I've decided to time to buy myself a present! I would like to get those blade attachments for kitchen aid that has the rubber on it so you don't need to scrape the bowl. (not sure what the correct term for that is)
I know there are a few different ones so which one is the best???
thanks!

Beater blade is the only one I've heard talked about:

http://www.cutleryandmore.com/beaterblade.htm?src=Google&cam=BeaterBlade&sub=BeaterBlade+B&kw=beater%20blade%20for%20kitchenaid%20mixer&gclid=CIWT-OmK6J8CFVRf2godG3irGw

I have purchased the beater blade and LOVED it except for a MAJOR problem.....it broke...TWICE! Both times I noticed a crack in the plastic where it connects to the mixer, and finally it broke into pieces while I was using the mixer. The first time I contacted the company and they sent me a replacement, but it only took a few months for it to do the same thing. It really stinks because this product is AWESOME, and going back to the original KA beater is a drag. I do use my mixer a lot, but I am pretty careful with the attachments, so I really don't think it was anything on my part that contributed to the beater blades breaking. There is definitely a major design flaw and at almost $30 a piece...not really worth it if it's only going to get a few months use before it breaks.

I did see that KA (I believe it's KA?) has a similar type beater, but I read reviews that it had problems with the little rubber scrapers coming off.

There are two that I know of. One is BeaterBlade and the other is SideSwipe. Both are similar with silicone along the paddle edge. BeaterBlade has one continuous silicone strip. SideSwipe has a series of angled silicone strips. Both are around $25. I have the BeaterBlade and love it, that was the only one I could find locally without ordering it. America's Test Kitchen preferred the SideSwipe cause the series of silicone blades helped push the batter down in the bowl in addition to scraping and didn't leave smears. I haven't found that my beater blade leaves smears though. Beater blade seems to be more commonly talked about on the cake sites. Not sure if that is cause it is better marketed, more available or a better product though.

I have one. I got it at a kitchen store at a Tanger Outlet Mall. It was around $25. It looks just like the one on the link from the other poster. I have the small tilt head KA. The blade is plastic so when I got it I wasn't sure, but it is all I use now. It has worked very well. After I use it I pop it into the dishwasher and it's good to go. I probably should start taking it out before the dry cycle so that the rubber part will last longer (?) but so far it's been great.

I have the sideswipe blade and love it. So far I haven't had any problems with it. http://www.sideswipeblade.com/

A friend got me one of these for Christmas last year and I LOVE it! It's the only paddle I use in my KA. Mine is like the BeaterBlade...full rubber on both sides of the paddle. I could never go back to the old metal paddle after having this!

I got a sideswipe at Christmas. I love it! I think you see less of the sideswipe because it is newer than the beaterblade. The angled rubber blades on the sideswipe do help with the mixing process. I just love how it mixes cake batter and icing.

you women get me all excited and i end up spending money... now off to google both of these blades - which to choose!

The link for the sideswipe is in my previous post.

I have a KA 6 quart Pro and I love the BeaterBlade.

I gently move the bowl of the mixer up and down during the mixing process and the sides get clean as a whistle.

No more stopping to scrape it down! Best $25 I've ever spent, I think.

Rae

Oh my gosh, just when I thought I was really up to date--here comes the sideswipe. I have the beater blade on my KA and really love it. I just wish I could have seen a comparison of the Sideswipe to the Beater blade. It makes me want one but I have to remind myself that I am trying to save for an air brush and an Agbay. It really sounds great, though.

I have to say I love my beaterblade as well! Greatest invention for the KA.

ugghhh - amazon wont ship to me due to warranty issues and they dont sell direct outside of the US by the looks of it

but, i have a co-worker going to the US next week (i work for a US company) so as i wont have to pay shipping, i might ask her to buy both the beaterblad and the sidewipe and bring them back for me to play with

I got a Beater Blade for Christmas for my old KA 5 qt lift bowl mixer and I too LOVE it. I did follow the directions and adjusted my bowl for proper contact - but it scrapes the bowl better than I do. I've done both cake batter and buttercream with it.

I LOVE mine as well! I won't use the KA without it now!

I bought mine at Bed Bath and Beyond with a 20% off coupon, but also saw them at Sur La Table and ACE Hardware (yeah, you read that right! )

Ohh, I didn't know Bed bath and beyond was carrying them now. Will have to see if they carry it around here and tell a few friends!

Question...

What do you use it for? Is it only sturdy enough for cake batter, or would you use it for making something like marshmallow fondant?

I have used mine only for cake, butter cream, and cookie dough. I haven't dared use it for fondant, that is when I use the regular flat blade. I am interested in hearing if anyone does use it for the heavy duty fondant requires.

I got the beater blade pro (yellow) for christmas and I love it also! Not having to stop to scrape the bowl is awesome! I got the pro one because I read on here where some had a problem with cracking so I thought the pro one might be a bit more sturdy. So far no probs.

LOVE LOVE LOVE my Beater Blades! I loved the one for my KA so much that when I ordered my second KA, I ordered second Beater Blade the same day. I just knew I couldn't use a mixer without one ever again

I have several Beater Blades and I absolutely love them! The first one I bought about a year ago (for a 5qt) and it broke along the neck -- big crack all along the top where it meets the mixer. Well, I emailed the company and told them about the problem and they promptly replaced it. I returned the broken one for the company to look at and possibly improve. Well, they definitely improved it! The good people at Beater Blade also sent me two more blades -- an improved version of the original as well as a "pro" model. At my bakery, we now have 4 Beater Blades and we never use the original KA paddles anymore. Great product and great customer service. Beater Blade is highly recommended! (And no, I don't work for them!)

I think you can get them for the tilt-head mixers now.

(Also, I see you're in Sydney. Lucky! I lived in Balmain for a few years and miss it desperately.)

I wouldn't use the beaterblade or the sideswipe for making fondant. I use my dough hook for that big job. I'm pretty sure it would break the others.

I agree with you, Tastyart. That is what I use, too. I couldn't really imagine using the beater blade for that tough a job. But I certainly do love my beater blade for everything else.

THE BEST 25 BUCKS I EVER SPENT... I NEVER scrape my kitchen aid.... it is awesome, the best and I have used it for the 2+ years since I bought it and has not tear, rip, broke or anything... I want another one, but just because I want to get the pink one hehehe.. I didn't know about the other one... gonna check it out NOW!

I love my beater blade. I do use it for fondant but I only add 5 cups of ps. The rest of the ps is kneaded in by hand. Works well and doesn't take too long to knead in the rest.