Stand mixer: please tell me I won't regret this

So you mean I can really bring mine and run it on a transformer???

Hubby was trying to scare me that I'll burn up the motor, blah, blah, blah.

Make sure you get a heavy duty transformer, not one of the cheapie travel ones. I would suggest newmarket transformers, where you can custom specify. 

You need a step-down transformer (convert from 240 volts to 110 volts), not just one of those gizmos that you plug hair dryers and electric shavers into.

I got mine at Radio Shack about 4 years ago for $25.  I used it continuously for a year to run my laptop, speakers, portable CD player, and other odds and ends of electrical stuff that I brought with me to the UK.

FWIW, my mother has one of those vintage Kitchen Aid mixers, which used to belong to my grandmother, who may have got it as a wedding present...well, no, surely it's not THAT old (she was married just after WWII) but it is certainly well-used!

My other living grandmother still uses her old one, too.  And my sister got one for a wedding present.  I'm so jealous...I do most of my mixing with a fork!

Mander and Phat, thanks for the info. Mander, I see Radio Shack (online) has a 200 watt for $49.99 -- double what you paid years ago. Also, my Kitchen Aid says 450 max watts, so not sure that will work anyway.

Phat, I Googled "newmarket transformers" and came up with this. (Prices don't include VAT and shipping is high, even for local ship in UK), still, at least I have choices. Cheers!

You will want a proper step-down transformer, not one of those transformerless Made-in-China pieces of converter junk that seem to offer silly power ratings for ridiculously low prices. 

Motors are one of the things which do not take too kindly to running on the poor quality power supplied by those cheap converters, and are likely to run warmer and noisier.  Get a good transformer, and it will be fine. 


http://www.newmarket-transformers.co.uk/

http://www.airlinktransformers.com/

Mander and Phat, thanks for the info. Mander, I see Radio Shack (online) has a 200 watt for $49.99 -- double what you paid years ago. Also, my Kitchen Aid says 450 max watts, so not sure that will work anyway.

Phat, I Googled "newmarket transformers" and came up with this. (Prices don't include VAT and shipping is high, even for local ship in UK), still, at least I have choices. Cheers!

I can sell you my good Newmarket transformer!! I'm moving back to the US in 2 weeks and it's on my list of things to sell. I bought it specifically for my Kitchen Aid. It ROCKS!

I paid £47.59 including shipping. To have my beloved KitchenAid was worth every penny!

Anyone interested PM me - I'll also post this in Classifieds!

I so wish I had known there were better transformers out there.  After nearly burning the house down during a visit when sparks started flying out of the hairdryer on the right setting of a travel converter, DH and I decided to sell all my kitchen appliances before coming here.  Two years on I still mourn all my lost cuisinart products!!

After nearly burning the house down during a visit when sparks started flying out of the hairdryer on the right setting of a travel converter

Yep, some of the junk on the market really is just not suitable for purpose.   

Yep, some of the junk on the market really is just not suitable for purpose.  

I remember thinking how thankful I was that I was just using it for something that I had to be in the room for (drying my hair).  What if I had plugged it in to something else and left the room only to have flames start coming out of the socket?  I was pretty shook up to think how close we came to a serious fire.

(hijack over)

I can sell you my good Newmarket transformer!! I'm moving back to the US in 2 weeks and it's on my list of things to sell. I bought it specifically for my Kitchen Aid. It ROCKS!

I paid £47.59 including shipping. To have my beloved KitchenAid was worth every penny!

Anyone interested PM me - I'll also post this in Classifieds!

Want to sell your KitchenAid to go along with it? 

Want to sell your KitchenAid to go along with it? 

Make me an offer! I'm seriously wondering if it's worth the space I need to ship it back when I could buy another one there!

Make me an offer! I'm seriously wondering if it's worth the space I need to ship it back when I could buy another one there!

I wish I could buy one!!! They are just soooo expensive, no matter what country you reside in    I just cant justify that type of spending, no matter how often I bake.....Not with the size of my VISA bill 

I wish I could buy one!!! They are just soooo expensive, no matter what country you reside in    I just cant justify that type of spending, no matter how often I bake.....Not with the size of my VISA bill 

Realize it's not just for pies, cookies and cakes. It also makes short work of meatloaf! My hands no longer freeze from kneading the onions and other ingredients into the dough. I bet I use my KitchenAid 3 or 4 times a week. And the freedom to just walk away and attend to other things while it mixes is so nice. It cuts my cooking time in two.

I have the bubblegum pink (breast cancer) Artisan.  My parents got it for me for christmas a few years ago (what 16 year old girl doesn't want a mixer for Christmas?!) and I adore it.  I'm heartsick about having to leave it behind when I move to the UK, but it doesn't seem like a good idea due to it's sheer weight and the outlet/power differences....

I'd definitely encourage getting it.  Keep in mind you can get all kinds of cool attachments for it, so even if you don't plan on using it often to bake, you can get a pasta maker, a veggie peeler, an ICE CREAM MAKER, etc.

The outlet/power differnces are easily dealth with. If you aren't shipping things (by sea) then obviously the weight is a problem to get it over here. Mine was sent over back when the US still had sea mail.

I got one and I love it! I bought some of those mini moving men things to put on the bottom so it slides easily on the counter because I have it shoved in a corner to be out of the way. It does move a bit if I'm mixing something heavy or really fast, but it would scuff up my counter if I didn't. I think it's worth every penny!