr ago & have had to have it repaired once. They wanted me to send it back to the factory, which was a fortune in shipping & forever in turnaround time. I found an old german guy in town, that repaired toasters & other small appliances, charged me $15. Been fine ever since (that was about 7years ago). He said they weren't particularily difficult to repair, so if you have a toaster guy that does other stand mixers it might be worth looking into. As long as you are out of warranty anyway.

I

[Marzoli]

I don't know what to think about the KitchenAid Artisan, but a few days ago I bought a hand held Cuisinart 5 speed mixer just for light jobs. I used it today and I have to say I was impressed with it. I never got it above the first speed and it did a super job with a fairly dense batter.
Someday when I'm making something requiring adding a lot ingredients while mixing I'll give the KA a try again.
I have to say I love to watch the big Hobarts operate when they show up on Food Network. Just something about them . . .

[Dagger]

I made Nestles Toll House Cookies and was wondering if this is normal. While beating the butter,eggs,..ect the mixer had no trouble going up all ten speeds but speed 9 - 10 did not seam that much of a difference or that much faster. After mixing in the flour the mixer when to speed 6 but no faster when i incress speeds. Is this normal cause the dough does ride up the paddle attachment and does make a heavy blob. i asked this question on the Kitchenaid forum and got an intresting responce on the power difference between Artisan & pro models, funny at top speed 10 the artisan is only
going little faster than speed 3 on the pro model.
I know the sound of the Mixer does not change to much... here is the RPM's ..

Tilt Head Models- K45SS, KSM90, KSM103, KSM110. KSM150PS, KSM152PS

RPM’s
Stir- 60
Speed 2- 95
Speed 4- 135
Speed 6- 180
Speed 8- 225
Speed 10- 280

Tilt Head Models- K45SS, KSM90, KSM103, KSM110. KSM150PS, KSM152PS

RPM’s
Stir- 60
Speed 2- 95
Speed 4- 135
Speed 6- 180
Speed 8- 225
Speed 10- 280

RPM’s for the 6qt Pro 600 Stand Mixer's beater shaft are as follows:

Stir- 132
Speed 2- 181
Speed 3- 266
Speed 4- 347
Speed 5- 410
Speed 6- 454
Speed 7- 525
Speed 8- 569
Speed 9- 645
Speed 10-752

[foodpump]

Those are interesting numbers. But the 5 qt "Professional"(bowl lifts up) is not represented. Curious as to what those numbers are. I've gotta admit, I've had this one (the professional) in my commercial kitchen for 4 years now, never wimps out, only thing I've had to do was replace the brushes.