John
I just tried to remove an attachment from a Kitchen Aid mixer and, not realizing what button/knob to push to loosen the attachment, turned it on with my hand on it. It yanked my hand pretty good and luckily damage was not worse but the whole incident makes me question...
The motor inside the mixer is (and needs to be) very powerful. Why on earth hasn't Kitchen Maid added a safety switch to the tilt head so that the mixer cannot be powered when the head is tilted up? Is there some need to have the motor on with the head tilted? I've seen plenty of power tools with far less power which have far more safety designed into the product.
While I appreciate Tom's answer below, there are a few things I take issue with.
1. Virtually every engineer, executive, secretary or janitor working for Kitchen Aid knows the following:
a. Most owners of the mixer will NOT unplug the unit each and every time attachments are changed.
b. All members of a household in which a mixer is present will not have read the entire operating manual.
c. People often make mistakes for a large variety of reasons.
and....
2. Error-proofing the mixer such that the motor cannot run when attachments are being changes is entirely possible.
After working extensively with both American and Asian automakers, one of many cultural difference I've noticed is what Tom stated. The Asians do not look at error-proofing and think "it can't be done," they look at it and think "it can be done, and if it is already being done, it can be done better."
Anyway, I digress. From reading this I think the answers to my question
I also find it amusing that electric mixers are a top contender when I search for "most dangerous kitchen appliances." Maybe it simply is because engineers cannot and will not make them safer.
Answer
It's impossible to idiot proof everything. Why would you work on any power equipment with power still applied? Especially since the operating manual specifically says never to do that.
You have a large brain that should be sufficient to protect you from this sort of mishap.
You're essentially asking how to protect you from yourself. Can't be done.
It's not a defect... you ignored the instructions. It's like crawling under a car when all that's holding it up is the jack and you didn't place jack stands like you're supposed to. Ignore the common sense part and no one can or will protect you.
BTW, what power tool with far less power has more safety designed into it? Hand drills are very powerful but there is nothing to keep them from energizing while changing bits. Same with my drill press. Nothing to keep it from starting while I have a chuck key inserted.
Can't get any safer than disconnecting power... like you were instructed to.
Direct from Kitchenaid:
"When using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should always be
followed including the following:
1. Read all instructions.
2. To protect against risk of electrical shock, do not put mixer in water or other
liquid.
3. Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used near children.
4. Unplug from outlet when not in use, before putting on or taking off parts, and
before cleaning."
EDIT:
So what I am noticing is that you speak in generalities. You still haven't named that power tool with far more safety build into it, that you mentioned.
As far as pulling the Asian vs. American mentality card, that's a crock. Easy to say, but you can't support the statement other than with your own anecdotal statement. Nonetheless, this is NOT AN ENGINEERING problem or issue. An interlock would be easy. So would unplugging the machine before you monkey with it, but you didn't do that. The latter is less expensive and more practical.
Guess what would happen if there were an interlock and it failed? You'd be wanting to sue. I'm not so sure you're not intimating that already with this supposed "design defect".
Learn your lesson already... keep your finger out of the light socket. (there's no interlock there, either)
Your statements about what "most owners" will or will not do are also unfounded and unsubstantiated. You made that up, too.
If you can't/don't follow instructions then THAT'S YOUR FAULT. Period.
I'm sick and tired of this mentality. Space heaters burn down homes all the time. So do matches. Or is is people using space heaters and matches that burn things down?
A car can be put into forward gear and the throttle stepped on even if when there's a store front full of people in front of you. GASP! Why aren't engineers doing something about that?? Surely the Asians have noticed this looming danger and are all over it!
The MOST dangerous thing in your kitchen is YOU. The fact that you and most of your friends (not most people) choose to ignore instructions, warnings, and cautions actually gives me hope for humanity as some of those genes will soon be removed from the pool.
Maybe all applicances should also have GFI built INTO them in case some idiot who wants to make toast next to his hot tub plugs it into an extension cord that's not on a GFI circuit?
Maybe toasters should have automatic doors on them to keep people from sticking butter knives into them while they're plugged in?
You getting the point yet? Probably not.
The bottom line, that you don't like and won't accept, is that there is NO TREND of people being injured by their stand mixers. The mixers that are the most dangerous are the hand and wand mixers with high-speed exposed blades. (you failed to research that before you listed "electric mixers" as a dangerous kitchen appliance) Perhaps that's the part that amused you.
Get a grip and stop blaming everyone for not protecting you from yourself. It can't be done and should not be done.
You couldn't figure out which button to press so you fumbled with it plugged in. Not good.... and contrary to what you were told not to do.
Here's another: Don't drive on the left side of the road in the US. It's not safe. There is nothing to stop you from doing this, even though the car has a lot of power. Just don't do it.
It's impossible to idiot proof everything. Why would you work on any power equipment with power still applied? Especially since the operating manual specifically says never to do that.
You have a large brain that should be sufficient to protect you from this sort of mishap.
You're essentially asking how to protect you from yourself. Can't be done.
It's not a defect... you ignored the instructions. It's like crawling under a car when all that's holding it up is the jack and you didn't place jack stands like you're supposed to. Ignore the common sense part and no one can or will protect you.
BTW, what power tool with far less power has more safety designed into it? Hand drills are very powerful but there is nothing to keep them from energizing while changing bits. Same with my drill press. Nothing to keep it from starting while I have a chuck key inserted.
Can't get any safer than disconnecting power... like you were instructed to.
Direct from Kitchenaid:
"When using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should always be
followed including the following:
1. Read all instructions.
2. To protect against risk of electrical shock, do not put mixer in water or other
liquid.
3. Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used near children.
4. Unplug from outlet when not in use, before putting on or taking off parts, and
before cleaning."
EDIT:
So what I am noticing is that you speak in generalities. You still haven't named that power tool with far more safety build into it, that you mentioned.
As far as pulling the Asian vs. American mentality card, that's a crock. Easy to say, but you can't support the statement other than with your own anecdotal statement. Nonetheless, this is NOT AN ENGINEERING problem or issue. An interlock would be easy. So would unplugging the machine before you monkey with it, but you didn't do that. The latter is less expensive and more practical.
Guess what would happen if there were an interlock and it failed? You'd be wanting to sue. I'm not so sure you're not intimating that already with this supposed "design defect".
Learn your lesson already... keep your finger out of the light socket. (there's no interlock there, either)
Your statements about what "most owners" will or will not do are also unfounded and unsubstantiated. You made that up, too.
If you can't/don't follow instructions then THAT'S YOUR FAULT. Period.
I'm sick and tired of this mentality. Space heaters burn down homes all the time. So do matches. Or is is people using space heaters and matches that burn things down?
A car can be put into forward gear and the throttle stepped on even if when there's a store front full of people in front of you. GASP! Why aren't engineers doing something about that?? Surely the Asians have noticed this looming danger and are all over it!
The MOST dangerous thing in your kitchen is YOU. The fact that you and most of your friends (not most people) choose to ignore instructions, warnings, and cautions actually gives me hope for humanity as some of those genes will soon be removed from the pool.
Maybe all applicances should also have GFI built INTO them in case some idiot who wants to make toast next to his hot tub plugs it into an extension cord that's not on a GFI circuit?
Maybe toasters should have automatic doors on them to keep people from sticking butter knives into them while they're plugged in?
You getting the point yet? Probably not.
The bottom line, that you don't like and won't accept, is that there is NO TREND of people being injured by their stand mixers. The mixers that are the most dangerous are the hand and wand mixers with high-speed exposed blades. (you failed to research that before you listed "electric mixers" as a dangerous kitchen appliance) Perhaps that's the part that amused you.
Get a grip and stop blaming everyone for not protecting you from yourself. It can't be done and should not be done.
You couldn't figure out which button to press so you fumbled with it plugged in. Not good.... and contrary to what you were told not to do.
Here's another: Don't drive on the left side of the road in the US. It's not safe. There is nothing to stop you from doing this, even though the car has a lot of power. Just don't do it.
04 Mazda RX-8 First Car?
I'm thinking in getting an automatic 04 Mazda Rx-8 for my first car but I've read that it needs lots of maintenance and care but aside from that they have lots of issues. It has less than 35k miles on it and I think I can get it for 10 grand. Should I get it or look for other options.
Answer
I wouldn't usually recommend an RX8 as a "first car", but if you were to do so the automatic version would be the better choice as the 6 speed model is too powerful and twitchy for a novice driver. Way too many end up wrapped around a tree in the hands of novice drivers. The automatic version (especially the 04 & 05 models) have much less power and are more forgiving of a newbie driver learning the handling characteristics of rear-wheel drive. You can keep all your RSX's, Civics, and GTI's. They're all FWD and cannot EVER handle as well as a properly tuned RWD chassis.
Wankel Rotary engines do require some extra maintenance and care, but not a huge amount. More frequent oil changes (every 3000 miles/5000 KM) and Ignition component changes (plugs/wires/ign coils) are required.
Learning the "quirks" of the Rotary engine is required. Many of the reported problems you read about are from people who treat the RX8 as if it were just some everyday piston-driven car. It's not and it cannot be treated as such. A design limitation of the motor leaves it open to flooding much easier than a piston engine. If the motor is stopped while still running high-idle the excess fuel being pumped in can collect at the bottom of the rotor housings and thin or wash off the oil. This can results in loss of the seal between the housings and the apex seals on the rotors making the motor very difficult (or impossible) to start. There are a couple "de-flooding" procedures to learn or better yet prevent the issue from happening by ALWAYS letting the motor drop to low-idle (~900 RPM) before shutting it off. If it must be shut off cold you can rev up to 3000+ RPM and hold that for 10 seconds before shut down. This reduces fuel flow to "normal" while allowing any excess to burn off thus preventing flooding.
Another quirk is that the motor will build up carbon deposits easier. To prevent this you need to run the engine hard occasionally. Getting the motor up to red-line (while under load) frequently and when safe to do so really does a good job of this. "A Red-Line a Day will keep the Mechanic away" is a phrase every Rotary engine owner needs to know. A good, long highway run (6 - 8 hours) does this as well, so go for a long run on the occasional weekend. See the sights while cleaning your motor!
There is NO PROBLEM leaving an RX8 sitting for days at a time (contrary to C7S's post). I stored mine for 5 months every winter and for up to 2 weeks at a time while on business travel and NEVER had a problem starting my RX8 (which I owned for 5 years). You should disconnect the battery, though, if it's going to sit for more than 2 weeks as the electrical components will drain the battery. A weak battery CAN contribute to flooding because if it cannot start the motor the injected gas will pool as mentioned above.
One other note. 2004 was the first model year of the RX8 and as such did have more problems than later years (just like every new car). You will want to check to ensure all recalls were completed. There are some TSB's (technical service bulletins) that should be looked at as well. There was an upgraded starter TSB for the 04 & 05 models which spun faster and helped prevent flooding, for example.
Good luck on your decision. The RX8 is a great, fun car and there are a lot of owners that are quite passionate about this vehicle. Go check out the owners forum at:
http://www.rx8club.com
I wouldn't usually recommend an RX8 as a "first car", but if you were to do so the automatic version would be the better choice as the 6 speed model is too powerful and twitchy for a novice driver. Way too many end up wrapped around a tree in the hands of novice drivers. The automatic version (especially the 04 & 05 models) have much less power and are more forgiving of a newbie driver learning the handling characteristics of rear-wheel drive. You can keep all your RSX's, Civics, and GTI's. They're all FWD and cannot EVER handle as well as a properly tuned RWD chassis.
Wankel Rotary engines do require some extra maintenance and care, but not a huge amount. More frequent oil changes (every 3000 miles/5000 KM) and Ignition component changes (plugs/wires/ign coils) are required.
Learning the "quirks" of the Rotary engine is required. Many of the reported problems you read about are from people who treat the RX8 as if it were just some everyday piston-driven car. It's not and it cannot be treated as such. A design limitation of the motor leaves it open to flooding much easier than a piston engine. If the motor is stopped while still running high-idle the excess fuel being pumped in can collect at the bottom of the rotor housings and thin or wash off the oil. This can results in loss of the seal between the housings and the apex seals on the rotors making the motor very difficult (or impossible) to start. There are a couple "de-flooding" procedures to learn or better yet prevent the issue from happening by ALWAYS letting the motor drop to low-idle (~900 RPM) before shutting it off. If it must be shut off cold you can rev up to 3000+ RPM and hold that for 10 seconds before shut down. This reduces fuel flow to "normal" while allowing any excess to burn off thus preventing flooding.
Another quirk is that the motor will build up carbon deposits easier. To prevent this you need to run the engine hard occasionally. Getting the motor up to red-line (while under load) frequently and when safe to do so really does a good job of this. "A Red-Line a Day will keep the Mechanic away" is a phrase every Rotary engine owner needs to know. A good, long highway run (6 - 8 hours) does this as well, so go for a long run on the occasional weekend. See the sights while cleaning your motor!
There is NO PROBLEM leaving an RX8 sitting for days at a time (contrary to C7S's post). I stored mine for 5 months every winter and for up to 2 weeks at a time while on business travel and NEVER had a problem starting my RX8 (which I owned for 5 years). You should disconnect the battery, though, if it's going to sit for more than 2 weeks as the electrical components will drain the battery. A weak battery CAN contribute to flooding because if it cannot start the motor the injected gas will pool as mentioned above.
One other note. 2004 was the first model year of the RX8 and as such did have more problems than later years (just like every new car). You will want to check to ensure all recalls were completed. There are some TSB's (technical service bulletins) that should be looked at as well. There was an upgraded starter TSB for the 04 & 05 models which spun faster and helped prevent flooding, for example.
Good luck on your decision. The RX8 is a great, fun car and there are a lot of owners that are quite passionate about this vehicle. Go check out the owners forum at:
http://www.rx8club.com
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