Why are there no DIY kitchen blenders?

[morkus64]

Except for maybe the bike powered one, my search came up empty. Since a blender is essentially a small control board, a motor, a blade, and a container, it seems crazy nobody has tried to make a DIY vitamix with a cheap blender and a stronger motor.

Old thread revived by new member with no pertinent information.
admin allisolm

 

[Mixolydian]

I dunno man but I see people buying shitloads of blenders all the time. expensive ones too.

 

[MongGrel]

Probably because they are a pretty high torque item to begin with as far as bearings and housings and seals etc.

You can probably buy a strong one that is manufactured for cheaper than a DIY.

We were rearranging things in the kitchen just last night and we have a nice old Osterizer shoved in the rear of one cabinet and I said something to the wife about it.

She remarked it would be great for making smoothies, and I asked why don't you then and she shoved it in the back of the cabinet again.

 

[MongGrel]

This are nice and not expensive.

Just thought I'd throw it out there.

Oster 4108 Blender, 10 Speed, 5 Cup Plastic Jar

http://www.goodmans.net/i/2625/oster-4108-blender-10-speed-5-cup-plastic-jar.htm


http://www.goodmans.net/d/23/oster-blenders.htm

I didn't even realize they made these, would be handy for coffee, spices etc.

Six 8 Oz Mini Jars With Lid for Oster & Osterizer Blenders



http://www.goodmans.net/i/2603/six-8-oz-mini-jars-with-lid-for-oster-osterizer-bl.htm

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Vortex blender

 

[lxskllr]

Vortex blender

Interesting. I agree with the OP though. There needs to be more human powered devices. They can be made more robust at a lower cost than electric devices, and gearing makes them trivially easy to operate. Everyone expects things to completely do all work for them without considering whether or not it makes sense to do so.

I guess the extra 20 seconds takes away time that could be used at the gym :^D :^D :^D Nah, it really means an extra 20 seconds to watch ads on TV.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Because there is actually a lot of design that goes into a good blender. The real benefit of the Vitamix is not just the blade and the motor, but the excellent cooling design that allows that hardware to reach its max for minutes on end without overheating or the excellent container design that pushes everything back towards the middle for even blending.

When Vitamix carries so many models, there is no reason to try to beat them (nor any way to do as good for less money I would think).

 

[MongGrel]

Just on a side note looks there are several things on that site look nice for the pricing.

Sorry not meaning to derail, but have been into upgrading kitchen stuff a bit personally lately.

 

[shortylickens]

:awe:

 

[Red Squirrel]

DIY portable blender:

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/1-2-dual-speed-hammer-drill/985419
And
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/brutus-universal-mixing-paddle-for-cordless-hand-held-drills/933827

Use any bowl.

 

[MongGrel]

:awe:

*Bonk*

 

[Zodiark1593]

You could make a battery operated one with some rc car parts. A brushless motor + 45 amp speed control can be had for ~$100. With an 11 volt battery, you would hit close to 500 watts (over 1/2 horsepower) and nearly 40,000 rpm from the motor. Put together a gearbox along with a slipper clutch, and stick that in a blender housing with blades. Wire up a controller and you're good to go.

 

[morkus64]

DIY portable blender:

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/1-2-dual-speed-hammer-drill/985419
And
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/brutus-universal-mixing-paddle-for-cordless-hand-held-drills/933827

Use any bowl.

Ha! Well done, sir.

 

[mikeford]

Vitamix used to use a 5 hp electric chainsaw motor, the largest that you could use on a household 110 vac 15 amp outlet.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Blentec is high up there too, I think you need a dedicated 15 amp outlet for those LOL. That's an insane amount of power going into small blades.

 

[Vapid Cabal]

Electric motors wear out and break down... A hand powered blender would likely outlast an electric blender by at least 10 years...

 

[morkus64]

I didn't actually mean a blend it yourself blender - more like modding (yes modding, not hacking - please, let's all agree to never refer to anything but actual hacking as hacking) an existing blender with a more powerful motor.

 

[Crono]

This calls for Top Gear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDlMLqdvHzI

 

[lxskllr]

I didn't actually mean a blend it yourself blender - more like modding (yes modding, not hacking - please, let's all agree to never refer to anything but actual hacking as hacking) an existing blender with a more powerful motor.

Modding is hacking. The term's been taken over by the media to refer to breaking security, or cracking, but that's only a subset of hacking. A hack is any clever, or undocumented solution to a problem.

 

[Rubycon]

I would imagine that it's not difficult to mod an off the shelf design with a more powerful motor. However, just like "souping up" a car, putting more ponies under the hood with disregard to power train (transaxle, u-joints, rear, etc.) often results in a disappointment or even a crash.

Exceeding the RPM design is dangerous, that blade can shatter and tangentially launch the blades at great speed piercing the jar (if poly) or shattering if glass which you don't want for sure.

Most coupling mechanisms between the jar bottom and the motor end on the bottom will be limited particularly in the bargain bin designs. The serious blenders can take it but if you spend half a kilobuck on a (real) blender you're not going to mod it anyhow...

That said, if you're handy, a good place to look for a high speed motor would be one of those newer designed washing machines. Those motors can take serious over volting and put out impressive power. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaRydtOvbLI

Just make sure the blades and transmission can handle it. You should not be required to wear kevlar when making a smoothie! :biggrin:

A human powered blender sounds about as fun as pedaling a moped.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

A human powered blender sounds about as fun as pedaling a moped.

Until you're presented with a frozen margarita miles from a source of power.

 

[Rubycon]

Until you're presented with a frozen margarita miles from a source of power.

That's what this is for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlxbtyRnEpA

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

That's what this is for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlxbtyRnEpA

I have no issue packing in food and ice but, I draw the line at that noisy monstrosity.

 

[Rubycon]

There are hardcore tailgater types that have 'em.

We've had guests bring them at our private island. They aren't ported and quite tame, about as loud as a smaller home use type leaf blower.

Granted, a ported Husky 3120XP motor topping 15K rpm with a 2.40 gearbox would be interesting. That setup puts out 8+ kW peak.

Forget blending phones, that sucker could handle DVR HD cable boxes! :biggrin:

 

[morkus64]

I would imagine that it's not difficult to mod an off the shelf design with a more powerful motor. However, just like "souping up" a car, putting more ponies under the hood with disregard to power train (transaxle, u-joints, rear, etc.) often results in a disappointment or even a crash.

Exceeding the RPM design is dangerous, that blade can shatter and tangentially launch the blades at great speed piercing the jar (if poly) or shattering if glass which you don't want for sure.

Most coupling mechanisms between the jar bottom and the motor end on the bottom will be limited particularly in the bargain bin designs. The serious blenders can take it but if you spend half a kilobuck on a (real) blender you're not going to mod it anyhow...

That said, if you're handy, a good place to look for a high speed motor would be one of those newer designed washing machines. Those motors can take serious over volting and put out impressive power. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaRydtOvbLI

Just make sure the blades and transmission can handle it. You should not be required to wear kevlar when making a smoothie! :biggrin:

A human powered blender sounds about as fun as pedaling a moped.

Excellent points. Thanks, Rubycon.

Also, private island?