So??? whatcha doin' today? Sunday, February 5, 2012

[Smee]

Gardencook, is your Vitamix very old? The gasket on mine blew last year, and the company was super nice and helpful when I called. They sent out a new gasket-- well, the whole blade assembly since it's all made together, but only the gasket was bad-- and the tool to install it with no questions asked. If you have to buy it, yeah, probably expensive since it's the whole blade assembly. That thing is one of those high dollar things I would have never bought on my own (it was a gift), but man oh man, I get the hype. I use it way more than I would have imagined. I've discovered that I like grinding my own flour, flax seeds, and coffee, for example, and I make lava hot cheese sauce in it all the time. Never saw any of that coming!

[Gardencook]

Gardencook, is your Vitamix very old?

Yes, the machine is one of the old stainless steel ones. I was absolutely thrilled when I found it barely used on a yard sale for $20 well over 20 years ago. Think the scratch-and-dent models were still nearly $300 at that time. It has been a work-horse, so definitely got my money's worth.
Friends who owned one had problems with the gasket going out whenever they ground flour in it, so I was careful only to use it to blend things like smoothies or soup AFTER it was cooked. Didn't want it to wear out too soon, but I could tell the gasket was going for a couple years before that. The motor is still great, it is just that one silly part.
DH checked with the company and it seems like it was about $100 to replace it. Like you said, you have to replace the whole container along with the gasket, so I've been holding out hoping to stumble on one used.
The Ninja was on sale really cheap, so even though I knew it wouldn't be as good, thought I'd pick it up as a stop-gap a couple months ago. REALLY missed our smoothies last summer when fruit was in season! Just never got around to removing the Vitamix and Juiceman until last night so I could use the new stuff. We bought an extended warranty on the Ninja since it was only $3, so hopefully we don't have to worry about that for a couple years.

[Smee]

I grind stuff in mine all the time and have for a while and so far so good. I think the reason mine blew is because I'd flip it straight on high. You could hear it kind of not appreciating it. As long as I remember to start at a lower speed and then go high, it's perfect. Good luck finding a used replacement! I bet you'll find one.