# What IS it with men and power tools? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498 "2006-05-12T13:48:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/1 "2006-05-12T13:48:00Z")
Ivylad has decided he wants a mixer. Not just any mixer. He wants a KitchenAid mixer. And not the wimpy 325 watt one, either, he wants the one that’s at least 1000 watts. I don’t even think they make them that powerful. The strongest one I found is [this one](http://www.kitchenaid.com/catalog/product.jsp?src=STAND%20MIXERS&categoryId=310&productId=488), at 575 watts and over $450! Of course, there’s [this one](http://www.kitchenaid.com/catalog/product.jsp?src=STAND%20MIXERS&categoryId=310&productId=882), but it’s only available in pink. I don’t think Ivylad wants a pink mixer. I’m leaning toward [this one](http://www.kitchenaid.com/catalog/product.jsp?src=STAND%20MIXERS&categoryId=310&productId=776&PIPELINE_SESSION_ID=28d6f572c0a85033094aa96d66aa251f), at 400 watts. But what is it about things that plug in and make _whirrr whirrrr_ noises that makes men start grunting like Tim Allen? ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/2 "2006-05-12T13:52:05Z")
KItchenaid’s sister company Hobart makes commercial mixers and other things. I think they would be pretty spendy, even if you bought one used. What does he think he needs that kind of power for? Grinding up the neighbor’s kids with the grinder attachment? 😛 As for the men/power tool thing, I got nothin’. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/3 "2006-05-12T13:56:43Z")
1000 watts?!? That sounds commercial bakery size to me. I love my KitchenAid–I wouldn’t be without it. It is a sturdy dependable workhorse and has been going strong for me for 17 years. It’s well worth it, IMO. Now, as for men and power tools–who knows? I think they are hardwired for loud, shiny things. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/4 "2006-05-12T14:08:09Z")
Power = Good. It’s that basic. In the competiton for breeding females, you have to have an attractor. Peacocks have that tail, for example. To us, more power is like having a bigger rack of antlers. Plus, you never know when you are going to need to frappé concrete. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/5 "2006-05-12T14:09:01Z")
It’s like driving a motorcycle or a powerful car. It’s the need to not only build but control something powerful and bend it to our need and will. Also, it scares the wimmins and makes you run for help to us manly men for protection. \ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/6 "2006-05-12T14:10:32Z")
Just a guess: it’s because they’re AWESOME! I make my own wine, and there’s nothing like stirring it up with a special drill-mounted stirring arm. Seriously, though, they just make things easier. I could spend several minutes stirring six gallons of wine by hand, or 30 seconds with the cordless drill. Same with drilling holes in the wall to mount shelving or whatever - hella lot easier with a cordless drill. Screwing in a screw? Twenty seconds by hand, one second with the drill. When I had to cut up some two-by-fours back in college, I sure wished I had a power saw - and kind of power saw! - instead of my dinky hand-saw. Maybe it’s because guys generally do more of the sawing, drilling, etc. that they appreciate how great power tools are. Oh, and Kitchenaid mixers are the best. I don’t know how much wattage mine has; my mom gave me hers when she moved out-of-country. I’m so in love with it. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/7 "2006-05-12T14:21:12Z")
Is a 325 watt one fine for home use? Of course, I buy a 325 watt one and Ivylad will be disappointed. He didn’t look at attachments, he didn’t look at color, he didn’t look at the number of speeds. He’s all about the wattage. I’m thinking you need a pilot’s license to operate a 1000 watt one. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/8 "2006-05-12T14:25:22Z")
ivy, look at it this way - at least you’re part of the decision. When Mr2U asks, “Honey, do you love me?” I just respond with, “What did you buy?” [Oh, and here’s a 1000 watt mixer.](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4447370635&category=20679) It’s only $500 bucks!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/9 "2006-05-12T14:33:23Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Is a 325 watt one fine for home use? Of course, I buy a 325 watt one and Ivylad will be disappointed. He didn’t look at attachments, he didn’t look at color, he didn’t look at the number of speeds. He’s all about the wattage. > > I’m thinking you need a pilot’s license to operate a 1000 watt one. 😉 Unless you’re making cheesecakes and bread dough or grinding meat for 12 hours a day, the 325 watt is ample for home use. Heck, the smallest at 250 watts is strong enough to stir 6 pounds of mashed potatoes. The biggest issue for most home users is how big of the bowl do you need. If you bake large batches, you might upgrade to the bigger sizes. The biggest home KitchenAide is the Professional 600 Series which at 575 watts is overkill for most people. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/10 "2006-05-12T14:37:11Z")
phfft. That’s not a mixer [this](http://www.discount-equipment.com/category/4993/) is a mixer ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/11 "2006-05-12T14:37:30Z")
Actually you should do a little research on these first. The biggest quality issues with the KA mixers is some of the lesser rated ones have nylon instead of metal gears. For normal household use it _probably_ won’t matter, but if I was buying one, I’d go for the the metal gears, confident that it would most likely outlive me. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/12 "2006-05-12T14:48:41Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > The biggest issue for most home users is how big of the bowl do you need. If you bake large batches, you might upgrade to the bigger sizes. The biggest home KitchenAide is the Professional 600 Series which at 575 watts is overkill for most people. Sigh…I don’t think that matters. If I asked him the quart size and the number of speeds he wants, I think he’ll just grunt and point to the label that says, “Wattage.”\* I just can’t see spending $500 for Father’s Day. I’m going to see about the 400 watt one. Maybe I’ll get it in neon green just to annoy him. 😃 \*He’s not a He-Man Woman-Hater, really. It’s just that’s all he’s mentioned, the _power, the BIG POWER_. ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/13 "2006-05-12T14:56:06Z")
[pounds chest] HARharHARharHARharharHAR![sup]\*[/sup] More power! (I dunno; we like to think we’re big and strong so we want big tools that make us stronger. The stronger the better. When they come out with a bio-feedback strength enhancing suit, you can be damn sure that I’ll go get one!) \*Howdaheck do you type up that noise, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/14 "2006-05-12T14:56:06Z")
I fail to see your problem here - this is of direct benefit to you, you do realize that? 'Course, I’m biased - I’ve got one of the KA Professional mixers (I think it’s the Professional5 series; my dad bought it for me) and I loves it. I don’t use it all that often, but it absolutely cannot be beat when I need it. And SpouseO uses it to bake me fresh bread. Again, I fail to see the problem here. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/15 "2006-05-12T15:02:23Z")
I have that 325 watt model in black. It’s awesome, and more than sufficient for home use. Maybe not sufficient for **Ivylad** if he’s all about the power, but it’ll mix up pretty much anything you might need for home use. I think my husband even mixed grout with it. Damn thing weighs a billion pounds, though. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/16 "2006-05-12T15:02:30Z")
The problem is 1)I am the tightwad, and I hate spending money. And Ivylad wants the big shiny one with the maximum wattage you can legally get. 2)I think if I were to get the perfectly adequate one at the lesser power, he’d be hurt. So, basically, I’m going to be 3)spending money (which I hate) on something more powerful than we will ever need. Which leads to 4)I am perfectly happy with our $10 hand mixer we bought at Target. The things we do for love. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/17 "2006-05-12T15:36:49Z")
Okay, he wants five quarts. I’ve asked him if he’s planning on opening a restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/18 "2006-05-12T15:44:07Z")
Kudos to **IvyLad**. Get ribbed by the wife for buying a macho high powered tool, get ribbed by his male friends for buying a girly _kitchen appliance_. The man has balls. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/19 "2006-05-12T15:48:37Z")
Power is all about being fully prepared for any possible contingency, and knowing well that it doesn’t matter what it is, you’ll be able to handle it quickly and efficiently. Sure, most of the time that 1000-watt mixer will be kneading dough or mixing cocktails or just being run dry just to experience its awesome power, but if, one day, he is unexpectedly called upon to make a thousand loaves of dark, coarse rye to send to the troops in Iraq, he’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that he can confidently answer the call of duty. Plus. The sense of exhilaration associated with operating machinery that could kill or maim does much to revive a man’s _joi de vivre_ and mitigate the fact that said machinery is being used for otherwise dreadfully mundane domestic tasks. I can guarantee that if you get The Mother of All Mixers, the first time he used it he’d have to fight the overwhelming compulsion to gush about what it does to whatever he puts in it. _“Jeez, look at that! Will you look at how quickly it turns this zucchini into paste? And it kicks the livng crap out of nuts. I bet if I put some peanuts in there, a little oil, salt and sugar, this thing could whip out some peanut butter in, like, seconds.”_ ---
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/20 "2006-05-12T15:51:55Z")
Hmmm. 5 quarts and 575 watts… I wonder if I could actually mix kringle dough in that? The stuff is so thick and gooey that I have to do it by hand normally – I use a bowl that’s probably 2.5 feet across (no clue as to the volume) and a potato masher. And as to the more power thing? It’s a primal urge. Don’t ask me to explain primal urges. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498.md?page=2)