The Fresh Loaf

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10/15kg spiral mixer -- FAMAG?? SUNMIX??

deuxcv's picture
deuxcv

10/15kg spiral mixer -- FAMAG?? SUNMIX??

do any y’all have a home+ size spiral mixer? i just got a giant (80kilo) spiral mixer at work (pizzeria) which has me jonesing for one at home. it has made such a big improvement in our pizza dough over our now dead (after 45 years and 1,000,000 pounds of dough) hobart.

for my home baking i currently usually make 8kg batches most weekends,mostly to give to friends. limited largely by oven capacity.

key features for me are 2 or more speeds, 10-15kg dough capacity, countertop depth (less than 24"), breaker bar, single phase, 110 or 220v, tilt head & removable bowl would be nice..

there doesn’t seem to be much choice in home sized spirals and i’ve narrowed it down to a sunmix (10kg or 15kg) -or- famag (10kg) with a tilting head and removable bowl.

the sunmix seems to be considered a better brand with a loyal following at bakerybits.co.uk and comes in a 15kg size which would give me some upward capacity if i ever wanted to scale up a little bit. it also comes in fun colors.

the famag is a little harder to get as there aren’t many willing to send to usa. the main advantage to this is that it has a tilting head and removable bowl. their biggest “home” model is 10kg

both are 220v with variable speed. both are roughly the same cost.

other brands i have looked at and decided against for variety of reasons are... rofco, bakkerijwerld, haussler, hakka, tmb, macanosud, and prob others.

i'm leaning ever so slightly toward the the famag because of the ease of tilting head and capacity that having 2 bowls affords. but havent found much feedback on them. would love your thoughts and/or experiences with these or other choices. HELP ME DECIDE!!

(all kg’s mentioned here are in relation to finished dough capacity, not dry flour)

albacore's picture
albacore

I have a Famag Grilletta IM5 - the smallest one you can buy. It's a basic model with fixed bowl and one speed - although I have hacked it to make it multi-speed.

I've had it just over a year and I'm very pleased with it. Construction is pretty simple but solid and robust, with chain drive and a cap start induction motor, so should be easy to fix if it ever goes wrong.

I'd certainly recommend Famag on this basis. Whether it's any better or worse than Sunmix, I can't say - they may be very similar inside.

Lance

deuxcv's picture
deuxcv

thanks. hope i can get my order in before august summer vacation closure.

Ante's picture
Ante

Hey Lance, did you need another motor to make your IM5 multi speed? I got one as a present, and I have 30+ years of experience in all kinds of electronics, but I was wondering if I can use the IM5 motor to make it multi speed, or if I need another one? I want it to be faster, so that I can do doughs with higher hydration!

Thanks! 

albacore's picture
albacore

I used the existing motor with a one phase in, one phase out VFD. The only company I know of that make them are Invertek (search optidrive e3 single phase) and to buy new they are prohibitively expensive. They are also quite big, so need to be an outboard installation. Plus they are not perfect - it's a low torque solution, really designed for fans and the like. I don't have big loads in my mixer so it works for me, but it is definitely a hobbyist solution - not bulletproof.

You might be better seeing if Famag will sell you a 3 phase motor that fits your mixer and then you could use a standard one phase in, three phase out VFD. It would still need to be outboard though...

 

Lance

mdotpasq's picture
mdotpasq

Hi guys.

Looking for a bit of advice and help here if poss..

I am about to purchase my first ever spiral mixer here in the UK. I'll just be making pasta dough with semola flour and 45% hydration and possibly a few breads with the same flour if I get adventurous.

I would love the Sunmix. It looks beautiful and perfect for my needs, but it's really pricey.

I'm intrigued to know your experiences with the FAMAG? I was considering buying the IM10 single speed.. Is it a good machine?
Do I need the multi speeds? 
I'm also intrigued by the mod to make it multi speed, how simple is that? The price difference between the single and multi is about £200!

Thanks in advance,

Marco

albacore's picture
albacore

Hi Marco, I haven't really got much more to add than what I posted above.

My IM5 is still working fine! You do get a 3 year warranty on the Famags, which is reassuring - don't know about the Sunmix.

Multiple speeds are a nice to have, not a necessity. I think the single spiral speed on the IM5 is 135rpm, so you'd just have to keep an eye on initial mixing time as gluten will start to develop quite quickly at this speed (I'm talking bread dough here).

In a previous life, I used to be an electronics technician and I wouldn't recommend anyone without that kind of knowledge try to make their mixer multi-speed. Besides, my solution uses an outboard single phase VFD - an exotic and expensive device if bought new.

Lance

mdotpasq's picture
mdotpasq

Cheers Lance,

I ended up taking the plunge and bought the single speed IM 10.
I emailed Famag and they recommended the single speed for what I want to do.

I dabble a bit with electronics.. Mainly audio electronics though.. I was thinking of putting a variac in front of it but that would provably not do that much..

I'll see how I get on at single speed. Hopefully the unit will arrive next week so I'll keep this thread posted!

albacore's picture
albacore

It's an induction motor, Marco; speed cannot be varied with voltage, you need to alter the frequency.

http://www.invertekdrives.com/variable-speed-drives/optidrive-e2-single-phase/

Let us know how you like the IM10! Are you getting it from Agrieuro?

Lance

mdotpasq's picture
mdotpasq

Ahh.. Sounds like something I'd mess up haha.

I will let you know. Yeah Agrieuro, I did contact Famag direct but they directed me their way.

Hopefully it's gonna be great for the dough I'm making. I like that it's compact but can do up to 10kg.. I'm going to rwally put it through its paces and report back!

 

Camarie's picture
Camarie

Link doesn't work.

Camarie's picture
Camarie

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1silviu1's picture
1silviu1

Hi Lance

I have a single speed Fimar dough mixer model IM18SN235MK that sit unused. I was looking to buy a Famag IM10 with 10 speeds to be able to do a better dough hydration , but if I can use an outboard single phase VFD to make it run at at least one more speed I will be happy to use the Fimar. Can you please advise me choosing the VFD? 

 

Thank you

Silviu

albacore's picture
albacore

Hi Silviu, it was a DIY solution for me; I cannot recommend it for others without knowledge of working with high voltage electronics. It's not a drop in solution and requires modification to the mixer.

Also, one phase in and out VFDs are only a low torque solution (really for fans and the like) so probably wouldn't even work for a fully loaded mixer.

Lance

deuxcv's picture
deuxcv

i too took the plunge. ordered the 10kg with tilt head and variable speed and an extra bowl. ordered from allforfoods.com . have only given it a few workouts but am happy with my decision. famag and allforfoods we both a pleasure to deal with. famag saw that it was going overseas and included an extra belt and bearings set, i guess common wear parts. i thought that was very thoughtful. the mixer is pretty darn ugly, looks like it was designed by an industrial mechanic with no concern for aesthetics. that's not a problem as it does it's job well, but it does sit on my counter so aesthetically would have preferred the sunmix. other gipe is the controls are a bit underthought. the speed dial is tiny, a bit difficult to "dial in" the speed. a bigger and easier to read dial with incremental stops would definitely been nice. for geeks out there the bowl to hook rotation ratio is 1:8. i saw on some sunmix video folks were tinkering with that ratio, but i'm not well versed in mixer use to know the benefit of what that would be, but figure someone out there would be interested in the stock ratio.

pleasant-hill-grain's picture
pleasant-hill-grain

Italian-made Famag spiral mixers are world renowned for strength, quality, and outstanding baking results. Now they’re available in the U.S. for the first time, with industrial-duty motors designed specifically for U.S. voltage. As Famag's exclusive importer, Pleasant Hill Grain is proud to offer these high performance mixers! See them here: https://pleasanthillgrain.com/famag-im8-spiral-dough-mixer-variable-speed

albacore's picture
albacore

I'm surprised you didn't go for the IM-5S, as being a more domestic kitchen friendly size.

Lance

deuxcv's picture
deuxcv

i almost always bake 5-7kg of dough, so 10 seemed the right size.

albacore's picture
albacore

Sorry Deux-Chevaux, my comment was intended for PHG, regarding their decision to import only the larger model.

I should have made it clearer!

Lance

pleasant-hill-grain's picture
pleasant-hill-grain

Lance, we're starting out with the IM-8S, but we'll more than likely add the IM-5S and IM-10S. We chose the IM-8S to start out with after taking into consideration the other stand mixers we offer, including Ankarsrum and the Haussler Alpha. We agree, the IM-5S would be a great addition! Keep an eye out for it in 2019. ;-) 

nerdfoodgames's picture
nerdfoodgames

Hi Guys, 

I'm from Canada and I'm looking for a small spiral mixer too. But I have a question, how will I be able to use since its 220v ? I was thinking about a "adapter" converter.

 

I'm looking for both 

FAMAG Grilletta IM 5 Color 5 kg  EUR 540.90 (With VAT included) (More kitchen friendly in my opnion)Famag Grilletta IM 5 dough mixer EUR 685.80 (With VAT included)

 

albacore's picture
albacore

You would need a 500w auto-transformer to convert the supply voltage; not expensive, but factor in the cost. It will be a brick, so you will need somewhere for it to "sit".

Also bear in mind that the difference in supply frequencies (60 vs 50Hz) will cause the mixer to run 20% faster - not ideal as the single speed IM5 already runs fairly fast at 135rpm.

Lance

nerdfoodgames's picture
nerdfoodgames

Thanks Lance. 

I just noticed I can't find a company to send me the 5kg version , where should I buy that delivers to Canada? 

albacore's picture
albacore

I'm in the UK, so I was able to easily import from Agrieuro in Italy. I'm not sure if any of the Italian suppliers send to the US.

Perhaps ask Famag?

Lance

deuxcv's picture
deuxcv

the mixer (I have the 10kg) is 450 watts and I was told you should size the transformer to 3x the peak load. I chose to up that and got an unnecessarily larke 5500watt transformer if I ever wanted it for something else  I bout transformer from 220-electronics.com but this site had a useful faq.   http://www.voltagesuperstore.com/choosingrightconverter.shtml

I bought mine at allforfood.com and they shipped to USA no problem and they were very easy to deal with and hped me in English  

unless you are dead set on the 5kg, I would consider the 8kg variable speed with tilt head and removable bowl that pleasant hill grain has started importing in 110v. they are useful to down to 10% of max capacity, so the functional low end of the 5 vs 8 should be minimal difference. end result is you'd get a bigger mixer at a probably lower price as they are already 110v so wouldn't need to buy a transformer. 

pleasant-hill-grain's picture
pleasant-hill-grain

Good news! The Famag Grilletta IM5-S can now be ordered in the U.S. from Pleasant Hill Grain!

Kristo's picture
Kristo

Anyone know the difference between the famag grilletta IM-8s vs the regular IM-8S?  

deuxcv's picture
deuxcv

there is no such distinction. I think they are all grillettas. the only variables are tilt head vs fixed heaf, variable speed vs single speed, color and now with the phg there is a 110v option. 

deuxcv's picture
deuxcv

there is no such distinction. I think they are all grillettas. the only variables are tilt head vs fixed heaf, variable speed vs single speed, color and now with the phg there is a 110v option. 

Kristo's picture
Kristo

I’ve seen models labeled grilletta and models listed IM-5s/8s/10s. 

deuxcv's picture
deuxcv

grilleta is the small one, the im5

deuxcv's picture
deuxcv

for what it's worth, I just created a FAMAG mixer user group on facebook so folks can share tips 'n' tricks and answer questions for prospective buyers. 

jcoyle's picture
jcoyle

I know this is an old thread but I wanted to add that Pleasant Hill Grain now carries the Famag IM5-HH.  HH stands for high hydration.  This model provides one additional speed notch that bumps the maximum RPM range from 80-240 RPM to 80-300 RPM.  This extra speed is very helpful with doughs with create than 75% hydration. This model also comes with a reverse rotation switch.

They are currently on back order until 3/5/2021 but are excepting pre-orders.

Regards,

JC