And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Gave one of these to the son and daughter in law one year for Christmas, and they love it.
I lost mine in the divorce and ordered a new one as soon as she was out of the house. Once you get used to having one you can't live without it. That is literally a PTO sticking out of the front and there are all kinds of accessories you can drive with it. You should only ever have to buy one in your life. Unless it divorces you!
There is a guy on youtube that rebuilds these. He will do it you send it to him and he shows how to do it yourself... if you have a older one that can use some help. It's a good tool to have!
Heavy use will kill the sacrificial plastic gear. With the proper tools taking the head apart is not hard. Buy the real factory part!! When you shred that gear the real work is cleaning out every scrap of old grease. Lots of paper towels, a couple old toothbrushes. Regreasing isn’t hard but make sure you get the right kind of black grease. The white grease is wrong. Use loads of it.
I have had one for years. I advise you to get the glass mixing bowl or purchase the model that comes with one. The glass bowl locks in tight. The steel is third world junk. It will come lose with heavy mixing.
The Artisan needs a little adjustment once in a while. Look up “dime test “. You have to keep the hinge pin screw tight. You can eliminate most of the head shake with shim washer’s between the head and the base.
It’s a pretty good mixer for normal amounts of dough. It will bog if you try to make a triple batch of stiff cookies or a 3lb loaf of lower hydration bread dough.
I also advise you to get stainless steel attachments. The plastic coating on the zinc attachments wears off into your food. Plastic attachments are weak junk.
This model does not come with a spiral dough hook. The C hook is fine for most people but you will want to do some hand kneading afterwards.
I wanted to add that this one appears to have a matte or textured finish. No no no no! Smooth and shiny can be cleaned and sanitized. The Artisan comes in dozens of colors. Pick a shiny one.
We've had one for 30 years and it works really well though I understand that Kitchenaid have put limits on dough kneading on their new machines. I still like to knead bread dough by hand most of the time anyway. Buddy of mine who makes a lot of bread recently picked up an Ankarsrum Assistant and after a short learning curve, has found it to be a real work horse. Steve_in_Ottawa
My parents got my grandma's KitchenAid mixer that she bought in the 40s, I believe. It worked great and my sister got it after we took care of everything after their deaths. So it outlasted two owners and is on it's third. It will probably be handed down again to a fourth owner at some point. No plastic parts.
I prefer the "Bowl Drop" model, even though it is a little bit more expensive. The motor has more "oomph" and it hardly ever bogs down, even under heavy loads. I understand the non-tilt head means the main gear won't break anywhere near as often. But, I do love mine and use it frequently.
I lost mine in the divorce and ordered a new one as soon as she was out of the house. Once you get used to having one you can't live without it. That is literally a PTO sticking out of the front and there are all kinds of accessories you can drive with it. You should only ever have to buy one in your life. Unless it divorces you!
ReplyDeleteThere is a guy on youtube that rebuilds these. He will do it you send it to him and he shows how to do it yourself... if you have a older one that can use some help.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good tool to have!
Heavy use will kill the sacrificial plastic gear. With the proper tools taking the head apart is not hard. Buy the real factory part!! When you shred that gear the real work is cleaning out every scrap of old grease. Lots of paper towels, a couple old toothbrushes. Regreasing isn’t hard but make sure you get the right kind of black grease. The white grease is wrong. Use loads of it.
DeleteWe've had our Kitchenaid nearly 40 years and use it frequently. Mrs. azlib won't have a home without one.
ReplyDeleteazlibertarian
Kitchenaid + Vitamix = Well prepared kitchen.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately we have neither, but some how still get by.
Costco has a vitamix alta pro on sale this week for $299.99. Had good reviews.
DeleteI have had one for years. I advise you to get the glass mixing bowl or purchase the model that comes with one. The glass bowl locks in tight. The steel is third world junk. It will come lose with heavy mixing.
ReplyDeleteThe Artisan needs a little adjustment once in a while. Look up “dime test “. You have to keep the hinge pin screw tight. You can eliminate most of the head shake with shim washer’s between the head and the base.
It’s a pretty good mixer for normal amounts of dough. It will bog if you try to make a triple batch of stiff cookies or a 3lb loaf of lower hydration bread dough.
I also advise you to get stainless steel attachments. The plastic coating on the zinc attachments wears off into your food. Plastic attachments are weak junk.
This model does not come with a spiral dough hook. The C hook is fine for most people but you will want to do some hand kneading afterwards.
I wanted to add that this one appears to have a matte or textured finish. No no no no! Smooth and shiny can be cleaned and sanitized. The Artisan comes in dozens of colors. Pick a shiny one.
ReplyDeleteThe price has gone up $100 since I got mine a decade ago. They are always on sale for the holidays, everywhere.
ReplyDeleteWe
ReplyDeleteWe've had one for 30 years and it works really well though I understand that Kitchenaid have put limits on dough kneading on their new machines. I still like to knead bread dough by hand most of the time anyway. Buddy of mine who makes a lot of bread recently picked up an Ankarsrum Assistant and after a short learning curve, has found it to be a real work horse. Steve_in_Ottawa
DeleteBest mixer ever. My wife still uses her grandmother's. They ought to put an hour gauge on them as a testament of longevity
ReplyDeleteMy parents got my grandma's KitchenAid mixer that she bought in the 40s, I believe. It worked great and my sister got it after we took care of everything after their deaths. So it outlasted two owners and is on it's third. It will probably be handed down again to a fourth owner at some point. No plastic parts.
DeleteTwenty years ago we had to buy another one after the fire, the new was a "lift-stand". I wonder when they changed to the "Tilt" and why?
ReplyDeleteOurs is over 34 years old, runs perfectly
ReplyDeleteI prefer the "Bowl Drop" model, even though it is a little bit more expensive. The motor has more "oomph" and it hardly ever bogs down, even under heavy loads. I understand the non-tilt head means the main gear won't break anywhere near as often. But, I do love mine and use it frequently.
ReplyDelete