Looking To Buy A Used Hobart Mixer, What To Look For?
Business By love2makecakes Updated 19 Mar 2014 , 9:25pm by ekimura
***Yes, I am a licensed baker and yes I own a business...
***Yes, this is a double post as I did post this in a different forum. With no responses I thought maybe I should post this where people are more likely to use bigger mixers.
So I am looking at purchasing a used hobart mixer, a 20 quart perferribly. I have toyed with the idea of a 10 or 12 quart too, but I am at least moving up from my 4.5 quart Kitchenaid.
So my question is... If I find one that is the price I like, how do I know what to look for next? Newer models (how do you tell? I dont want to buy one that is 60 years old, but since they dont have model years and sellers rarely know how old they are. What do you do?), horsepower (do they make better more than one model for the same quart machines?), I just have no idea what to look for I guess... Any help or advice is very welcome!!!
Thanks!
IMO, I don't think the age of the Hobart is an issue. If you look at the tag on the side of each mixer - it actually has the date of manufacture on it. The older ones were made with tougher parts I have heard.
Make sure you get a phase 1 - otherwise you will have an expensive electrician bill to hook up the proper electricity for it.
I love mine, it has cut the mixing time considerably for me. Good luck!
when i bought mine, they had some pretty old ones, he told me a gear driven motor will go forever, it didn't matter how old they were,
you'll love it.
if you make very many cakes you might wanna think about a 30 qt.
it's the perfect size for me...on saturdays i only gotta stop and make icing twice.
I love mine! ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! (yes I am shouting!) There is a serial number on the side but I have not looked to see when it was made. I have no real advice for you when buying it other than it is a decision you will not regret. I have only had mine for a month or so and it has saved me soooo much time! I wish I had gotten it sooner.
Thank you everyone for the responses!
If I remember correctly, I believe we have it either wired or can be easily wired for a large mixer since I told my electrician that I was expecting to get one someday...
Does a Phase 1 mean that it only has one speed? If so, doesn't sugar and liquid fly everywhere?
I have all my money saved; now I am just watching for a deal!!! Wish me luck! I am terribly excited at the prospect of not standing at a mixer making batch after batch of icing!!!!
The phase one has 3 speeds too, the difference is the wiring - a phase one has a plug that you can plug into a regular outlet with a ground, the phase 3 is a huge plug, like what a dryer or an electric stove has.
I have never used any speed other than 1 on mine so far! Keep looking, you may find one. Check the restaraunt auction sites too.
What I would look for. Grab the part that holds the beater. Try to shake it. If it wobbels, run. It should be tight, no wiggle.
You also want to see it run. Check to see if there is any hesitation between gears. Alot of time when people get in a hurry they will jusy change while the machine is running. You want to make sure there is no stripped gears.
Mike
Mike - Thanks for the info! I was thinking of getting one on E***, but now I am rethinking it since I can not see it run or actually feel it to make sure it is tight.
Mike - Thanks for the info! I was thinking of getting one on E***, but now I am rethinking it since I can not see it run or actually feel it to make sure it is tight.
It comes down to how much risk you want to take. You can use it as a bargaining chip LOLOL Tell the person, "How do I know if the bearinds are good" "How do I know if the gears aren't stripped?".
Mike
Well... In the ad it does say... RAN MIXER IT RUNS PERFECT,SOUNDS PERFECT NO NOISES, ALL GEARS ARE PERFECT.
I guess I couldn't use that to bargin with them 
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