Which Stick Blender

[Moonshea Botanicals]

this one is the one I want
http://www.target.com/p/kitchenaid-...ntour-silver/-/A-13738210#prodSlot=medium_1_7

 

[Seifenblasen]

If price is no object, what I really want for my next one is a cuisinart cordless stick blender ... 8)

 

[lizflowers42]

this one is the one I want
http://www.target.com/p/kitchenaid-...ntour-silver/-/A-13738210#prodSlot=medium_1_7

5his is my replacement model! So far so good!

 

[Maihem]

This will be my third post on various sites about this issue, I am just curious and wanting to know.
So, I am somewhat new to CP soap, only a year or so in. After making my first batch, stirring by hand for over an hour and then still having things separate over the next day or so I decided that there had to be a better way. I work in construction and before that, food service. In both industries a product called a Jiffy Mixer is used for various mixing tasks. It attaches to a drill and mixes very well. They are all stainless steel. I use the LM model for smaller batches and the HS-2 ($15 on ebay) for larger (3000gm) batches...the drill, I had in the garage. I cannot find anywhere of anyone using the Jiffy Mixer for soap and I cannot figure out why because there is nothing to break on it like a wand mixer. Has anyone else out there used a Jiffy Mixer for soap? Can anyone tell me if there is some safety issue that I am not aware of since the Jiffy Mixer is just an open mixer (no splash shield)? I am just curious, not trying to discount anyone's affinity to the wand or stick mixer, the Jiffy Mixer just seems to be more of a long term option to me as long as you keep it from splashing.

 

[Obsidian]

I know some people use a paint mixer that is ran by a drill, can't see any reason not to use your jiffy mixer if you can keep it from splashing. I think most people like the stick blenders because they are light weight and east to operate with one hand.
If I was making large quantities of soap for selling, I would definitely look into a more industrial style mixer. For my small home use batches, a stick blender is perfect.

 

[CaraCara]

Someone here uses a paint mixer, which is like a jiffy mixer. I believe it was because he was mixing a rather large batch, like a few gallons. I can't speak for anyone else but I don't usually make anything over 2 lbs, so a stick blender works perfectly. It could also be that not too many have heard of the brand.

 

[MOGal70]

My recommendation for a backup would be what ever you find at a garage sale or flea market for next to nothing!

 

[jenneelk]

I have the same 2 speed KitchenAid in red and silver (backup) after my Oster that i LOVED, even though it had bad reviews, finally died after 4 years of use. It was put through the ringer with all my thick creams and such.

The Kitchen Aid has already overheated on me twice though and I don't mix all that long at all. Maybe 15 sec at a time then pulse.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GFXK1K/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[Nightlilly]

I have the same 2 speed KitchenAid in red and silver (backup) after my Oster that i LOVED, even though it had bad reviews, finally died after 4 years of use. It was put through the ringer with all my thick creams and such.

The Kitchen Aid has already overheated on me twice though and I don't mix all that long at all. Maybe 15 sec at a time then pulse.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GFXK1K/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I have that exact same SB and I'm not sure I care for it. I like that it's detachable but even on the low setting I get a TON of bubbles regardless of how much I burp it. My sister bought me a SB from a flea market for $5 and I'm not sure what brand it is but I used it last night and absolutely no bubbles. I think some of it has to do with the shape of the head. The Kitchen Aide has a bell shape that holds the air in above the blade and the cheap one is flat with the "teeth" coming directly off of the flat piece, nowhere for the air to hide. I watched a video on Youtube where a woman had drilled 2 holes at the top of the bell, one on either side of the stick and when she submerged the SB, the air bubbled right out every time. I think I may have to try this because I like the detachable stick on my Kitchen Aide.

 

[jenneelk]

It likely could be. I posted a week or so ago about bubbles and while the burping helps,
I still get some.

 

[aab1]

This will be my third post on various sites about this issue, I am just curious and wanting to know.
So, I am somewhat new to CP soap, only a year or so in. After making my first batch, stirring by hand for over an hour and then still having things separate over the next day or so I decided that there had to be a better way. I work in construction and before that, food service. In both industries a product called a Jiffy Mixer is used for various mixing tasks. It attaches to a drill and mixes very well. They are all stainless steel. I use the LM model for smaller batches and the HS-2 ($15 on ebay) for larger (3000gm) batches...the drill, I had in the garage. I cannot find anywhere of anyone using the Jiffy Mixer for soap and I cannot figure out why because there is nothing to break on it like a wand mixer. Has anyone else out there used a Jiffy Mixer for soap? Can anyone tell me if there is some safety issue that I am not aware of since the Jiffy Mixer is just an open mixer (no splash shield)? I am just curious, not trying to discount anyone's affinity to the wand or stick mixer, the Jiffy Mixer just seems to be more of a long term option to me as long as you keep it from splashing.

When I was new to soaping years ago I did get a paint mixer for my drill. I ended up getting a stick mixer because what would literally take several hours to get to trace with the paint mixer took under a minute to trace with my stick blender. And I have one of the if not the highest end 3 speed transmission DeWalt 18v drill.

Does it not take you forever to reach trace with that type of mixer? What speed drill do you use and which exact mixer? I'm thinking perhaps the squirrel cage mixers might be more efficient since they have around 20 "paddles" VS only 2-4, but I got a stick blender before trying those, these are the squirrel cage ones I'm talking about:

The paint mixer I have that took hours to trace was like this:

I would never go back to any of those after seeing that a stick blender is literally over 100-200 times faster (seconds to 1-2 minutes VS a few hours) probably due to the RPM being much higher than any drill.

 

[kazmi]

I have this Cuisinart SB which is quite powerful http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ARQVM5O/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[shunt2011]

I have a cuisinart that I purchased at Costco for 20.00. It's detachable and also has a whisk attachment that I've used for lotions, butters etc. I love it. I've had is for 2 years and no trouble.

 

[kazmi]

I have a cuisinart that I purchased at Costco for 20.00. It's detachable and also has a whisk attachment that I've used for lotions, butters etc. I love it. I've had is for 2 years and no trouble.

Oh I'd love to have the whisk attachment!!!

 

[Crazy8]

+1 on the Cuisinart SmartStick blender. I literally JUST got it yesterday. Cant wait to use it. The funny thing is that almost all the soaping videos I have seen use that blender. Not sure why, but it looks like an awesome blender.

 

[HorseCreek]

I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWN0YVU/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
I LOVE it! It works and works and works. I guess my only complaint is that it does not have a detachable head, but it's a minor complaint. It's really easy to just rinse out my soap bucket, then run the blender in some soapy water and problem solved.

 

[tryanything]

I too recently purchased the Cuisinart with the detachable blender (really looking forward to easier cleaning with that). And since I'm a sucker for anything blue I got the pretty dark blue one. And a set of blue, high temp, durable spatulas to be used only for soapmaking.

 

[makemineirish]

I have that cuisnart and it is great! I have been through 3 stick blenders and that has lasted over a year of soapmaking. I love the detachable head and you can buy more heads if you need them.
Edited to add I paid over 54.00 for mine, good price!

Ditto. They are $34.99 at Costco.

 

[Maihem]

aab1-

I use the Jiffy Mixer HS-2 for 3000 g. to 4000 g. batches. DeWalt cordless drill. I use a different size bain marie depending on batch size to have plenty of depth for the mixer and keep from splashing or incorporating air.

http://www.jiffymixer.com/index.php...ge=css_new.tpl&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

I reach trace within 5 minutes but I think the soft soap I make is supposed to take a long time to trace...I continue to pudding consistency (10-20 min.) as I put ground up oatmeal in everything I make and want it to remain in suspension.

 

[Maihem]

Thank you everyone for the responses. I appreciate it.