My "new" Vita-Mix blender sucks, why? PLEASE HELP

[Minnie]

I thought they were “all” supposed to be great! I just bought an old but “unused” Model 3600 from 1984 (at least that’s the year it was purchased).

My first use was awful. I tried to make nut butter as the directions said. I blended and blended and blended and reversed and blended and blended and reversed and blended and reversed and blended some more and came out with half nut butter half completely un-chopped nuts. :eek:

Then I tried my green smoothie. My regular blender blends it ALL up but itÂ’s kinda thick. I broke one regular blender already and I think this other regular blender is going soon. So I got Vita-Mix. Someone else said they got an old one and it works great for them. I used the Vita-Mix for my green smoothie and well the part that was blended was blended very well and smoother HOWEVER there were still chunks left even after extra blending and blending and reversingÂ….well you get it. :eek:

Then I tried almond milk. My regular blender blends it ALL up. The Vita-Mix did not even with extra blending and blending and reversing, etc. There were still some chunks. :eek:

I am so disappointed that I went through all this trouble to get what is supposed to be so great and it “sucks rocks” as my daughter said after she tried and failed to make her fruit smoothie in it. She had switch to the other regular one to finish. :eek:

I was wondering how it would work so well being that the blades are so flat and are so far from the bottom and so it doesnÂ’t work well, not at all. Also the spigot feature seemed kinda nice BUT stuff gets stuck in it and it makes it hard to clean. And the fact that the bottom does not come off makes it hard to clean too! Plus there is no lid at the very top and it does splatter no matter how little or how full it is. I just use a plastic cup lid to contain the splatter, but it seems silly not to have a lid included. :rolleyes:

Sooooo I want to know should I even try to get another used one of a different model (because I canÂ’t afford a new one) or not? If so which ones are recommeded? I really canÂ’t get over how much people rave about the Vita-Mix when my experience has been beyond awful!!! Please help! Thanks. :(

This is pics and info:
http://www.vitamix.com/household/service/service_3600.html
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vitamix-Vita-Mix-Super-3600-Blender-Mixer-Book_W0QQitemZ150012235969QQihZ005QQcategoryZ25364 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Disillusioned, :(
Minnie

[codajess]

I don't have a vitamix, so I have no idea. I just hate seeing threads that have like 10 views and no responses. :D

[Sheryl]

What kind of Vitamix is it? What's the model. I've never heard of one that reverses and don't understand what that's for. Maybe you have a weird old model for a different purpose? More info please.

Cheers,
Sheryl

[codajess]

She said the model is 3600. Which of course means nothing to me...cuz I have no idea the differences.

[juliebove]

She said the model is 3600. Which of course means nothing to me...cuz I have no idea the differences.

Me either. Why would you need it to reverse?

[spirulina28]

Hi Minnie

Very sorry to hear your unsatisfactory experience with the vitamix.
I myself have 3 of them and LOOOVE them, I find they work really well... although none of them have a reverse :confused:

In your post you said you don't have a lid... does it mean you don't have the tamper either? the tamper is a long plastic rod you put through the hole of the lid and it stops just above the blades, very useful for mixing things properly especially when there is not much liquid to turn things over...

[Vegan Diva]

I purchased a "like new" Vita-Mix 3600 Plus off of ebay. I love mine. I bought the older model because I preferred the stainless steel container over the plastic carafe.

If I'm blending less than 1.5 cups I used my coffee/herb grinder anything over I use the Vita Mix. It does a great job.

What setting are you using to blend your smoothies? My smoothies have turned out smooth. I usually keep mine on 3-4 and turn it up to 5-6.

I thought all Vita-Mix had the "reverse" option. I've rarely used it but have held it in the down position when something has gotten lodged at the bottom of the carafe.

In regards to the spigot if I'm using something that could clump it when I'm cleaning the inside of the carafe I stick my finger into the spout and plunge it " move it forward and backward" that unlodges the gunk it only takes a few seconds to do and it is unstuck! :)

[ephmeralgrl]

Minnie-
I have an old Vita-mix, (it might be the same model as yours) and I love it. I am still after several months learning how to use it effectivly. For instance some things when blending do better on a lower speed, like cashews. The reverse is handy for getting those bits that like to avoid the blades in forward. I do short pulses in reverse immediately after having been going forward, without waiting for the blades to stop. I think you said you have the owners manual so you know all this already :)
I agree the spigot is a bit silly. Never use it myself and yes food stuffs get caught. I fill the canister with water and open the spigot allowing the water to push stuff through. I saw on the Vita-Mix site that you can order a plug to put in there to prevent this problem. Seems that it was cheap. I know the question was asked but can't remember if you answered, Do you have a tamper? It comes in very handy, esp. with green smoothies.
One last thing, I wonder if your blender was used alot with the previous owner could the blades need sharpening? I don't have experience with this but maybe another reading this thread would know. Or perhaps contacting the Vita-Mix people.
Best of luck-
epgrl

[Cinnamon]

I also have a Vitamix (the new professional series) and just love it. I am also wondering as mentioned above though if the blades needs to be sharpened, I looked through my owners manual and that is the only thing that came to my mind.

[Pailani]

I bought a new Vitamix from Alissa's store site and it leaves chunks in smoothies most times, too (although it does great with dry nuts and seeds). I think there may be a trick to it - which ingredients to add first, how much water to add, etc. I never added water to my smoothies in my old blender and I never had chunks, but I think the Vitamix blades might be shaped differently so it isn't catching everything. It does better if I let it run and run and run, although then I need to add some kind of frozen fruit so I don't end up with a warm smoothie.

All this to say - investing in a new Vitamix won't necessarily solve your problem.

[spicyfull]

With anything you buy you ALWAYS have to troubleshoot. I had a stainless one before. Now I have a 5000. The more liquid the better it works.

Sometimes you must put heavier things at the top. Somestimes you need to pour it out and pour it back. Somestimes you need to turn the motor off, stir and turn it on again.

Check the next County Fair when it comes to your town, Vita-Mix usually has a booth. They also take trade-ins, especially on the stainless one. One salesperson at L.A. County Fair told me he would give me $75- for my stainless one.

Hope you can get it working and have a great smoothie..........

[Lay-Lay]

I hate it that you are not enjoying yours. I have a new one and it is my favorite machine that I own! I am wondering what I did without it all these years.

[GlimR]

I used to have the same model you have now and never had any of those problems...the tamper should be wood and you use it to push the food into the blades as the mixer runs so that everthing processes. I never used reverse much at all. You need to have enough liquid in the canister to come up over the level of the blades so they can work efficiently. Smoothies shouldn't take more than a minute or two at most to blend. As for the food splashing out the top, it did that for me but only right when I turned it on...I just put my hand over the top for a second. The spigot cleans very easily if you just use the water method mentioned about..the pressure blasts anything right out of there....I miss the spigot on the new models, I like it~

I would call vitamix...I have new one and love it...have owned one for over 10 years. They are always very helpfull and very nice to deal with....wishing you best of luck~

[Green Life]

That's just horrible. Hope you will find a good solution.

Where did you buy it? Can you return it?



Cheers!
Green Life

[English Tracy]

Spirulina28 - why do you have 3 vitamix machines? Do you have them all going at the same time? LOL.

Codajess - is that a new avatar? You look wonderful. Pity the baby is not in view.

Tracy