<p>We seem to always be purchasing a new blender or replacement parts. At least once every two months.</p>
<p>We do use it a great deal, probably 5-6 drinks a day, mostly smoothies/protein drinks. Juice, protein powder, fruit or sorbet.</p>
<p>The same thing seems to happen regardless of brand - the spin around blade part at the bottom develops a crack, usually where it is bending up from flat to vertical, and then it leaks. If I catch it early enough, I can replace just that part. If it leaks all over the motor, then we are buying a new blender.</p>
<p>Well, it happened again this morning and before I go buy another replacement spin around part, I wanted to check with the experts here at CC - does anyone know of a sturdier blender?</p>
<p>Waring blender. I use mine every day to make smoothies (although I use frozen fruit and not ice cubes) and have to buy spare parts–new washers at $1.50–about every two to three years. Get the kind with the glass carafe and rubber lid. You can sometimes find them used at small repair shops.</p>
<p>OK don.t laugh, but we have a Magic Bullet. I bought it for D2 at least 3 years ago. She was making smoothies, but usually only 1-2 servings at a time,. And she was maiking too much at one time, wasiting ingredients, making a mess etc. I thought the one serving size ( you can make one small or one big serving size at a time) would be great. I got to the store and balked at the $49.99 price, but it was for Christmas so I bought it. Best $50 bucks I have spent. We have a blender and a smoothie maker (blender with a spout at the bottom) and they are never used any longer. Just the Magic Bullet. We have used it hundreds of times. And it keeps on going, And one serving is so easy to make, that even for small pariteis I use it for frozen drinks one at a time instead of a blender full. Ours has been a work horse. Using ice and all. No replacements, n0o repairs. And I would say we are hard on it. You can;t use huge pieces of ice. Icemaker ice and most manufactured ice is fine. We bought one bag of these rather large pieces of ice once, and that was the only time I remember that the drink was “chunky.”</p>
<p>We also purchased a Magic Bullet last year. It has definitely cut down on the smoothie mess. I am surprised at how well it works. My D uses frozen fruit, ice that is already crushed out of the freezer and pineapple juice.
Over the years we have tried different blenders. I have never found one that works great for any drink that contains ice. We have friends who have bought some of the more expensive blenders that are considered more professional. Costco sells them a few times a year for about 300 or 400 dollars. They have been pleased with the results. I just never have been able to bit the bullet and pay that much.</p>
<p>We have a Hamilton Beach (don’t know the model–it is plastic and has a spout at the bottom for serving). It has some sort of “patented” blade that is supposed to be better at drawing down the ice/liquid. I paid $19 for it at Walmart. We have a big family and make a lot of smoothies. I was a little wary about buying it because we have broken a lot of blenders, but figured that $19 wasn’t much of an “investment.” This cheap thing works great for us!</p>
<p>When I first got it, I immediately went to use it without reading the instructions (I’m male, after all). My wife was laughing “It’s supposed to be able to chop up a tire iron, but you’re having trouble with a pineapple!”. Now that I have the technique down, I can throw anything in there. Of course, it sounds like a lawn mower and the cat runs and hides every time I blend.</p>
<p>Both my mom and I have '70s vintage Osterizers. Mine is Avacado Green, given to me when I first left home. New gasket every few years, and we’re good. Glass carafe. Oiling the gasket with vegetable oil on occasion keeps it from leaking. A wooden chopstick or thin spatula is sometimes needed to push down thick mixtures, but otherwise no problem.</p>
<p>I went to the restaurant supply store, and they said that even most of the ones that they sell crap out after a few months due to motor burnout - unless you spring for the really expensive ones. I have one that I LOVE; a bright red kitchenaid. The carafe/blade unit is one piece - and when you are done, you stick some hot water and a dollop of dishsoap in it, blend a second, rinse and all clean. No more disassembling the whole unit to clean it. I make tons more pureed things and smoothies because it is so easy to clean. However - the secret to making great smoothies with frozen fruit is to the thaw the fruit just a smidge in the microwave so you don’t burn out the motors.</p>
<p>Update, based upon reading this thread I broke down and bought the Magic Bullet. I am finding it so convenient and easy to use. It is definitely teen friendly and it does cut down on the smoothie mess. Last I checked BBB was sold out. They had the best price I’ve seen if one uses a coupon. Since they are sold out at our local BBB as well as on their website I bought it at Macys. Macys had them for $50 on sale. I had a $25 Macys gift card so that worked out well for me.</p>
<p>Based upon the advice of great lakes mom (whose blender is pushing 30) as well as feedback on other forums, we bought an oster blender. It has worked well for 4 months now, greatly exceeding the rotor life of the cuisinarts that we were using previously.</p>
<p>I just saw this thread, and wanted to say that you made a great purchase. I have an ‘Osterizer’ from the early 80’s that has seen a lot of use (we love milkshakes in this house), and it has worked perfectly all these years.</p>
<p>Good choice…Osterizer here…it came from our parents…so more than vintage 70s more like vintage 50s or 60s. I replaced a blade this year for the first time ($10). It will crush ice and blend anything. But I have to admit I bought a Magic Bullet last year and works mighty fine for the onsie, twosie type things.</p>
<p>Wow, what a coincidence. I was about to buy a Vitamix 520 - Costco is having a promotion and it cost about $400. </p>
<p>The thing have a 2 HP motor. The husband said our household can’t even handle 2 HP so it is overkill. </p>
<p>In the demo, the thing even made soup. Hot soup. And funky icecream with soy and vegetable. It can make peanut butter as well, but need another $100 attachment. </p>
<p>Maybe I can save $350 and buy a Magic Bullet instead.</p>
<p>I was originally looking for a juicer - a Greenstar costs about the same. I want to get more vegetables into my diet.</p>