January 3, 2014 - 2:48pm
Hobart HL6 on ebay
Waddayall think of this unit?? Looks like it was made in Sweden but from the looks of things, it looks like a great, well built unit.
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Waddayall think of this unit?? Looks like it was made in Sweden but from the looks of things, it looks like a great, well built unit.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-Hobart-HL6-6-quart-Mixer-NIB-like-N50-/151199190768?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item23342c8ef0
They took it off!!
I have had a 6qt KitchenAid for many years. I use it now and again but rarely for breads unless I'm making a single loaf of smallish weight. I don't like how hard it is to add ingredients, how it tosses flour around the counter even if and when I remember to use the (poorly designed) clear plastic bowl guard, and how it has a tendency to walk around the counter making it necessary to stay with it all the time when I need it to run for 10 minutes straight for some dough or other.
I also have an old Electrolux DLX, now called an Anksarum, I think. It is what I use for larger volumes of dough, e.g., for 3 large loaves of challah. It is easy to add ingredients, whether liquid or dry, without spilling onto the counter. It never tosses flour outside the bowl. It is solid as a rock on the counter. And it never struggles with the doughs I make. In addition, while it has a somewhat larger footprint than my KA, it is shorter, making finding counter or cabinet space easier. And, even new, it's less expensive than the Hobart you're picturing. With some luck, you can find a used one on Ebay. Mine, now over 15 years old in my hands, was purchased used on Ebay. It still looks as good as it did when I got it and it runs like a charm.
I say spend your money elsewhere unless you're a collector of tools rather than a user of them.
Electrolux Stand Mixer..jpg
Doesitlook like this one? I also have it!!
Looks like a nice mixer. If bread is your primary use, the limited capacity is a bit of an issue. If you only make a loaf or two at a time than it would not be an issue. For a multi-purpose all around mixer, I think that it looks quite nice. To my knowledge, the quality of a Hobart mixer is still quite high. One should not confuse a modern KitchenAid of questionable quality made by Whirlpool with anything made by Hobart. They are worlds apart.
I use a 30 year old Hobart made KA mixer at home and I really like for an all purpose mixer. I would not buy a modern KA mixer.
Jeff
Too bad Hobart never marketed the HL6. At least it has a spiral dough hook, which should make it a good mixer for bread.
I just picked one of these up...it was indeed new. I also owned the KA Pro600 and a KA Artisan. The Artisan 5Qt burned up the motor and the Pro 6Qt has a stripped worm gear (new gear on order so I can repair).
The primary difference between this and the KA is this one seems to have an independent fan motor, so that regardless of the motor speed, the fan is running constantly. Underneath the base of the upright support is a fan grate for exhaust and the fan intake is underneath the upper motor housing. I just ran a two loaf sourdough recipe (1 cup starter, 1.5 cup water, and 5.5 cup flour. I kneaded on speed 1 for 15 minutes and the motor was barely luke-warm and it ran fine with no effort. my KA would really struggle with the same recipe so I decreased it, but with no luck as the gear eventually stripped (probably from overloading).
The KA cannot knead for more than several minutes without heating up, and indeed the manual says the mixer would get hot to the touch as this is normal (I don't think it should be normal but that is what the manual says). Anyway, the Hobart HL6 blows it away, at least for now anyway.
One shortcoming I have noticed with the Hobart is the dough hook. For some reason, this design likes to let the dough slightly climb the hook, similar but not as bad as C-hook does on the KA Artisan. I don't even worry about it and just let the machine do its thing, and the dough eventually falls back down and kneads correctly.
The motor is variable speed, like the KA Pro600, but has fewer speed settings. The speed 1 for kneading seems to be a bit faster than the KA on setting 2, but it is hard to tell as my KA is currently not running.
If you have any questions on the mixer that I can answer let me know. I am new to the postings here, but have been reviewing this site for the last 6 months. If this HL6 mixer proves me wrong, I am moving on to a Hobart N50.
P2B
Good day,
I am looking to buy a small durable mixer to knead 55% to 62% hydration dough. How is your HL6 doing? Is it as good as Hobart N50? I would appreciate it if you could share your experience with HL6.
John
John,
The HL-6 is still going strong after these several years. For the price vs the N50, I am very happy with the performance. Again, the maximum that I push it is the sourdough in my original post...and it does fine with no issues (like my previous KA's that broke down under the load).
There are some available on eBay from one particular seller...do a general search for "HL-6 mixer" and you will see a used one and another vendor with 9 available...this is what I got. In the pictures you will see they are actual Hobart accessories and the mixers are made in Sweden. For the price you could get 4 or 5 for the price of one N50.
Based on my usage, the HL6 is perfect, but your mileage may vary with your recipe...however I think you might be please with the 6qt size and the capability. Good luck with your search....
P2B
Thank you for the info.
Does the HL6 machine weigh 35 lbs? Is it much heavier tha n KA Pro 600? Thanks.
The mixer itself weighs between 22 and 23 lbs without the bowl and accessories.
...Because I just got myself one of those! I had been looking at the KA commercial 8qt model but was unconvinced. Then I talked with a member from the pizzamaking blog who had it. He told me it worked fine for bread but you had to treat it like a princess. Then I found this post and bought it pretty much right away, so thank you P2B.
Just a few questions, if you don't mind. Do you by any chance happen to know/have you measured the rpm at the different speeds? Also, how many kg of dough can you mix in one go?
...to answer your questions, no, I have never measured the rpm at the different speed settings. In my post above, I always use the #1 speed for kneading my dough, and it is fine. As for the kg of bread dough, it is just above 1.5kg for my recipe. I also make a sourdough pizza dough on a weekly basis and this mixer does great (probably between .5 to .75kg pizza dough). I think you might be pleased. If you are trying to run larger amounts for more than 2 loaves, you might want to jump to a large commercial 10qt or more.
Let us know how you make out when you get it.....
P2B
I guess I have homework to do once I get my mixer then. All my loaves are between 0.65 and 0.75 kg and its rare that I ever make more than that in one go. Pizza parties are the one exception, but I'd suppose one could multi-batch with this mixer without any issues. One day I might get a pro-mixer, but for the time being this one should suffice.
Will definitely keep everyone updated!
Thanks again.
Giancarlo
For your application, and from my experience with this mixer, you have the perfect mixer for the kg you are using. For multi-batch pizza dough, you will have no problems...just make as many pizza doughs as you need and refrigerate prior to use!!
We eagerly await your review of the mixer!!
P2B
Can anyone give an update on their HL6,How are you liking it? If you had it to do over again, would you still buy it?
It is still being used weekly for my pizza dough and has never given a problem. So after weekly used for the past years, it is going like the day I bought it!! I did buy a rebuilt Hobart C100 and now throw the sourdough in that, however I would not hesitate to continue using my HL6 for that either.
As an aside, I also picked up an unused N50 (Made in USA model) for less that $800 on ebay, but have not used it!! Deals are out there!!!
P2B
Do you think this is a Hobart HL6 made with new old stock parts, or is it made with newer parts? Or to put it another way is this a Hobart hL6 or a knockoff?
These are old post but I’ll ad 2 cents more. I collect Hobart and KA mixers mostly early models including a pristine 1919 5qt. Hobart. I now have 5 HL-6 mixers 2 gray 2 silver and one red, still looking for the black. I may have a prototype to the prototype as one of the gray is a 5 qt version using the N 50 bowl and accessories. These are great lite duty mixers, two loaves at a time and this machine should last a lifetime. After using both the HL-6 and the N50 side by side for years the HL isn’t any better in any way than the N50 it’s just easier to use and looks like it belongs in this time period.
Do you think that the Hl6 is at least as good as the N50? I ordered one and am curious. Im upgrading from thw top of the line kitchenaids.
The worst Hobart is ten times better than any model Kitchenaid. But for light duty items. If your into breads then save a little more money and invest in the Haussler Alpha 10qt. chain drive . This thing plows through anything I t’s even better then my 200 pound Hobart A120 12qt. monster. One thing the HL6 excels at that the N50 fails at is icing and whipping eggs. Who did you order one from?
I actually bought the Hl6 already. I looked into the mixer you referenced and while it looks good I dont have the 2000 bucks for it right now. Also I am into bread but most of my bread process is stretch and fold. I only really do enriched doughs in a mixer. I was just inquiring how you think the Hl6 measures up against the n50.
I love mine. I’ve had it for 3 or 4 years. I did order a second bowl from City Food Service on eBay. I think I paid under $600. When I bought it from City Food Service. The extra bowl really is handy. With all that, I am going to sell “Big Bertha”. As I get older, I’m not baking as much, so I’m ready to send her on to her next home.
I have had an HL6 mixer for several years and it is a workhorse. I’ve used it to make bread, cookies, and juice oranges and grapefruit. Works great!
Looks like Miller Precision needs to bargain with Ankarsrum (makers of the Ankarsrum Assistant, AND the HL6 mixer) to get the HL6 back into production. Also, I'm getting this idea that there should be a class-action lawsuit against Hobart, to release and warrant their N50 for household use. Look at the limited choices for consumers: A plastic Bosch Universal, or an Ankarsrum Assistant that can't work with low-hydration dough. And neither of them has the capability to work with a thick cookie dough, while the N50 can handle those jobs without too many limitations. Sure, it's expensive. But so is a plasma TV set!
Gonna need a recipe, folks. Hobart called and told me that they would honor their warranty on a new N50 for my own personal use. I have learned that they indeed have a heart after all!
I just purchased 1. Where to I get attachments like the juicer? Does N50 parts work? Thanks in advance
Hi, Since I just bought my never used HL6 In 2021 which sat in storage, should I considered having it checked out and regreased? Thanks