5 comments about Waring RB75 Pro Professional RPM Blender.

1. This blender may be fine for some things but I have yet to determine what. I primarily use my blender (every day) to make a breakfast smoothie. I put in frozen fruit, milk, egg... After about a month of use, the screw holding the blades to the motor was stripped. I called the company and they informed me it was not meant for frozen fruit. This important bit of information should be printed big and clear on their packaging and marketing materials! They did send me a replacement part which was much appreciated.
   
   I still use the blender, but make sure to break my fruit into very small pieces and put them in after the liquids. So far it has lasted several more months, but I'm expecting it to break again at any time.
   
   However I will probably replace it before it breaks again because it has another beyond-irritating habit of blending a pocket of air in the middle of the goo that I'm trying to blend. So the blades spin around and around and nothing happens. I have to stop it, shake it around or stir it to pop the bubble, and start it up again. I have to do this between 2 and 10 times each time I blend something which infuriates me! That's no way to start your day.
   
   Prior to this I had an old Cuisinart blender that never had this problem and ran without any trouble for over a decade! I wish I had just kept that blender...



2. I bought this blender because Waring USED to be a good name. It appears that isn't the case any more.
   
   I purchased this blender specifically to make smoothies. I wanted a durable blender that would be able to crush ice. Before this one I had a cheap plastic one. The ice cracked the plastic so I figured I'd get a better quality one.
   
   I had this blender for ONE month before the blade broke. Took it in for warranty...guess what? Blade is not covered under warranty! Now this blender is in the trash.
   
   What a waste of money! Seems there are no quality products made anymore.



3. This blender is NOT designed for making smoothies. We purchased three RB 75 models for local families as part of a charitable activity drive to help folks with decreased appetites following radiation therapy.
   
   Smoothies (made with frozen fruit, OJ, bananas, and yogurt) were suggested by nutritionists. Each one of the blenders stopped functioning within a six month period. When Waring was contacted they said this blender was not recommended for use with frozen fruit despite what sales people claim. They offered to help reimburse the charity for the loss.



4. Waring blenders -- and KitchenAid mixers -- used to last a lifetime. But, in the same way that KitchenAid is not what it was before being sold to Whirlpool, Waring is not what it was since being sold to ConAir (yes, ConAir, the hairdryer people).
   
   The RB75 is a great-looking blender. Very retro. Very Flash Gordon. And the motor seems to be as good as Waring's ever were. Unfortunately, the blade assembly design is bizarre, to say the least, and what is not metal soon disintegrates (six weeks for me, a couple of weeks for a previous reviewer). When this happens, the blade no longer turns even though the spindle whirs merrily along.
   
   I gave this blender one star to warn off those who haven't bought it. Those who have bought it and have had it for less than 30 days ought to get a refund ASAP. They're living on borrowed time. But for those, like me, who've had it for more than 30 days and can't get a refund, there may be a way to "fix" the problem without spending megabucks on shipping (which would only provide you with the same albeit a new blade assembly) and/or a new jar (which, again, would only postpone the inevitable).
   
   To "fix" the problem (I won't know for a while how long this fix will last), wrap the business end of pliers with tape to protect the cap nut that holds the blade down. Remove this nut. Pull off the blade (this may take some jimmying; be patient; it's sharp). There may or may not be shreds of whatever used to be there to keep the blade moving. Remove all of that.
   
   Now turn the jar on its side and look thru the glass at the blade assembly. If you turn the bolt from below, you'll note that the threaded portion of the bolt is flat on two sides, making an ovoid shape. The hole in the center of the blade corresponds to this shape. This is what make the blade turn. However, you will also notice that there is a smooth, round, 2mm space on the shank between the threaded portion of the bolt and the part that disappears into the various gaskets and so forth which hold all of this to the bottom of the blender jar. If there is nothing in this 2mm space to hold the blade in place against the threaded, ovoid portion, the blade drops down to this smooth, round portion and just sits there. You can tighten the cap nut, and you may get some stirring action, but this won't even puree a banana.
   
   I don't know what occupied that 2mm space before and don't particularly care since it disintegrated. But I'm not ready to toss a blender that cost me over a hundred bucks, either. So, I went to the hardware store (in my city, Ace sells washers, o-rings, nuts and so forth loose) and got an o-ring -- metric -- that was 2.5mm thick with an inside diameter (ID) of 5mm and an outside diameter (OD) of 8mm. I also bought two stainless flat washers with the same ID and OD.
   
   Now, the threaded portion of the bolt has a diameter of 5mm. But it then flares out slightly to 7mm. The easy way to stretch your 5mm ID o-ring over this 7mm shaft is to slip the o-ring over the threaded portion of the shaft, replace the blade, replace the cap nut, and screw down the cap nut. As you tighten this, the o-ring will be forced down and stretched over the wider portion of the bolt. This will help prevent leaking.
   
   Now remove the cap nut again and jimmy off the blade. Slip your two stainless washers over the threaded portion of the bolt so that they occupy that 2mm round space. Replace the blade and the cap nut. Tighten everything up.
   
   Of course, this takes much longer to explain that it takes to do. Once you have the o-ring and washers, you ought to be able to accomplish all of this in ten minutes or less.
   
   On the other hand, if you don't care about the money and don't want to mess with any of this, you have no choice but to buy a "vintage" Waring made before the company was sold, unless you want to be taking it back again and again. Your best bet will likely be a Waring from the 40s or 50s. These can be found on eBay just about any time, and generally go for around 40 or 50 dollars. This will also be your only recourse if you want a "real" KitchenAid mixer. Hobart does now sell a countertop model for the home, but it's considerably more expensive than the current Whirlpool/KitchenAid mixers, which are in turn more expensive than the real KitchenAids available on eBay.
   
   The moral to this is that if you have something that you bought a long time ago, like an old KitchenAid mixer or an old Black&Decker power tool (before B&D started manufacturing junk), and it still works, don't get rid of it.
   
   Update, Nov 9:
   
   I've used this blender for over four months now after "fixing" it (see my review of June 29) and I couldn't be happier. Not only does it perform like a Waring is supposed to perform, but I've had no further problems after my 59 cent fix.
   
   I'm raising my rating to 3 stars from one (that is, I would if I could) because the blender now works the way it's supposed to, but I'm not rating it "5" because the buyer shouldn't have to fool with a homemade fix at all. But if you know your way around a pair of pliers, this is an excellent blender.
   
   About that burning smell that a couple of reviewers complained about. I can't be sure, but I suspect that the smell comes from using too low a speed for whatever is being done. If the motor has to labor, it may give off that odor. Just kick it up a notch and see if the odor goes away.



5. Upon the first use of this product there was a burning rubber smell. I thought it might go away with time. After a month, it was still there. I contacted Waring about it and sent the product for repair. A month later they sent me back a new one. Same problem, so I returned it to Waring. Two months passed and they sent me back another one. Same issue. All in all, it's taken 5 months to get 3 blenders, all with burning rubber smells. Unless you like that smell in your kitchen DO NOT BUY. Waring would not refund my money and it's already past the 30 days Amazon will accept a return.

No comments about Braun Hand Blender Multiquick.

5 comments about Cuisinart SPB SmartPower 40-Ounce 7-Speed Electronic Bar Blender.

1. I got mine and it didn't even turn on! I wish you could put - stars



2. Had this blender for a few years. NOT heavily used. I had the same problem as others- plastic wheel under the cutting assembly (that screws onto bottom of the blender jar and spins the blade) now spins freely...
   
   Cuisinart makes you buy a whole new cutting assembly ($15). (If you have one you're tossing out, please let me know ;)
   
   Obviously, this was a poor design/quality choice by Cuisinart. They should stick to food processors...



3. I probably have used this blender 6 or 7 times. I wanted to make a smoothie for breakfast this morning and it broke. I was very surprised and disappointed. Yes, it is the same part that everyone else seems to have a problem with, the clutch assembly, cracked while trying to chop frozen berries. I thought about getting a replacement clutch assembly but since reading these reviews I don't think I will bother. I guess I will just get a different blender altogether.



4. Black plastic, blade assembly cracked. Bad design. Looks good, blends good, crushes ice good, finally breaks for good. Spend your money on something different



5. I was thoroughly disappointed with this blender, which labors to make a milkshake and cannot even puree a banana + a few frozen strawberries in fruit juice. Although it had been 8 months since purchased and I couldn't find the receipt, I took it back to Linens N Things and begged for a store credit which they were kind enough to provide. Definitely going for the Oster next!

5 comments about Oster 4861 blender food processor accessory..

1. I needed a bigger food processor attachment for my Oster and this one fit the bill. Works just like the smaller one but holds about 3x more. Are there better processors out there? Sure. For as often as I use it (once a week or so) this is fine.



2. I've honestly only used this once since I've got it, but I did notice that where the two pieces of plastic come together on the top and bottom of the handle it's not as solid as I would prefer. I expect that it will end up looking yucky from dirt that finds it's way in but I cant get out.
   
   Aside from that, it has a good capacity and meets my needs.



3. I purchased this food processor accessory. When I received it, in a timely manner, packaged securely and undamaged, all that arrived (to fit my older 1980s Osterizer blender) was: adapter base, S-blade that fits over that, processor bowl that fits over that, and flat cover on top. However the manual that comes with it shows it should also include another blade shaft and a slicing/shredding disk that fits over that, and cover with feed tube plus a food pusher. From the original ad I understood it to be a complete unit, since I needed something to suffice as a food processor. I searched amazon but found no ads for the missing parts.
   
   The other thing I was not happy about was that it does not fit snugly onto my older Osterizer base like my original glass blender jar and like the original shredding/slicing unit. It concerns me that this new food processor base wobbles around, and you have to hold the handle firmly with your hand. I don't have to do that with my older attachments.
   
   Also, be very careful because the blades are EXTREMELY sharp. I just touched it while wiping it with a dishrag, and it sliced my thumb. Not at all advisable for children to remove and or wash it. But then most blades of this sort are indeed very sharp, as they should be, otherwise they wouldn't work as effectively.
   
   I'm undecided if I'm going to keep this unit or not, especially since it doesn't come with all the things I thought it did, and because it doesn't fit snugly into the base.



4. i was delighted to find this processor that would fit my kitchen center from the 1980's. Oster is a great brand with wonderful products.



5. This attachment came with my blender, and I'd call it a chopper rather than a food processor (there is no top load to add stuff while you are mixing, or top blade for slicing) but it's a very capable chopper. I got rid of my big bulky food processor and put this under the counter, saves me tons of space. As a chopper, it's excellent. The blades may look small, but they perform well. Luckily I haven't dropped mine, so can't comment on the durability of them. But it doesn't look very heavy duty in contrast with the jar that came with the blender itself - which is glass and very nice.
   
   My only recomendation would be to look at getting the attachment that has the top loader. It costs more, but I often find myself adding stuff to this chopper and having to stop and twist off the top to do it. It's a little more work is all. Unfortunately if you want the top/slicer grator from Oster, the only one I found was the one that comes with the Fusion model. It looks like an excellent combo, but I'm not ready to upgrade my blender at the moment and unfortunately it doesn't look like Oster sells that food processor attachment seperately.
   
   Anyway, if you just want a chopper then get this one and save a few bucks. Just don't drop it!

3 comments about Back to Basics SJR1X Smoothie Blast.

1. Chops ice good. Does a good job making Smoothie's. A bit
   noisy. Good price / value.



2. I'm very please with this little blender. Holds quite a bit and was powerful enough to handle hard, frozen fruit. Haven't tried ice yet but I know it will do great. It blends quickly and the dispenser actually works great! It's made of plastic so may crack if handled too rough, but overall I'm extremely pleased. Does exactly what it's supposed to.



3. I got this smoothie maker several years ago for my husband. It does work okay, but this is the loudest little blender ever! It's a bit difficult to clean, too, especially the spout. After many, many smoothies, the poor little thing is having problems. I'd get another one except for the noise factor.

No comments about Vita-Mix 1365 CIA Professional Countertop Blender with 2+ HP Motor, Ruby.

2 comments about Waring HPB300BK Mega Mix Commercial Bar Blender, Black.

1. Shipping was perfect. The product is easy to use -- works great for soups, sauces and anting else that needs to be pureed.



2. I bought this to replace a Kitchen Aid.
   The Kitchen Aid uses a coupler on top of the motor which spins the blade that's made out of rubber over metal which will break if you make lots of frozen fruit drinks. That's what I had happen.
   The Waring uses the same type of design, but the difference is that you can buy a replacement ($5.95) and put it on yourself with a wrench If it were to ever come apart. The Kitchen Aid has to be serviced, take apart the motor to get to it from the inside etc.
   This Waring Blender is very powerful! It's loud and spins very fast. It blends in a fraction of the time of others. It makes my old Kitchen-Aid seem like a childs toy in comparison.
   
   Note: You don't load the thing up with frozen fruit or else it may just jam and won't spin. Also you're supposed to drop the ice in from the top while it's running.
   
   It's much more obviously commercial through heft, simplicity of design and function and servicability.
   
   It has only 2 speeds. Professional chefs say that's all you need. it has a simple toggle switch, no multiple speed electronic gimmics. Just very functional.
   
   I originally really wanted a glass container. It provided some heft to my old Kitchen-Aid and I thought that it was a sign of higher quality.
   For a commercial application you would prefer the unbreakable quality of the polycarbon plastic as well as the lack of weight. It's light as a feather.
   
   One of the first things I noticed was that the container doesn't lock to the base. I was originally concerned, but in a commercial setting you'd just keep your hand on it since it's not going to take long to blend, and then you just quickly pull it off and pour.
   
   I was also concerned that the blade being permenantly mounted inside the container would be hard to clean. (actually you can take it apart with a deep socket and extension, not for cleaning but blade replacement). My Kitchen Aids came apart for cleaning and I could put it in the dishwasher. I find the cleaning instruction are easy with the Waring, actually simple to clean you should just do it right away once your done mixing. Less time to clean and assemble.
   
   What I see now with comparing this to the kitchen-Aid besides what I've already mentioned, is that the Kitchen-Aid looks simple through it's visual design. It's over designed through what appear to be valuable features which only make it more complicated. You have to do more work from cleaning, assembling and servicing.
   The Waring on the other hand is bare bones functional. It was designed to blend and be easily serviced and quickly cleaned.

No comments about Oster 5 cup "Clover Leaf" glass blender jar with lid..

No comments about Chris Freytag Personal Fitness Blender by Back to Basics.

2 comments about Oster 107346-000-089 Plastic Blender Jar (Round Top).

1. Original jar broke from a fall.
   New replacement fit perfectly and new 'o' ring solved the small leaking problem that occured with the original jar.



2. I didn't follow directions and had been dishwashing the jar. The seal started leaking after a few years - so replaced the o-ring, jar, and round top and it's like new - and much cheaper than replacing the entire machine!! No more dishwasher for this one.