Blender

Reply to Blender on Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:24:42 GMT

nefara@lemmy.world — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:24:42 GMT

Ah you’re right, it seems there’s modern copycats. Try searching for an “Imperial Ten” Oster model 642. That’s the other one I have, and it’s an 860 watt blender, solid metal with a glass pitcher and weighs like 8lbs. It’s probably not on par with the performance of a Vitamix, but it’s also not $400+. For my uses though it has never disappointed, I usually use it for grinding frozen chunks of fruit or berries to make ice cream.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=oster+Imperial+ten+642

Reply to Blender on Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:28:15 GMT

fake_meows@sopuli.xyz — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:28:15 GMT

I’ve fixed a bunch of things but not that specifically.

I’d try spraying the speed control knob with contact cleaner because it sounds like that might be the problem. (Available at any auto parts store in a spray can). Or use 99% isopropyl if you have that available.

If cleaning the connection doesn’t work, you can then replace the whole assembly, the new part runs about $20 incl shipping if you’re in the USA.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326749491891

That’s a non genuine 3rd party Comparible part. The genuine one is on Amazon for about $60 but I am not sure if it’s 3X as good. Your call.

If I’m not mistaken it would be the 2-wire version but ou might want to look inside and confirm before ordering.

Reply to Blender on Tue, 13 Jan 2026 20:03:15 GMT

dontblink@feddit.it — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 20:03:15 GMT

Would you mind sending me a link example so I can see wht it looks like? I think there might be new models which look like the older ones, which I do not want.

Reply to Blender on Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:56:58 GMT

wraith@lemdro.id — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:56:58 GMT

Do you know if Vitamix motor units are relatively easy to repair? We have one that the speed control doesn’t seem to work consistently anymore. Even at low speeds sometimes it’ll randomly rev all the way to max, or if the knob is turned up sometimes it won’t actually speed the motor up. I think the model is VM0102D if that changes things.

We’ve been dealing with it as-is because the overall functionality isn’t terribly impacted, it just needs a little extra monitoring when it’s in use, but if I can fix it it’d be a much better experience.

Reply to Blender on Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:01:36 GMT

blugill@fedia.io — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:01:36 GMT

I don’t make fruit smoothies.

We actually have a blender in the kitchen - my wife and kids make fruit smoothies. Since we have it I use it for some soups - but this is only about 2x/year and I would eat chunky soups and do without a blender. This is the point I’m trying to make: you can do without things and live a satisfying life - so is it worth it to have the thing?

Reply to Blender on Tue, 13 Jan 2026 17:41:31 GMT

snooggums@piefed.world — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 17:41:31 GMT

Sorry, I phrased that poorly by not being clear that I mean ‘blend things like a blender does [post topic], which includes cutting the ingredients into extremely small pieces while mixing them evenly’.

So do you make a fruit smoothie with a knife, spoon, and a whisk?

Reply to Blender on Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:54:24 GMT

fake_meows@sopuli.xyz — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:54:24 GMT

I used to buy about 800 pounds of salvage electronics a week which I would then resell. I’ve seen and evaluated many brands of used older electronics.

For a blender, I’d recommend a Vita-Mix, then KitchenAid. Third tier would include Breville or Ninja.

We use a Vitamix here. A few benefits of the design are that the lid has no moving pieces or hinges or locking mechanisms… It’s just a flexible rubber dome that doesn’t crack if you drop it. The blender jug has the blender blade and a very large sealed bearing. You can swap the entire item out as a future service. The motor bases are extremely high quality. I can’t recall seeing any that were ever broken. They seem to rely on solid state electronics and big mechanical switches nstead of fancy displays and microcontrollers and LEDs.

My only warning is to avoid the white color motor base. That color will take on UV damage and turn yellow over the years.

I would not hesitate to buy a well used working Vitamix in the used market.

Reply to Blender on Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:22:26 GMT

blugill@fedia.io — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:22:26 GMT

Or a whisk. Manual egg beaters work well to for a lot of things.

I do own a blender, and use it maybe twice a year. There are somethings it does I can’t figure out how to do by hand, but overall I’m not sure it is worth the space it takes up.

Reply to Blender on Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:48:06 GMT

snooggums@piefed.world — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:48:06 GMT

You blend things with a knife and a spoon?

Kudos I guess.

Reply to Blender on Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:56:12 GMT

nefara@lemmy.world — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:56:12 GMT

I have found two vintage Oster blenders at yard sales, each for under $10. They are from the 50s and 60s and are solid heavy metal things with glass pitchers. I needed to buy new seals for them and on one I had to replace the little star bolt that the pitcher locks into to turn the blades. Either of them will completely liquify things that my modern cheapo Hamilton Beach would meekly chew at. If you can find one online or better yet in person, I can definitely attest they are built different.

Reply to Blender on Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:39:23 GMT

blugill@fedia.io — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:39:23 GMT

Personally I have a good knife and a nice spoon. I find for most kitchen tasks they work just as well as a machine, are easier to clean, and take up less space in my tiny kitchen. I would spend your money on quality hand tools first, and learn to use them. I’m rarely doing so much in my house that a machine is actually better.