I understand that from the outside it might seem like overreacting, but I 've found so many bugs everywhere in this machine + I am genuinely phobic when it comes to these... There was no way in a million years that I would have kept this machine which could have contaminated my whole space ! For the record, I had bought everything for it including new paint and cables. I guess when fear is irrational there's not much to do. Anyways, I will keep looking for another option ! 😁👍
1) Get it out of your work space before you clean it. 2) Get a friend / pay someone to deal specifically with the insects. 3) Clean and re-build it. Otherwise, you may as well just admit that the whole effort is a fishing expedition for a sweet sponsorship deal. Not a good look.
I can understand this reasoning bro, was a bit confusing at first look as cleaning would make it OK IMHO. Having a proper fear for creepy crawlies I can get behind, me I wouldn't in a million years use a shower smelling of a damp fungal infested cellar, I feel for you bro! Good luck in finding a replacement or I can come clean it out for you and them you can sort it out, might need a heads up on that though as I'm located in Sweden 🤪
So... Why exactly did you reject the mixer then? You yourself said it's 25 years old, and it's clearly not been maintained properly clean. Give it a good clean and disinfect it with some off the shelf cleaning agent, and it'll be perfectly fine
the problem isn't the cleaning guys it is actually that bugs could enter there again and start living there again since it is a place that roaches and that kind of stuff like, and can enter easily so it isn't worth the risk...
So there WAS bugs in this mixer. That doesn't mean there will be bugs in in the future. Clean it up. Seal up any holes, if it needs air flow, seal the holes with insect screen.
indeed. Granted, he does not want to risk an infection in the studio. But then take it outside, and service it far, far away. Can even fog the inside of the machine with vaporized hydrogen peroxide afterwards. That is hospital and lab levels of disinfectant.
but if you clean it it won't be dirty anymore? The insects are already dead and bleach will kill any bacteria they may have left behind. I am having trouble understanding. Are you worried that the mixer will be haunted by the ghosts of the bugs in the electrical panel? It makes sense, if it was a commercial machine seeing a lot of daily use, that 25 years worth of little airborne flour particles would accumulate in the hardest to reach places, places that your average bakery employee would probably never open. I work in a professional kitchen and even during the deepest of deep cleans, I would never open the electrical panel of any of our equipment, I am a chef not an electrician! But here, you've already done the hard part and opened it all up! I saw the bottle of acetone! Don't stop now! Put on some gloves, say a prayer and exorcise those bug spirits!
Yeah it wasn't that dirty. Don't be lazy, Alex. Man up and clean this thing! Think of the environment. Bleach, wire-brushes, alcohol a paint-job. You've come this far.
Or you can disassemble it, sand-blast and powder coat it. And it would be like new. I'm pretty sure you can find sand-blasting/powder-coating service in or around Paris.
Love how 90% of the comments are about how you should just clean the machine you got. Frankly I was surprised when you said you wanted to ditch it, because it runs contrary to what I've learned to expect from you.
Marauder Noir actually most commercial food spaces have bugs or a greater potential for bugs because of the bug attracting ingredients. That is why most commercial kitchens have contracts with pest control companies
Alex, be strong! Have you considered fully disassembling the mixer and removing all the electrical parts in order to strip, sand and re-paint the steel? I think that could be done in a few days time and result in a very nice re-furbished mixer. One suggestion could also be to keep the raw steel look and use a clear-coat automotive spray to seal it from future corrosion.
Clean it with 3 ingredients, Bleach (complete) including cable, A Sponge with Baking Soda mixed with Water for though stains and finally Bar Keepers friend for the Stainless Steel parts. It will be much more cleaner and better than new and you´ll be 100% sure of it.
the problem isn't the cleaning guys it is actually that bugs could enter there again and start living there again since it is a place that roaches and that kind of stuff like, and can enter easily so it isn't worth the risk...
I've seen those BE10s at use. They might be old af, ugly af and that might be dirty af, but they are also tough af. If you think cleaning it is insufficient, completely disassemble it and have the frame sandblasted and repainted. Because that thing is a horkhorse and a half.
You do understand that: 1) Dead insects are dead and can't make more insects? 2) Taking dead insects out of something means that that thing won't have dead insects in it any more? 3) Cleaning something makes it clean?
Having a piece of old industrial equipment with has dead insects isn't the problem. The problem lays when you have something that shouldn't ever be used to make food because of the potential of the rust and hidden dead insects to contaminate food and other things around the shop.
Same, and even if he couldn't use the frame, wouldn't it be cheaper than to have just built a new chassis for the whole thing, I mean he has all the electronics and motor for the mixer already
Shaun Stephens Don’t get too down on him. He updated his response in the comments. He took a risk on a used machine and it was loaded with bugs. Instead of selling it and trying again he’s going to leverage his reach and try to get a new one. Partnerships between youtubers and companies are mutually beneficial. Alex gets a new mixer, the company get advertising and a better reputation. I just don’t want to discourage Alex, he’s always doing good work :)
shhhhh.... don't spoil the secret James Stark: "Also Alex: has yeast in the studio" Alex: Throws out all bread making supplies and begins extensive 1-year detox program at the ranch
Yeah he even changed the channel name from 'french guy cooking' to just 'Alex' so he could do maker videos (and get maker viewers who might be turned off by the 'cooking' tag). Then when he has a perfect opportunity to get the thing removed and professionally de-bugged (if that's what it takes to get over phobia) and then refurbish it he instead fishes for sponsors. This is not the Alex I subscribed to.
@@InXLsisDeo I get that but surely it was extremely foreseeable that a commercial food prep machine that had been standing around for decades, some of it in a storage yard would be a roach haven? ("Bugs" are insects with piercing and sucking mouthparts so I doubt there were any actual bugs in it.)
In my experience, a great source of used professional cooking equipment is hospital kitchens, many hospitals are phasing out in house cooking food prep for premade food, eliminating the need for equipment that may still be quite new. At least here in ontario, Canada.
@@justbeing7628 he just said that the bugs were near the electrical system. He could still totally clean that. Everything electrical is still made of parts. He can take everything apart and clean the electrical components too. Douse everything in IPA kills bugs and cuts through grease and doesn't hurt electronics.
Omg! I don’t get why everyone is hating???? He didn’t want to buy the damn machine it’s his choice! He doesn’t have to have a « valid reason » just get over it and enjoy this beautiful series!!!! Thanks alex for your amazing job
Ewww I happened to clean ice coffee machine at my work at coffee shop, they also bought used one, but I myself couldn't demount it, and manager refused to get qualified help, and just told me to deal with it and just start making drinks in it. That ware maggots in it >< I refused and told that if he won't deal with it I'll better quit that place. I was the only barista at the time so he fixed it finally.
You could fix it up. Bugs can be removed and cleaned out. Sand the machine and give it a nice new paint job. Seems a waste to just give up because you see a bug. Lame.
A whole week for this. I know RU-vid is hard but you have made great content and I feel recently it has been a little less substantial I know you can do it Alex
I don't understand. Just do periodic cleaning like any commercial kitchen. And yes, when you're cleaning you find bugs. So you *clean* them. I'm a bit lost.
Please make a video where you totally take apart the mixer and clean & repaint it. That'd be great! There might have been bugs in the machine long ago, but if they're cleaned out and your Studio has no bugs in it, they won't spontaneously appear in the mixer!
Does it feel good to always have the lowest opinion and interpretion of someone when something goes wrong? Is "i have phobia of these things" not good enough for you? Seriously, grow up and let people live.
Just clean it and add some sort of screen to prevent bugs will go in again. Also this machine is not the only possible place bugs might find a comfortable house where to live. Your room seems to offer many other possibilities to them.
Alex: you are so cool, I introduced you to my youngest son and shared your link to him. His name is Alex too and he just graduated from Penn State U. You are so inspiring to a lot of people and you could be one of France's great asset to the world and our love for Croissant is to the heavens. Peace, love, safety and good health to you. Live Happily. Love unconditionally. Forgive often so that way you can continue to share your videos with the world.
Alex, Alec here. Just take it to a good engine rebuild shop they clean it for about $50 and it will be stabilized. They normally have a high-temp pressure washer.
Are you insane?!? Take it outside and clean it....Once it's clean, it is safe. Unless you have bugs already in your kitchen, there is no way having that machine would make them appear.
If youi're already pulling it apart, just clean it and disinfect it. Don't let an old machine get you down, I'm stull using the Kenwood mixer my Grandmother bought sometime in the early 60's. Sure, I've replaced some of the electronics (capacitor blew up a couple of years ago), but it still works and after the last strip down, is very clean again.
Your content is already amazingly creative which is setting you apart from most creators here... so please don't fall into that category of being a clickbait-titel-channel ! Keep up the amazing work, Alex !
Hey Alex, there may be a commercial shop that rebuilds / repairs appliances of this type near you. They often have used machines for sale, in good repair and maybe even a warranty.
That mixer would make for a great restoration video/series. It would pay for itself in views. That thing can be saved I think. Plus while you’re in there you can service that motor. It probably needs fresh grease and a good cleaning.
ok alex, now you wait for the free "sponsor" mixer and you can tell your friend he played his part well and can come take back his mixer............grin
Just clean it, any brand you buy will have nooks and crannies that can harbor bugs. Look closely at the machines in the bakery where you are interning.
I'd recommend giving it a good vacuum and scrub-down, then polishing the chrome bits and painting the rest a colour that matches the space. It's not particularly hard, but it does require time which will eat into the croissant project's time, just like any restoration project. But if you say it's a good brand and it works fine, it's probably worth it. Also, leboncoin is a great site. My dad bought some vintage Peugeot bikes for restoration, crazy how many things there are!
Alex, he called you a Savage because you set your mixer to max, walk away, and don't time it. With this method you risk over mixing and creating too much gluten. Neither of those bakers have commercial mixers at home. Commercial mixers are only for restaurants as they need to make very large quantities of dough. There is no home advantage to having one.
Alex, You should purchase a FAMAG IM-8S spiral mixer. They are made in Italy and have a removable bowl and are very easy to clean. I make all of my Sourdough Bread/Croissant with this machine. They have many different sizes. I believe the IM-8S is the perfect size for dough mixing in the quantities I produce.
I literally don't understand what the problem was with that mixer... it's dirty... clean it then... there's bugs... Kill them with an off the shelf product... there's holes that future bugs can make nests in... well get a product that will fill those holes... The is literally no excuse to reject that mixer if it's mechanically working as it should. This just feels like unnecessary drama to extend the series by an episode.
Alex, just do a full teardown and rebuild on the case. I know you're not overreacting from a culinary equipment standpoint, but from a DIY used machine refurbish perspective you are. It's a worthy project that just needs some elbow grease, cleaner, primer/paint, and a maybe an angle grinder with a wire brush wheel. Heck you could even upgrade the unit to use a VFD for fine speed control. Throw in a micro controller and you could even have it do variable speed programs and timed/temperature dependent processes.
1:40 the white mixer is a spiral mixer, this mixer has a special way of kneading the dough without overheating it like the silver one which is called a planetary mixer, Vito iacopeli compared his authentico mixer which is an 8 liter spiral mixer vs a kitchenaid which is a planetary, he sells these mixers for €1000 and they have 10 speeds and a timer.
Ah, come on Alex. You had the mixer you want. You would have cleaned the thing thoroughly anyway, so why bother that there were bugs inside? I don't get it... Best luck anyway that someone knows someone ;-)
Take it to a remote location and clean it. You could even build a booth to enclose it and either fill it with dry ice and kill every living thing in it with extended -20º temperatures or gas it with a bleach/ammonia solution. then take it apart, replace the wiring, clean everything, and put it all together. You're the engineer!
A video to show a mixer you bought but won’t clean to tell everyone you need to start over to buy a mixer again 🤔 Not a great video in my opinion. Sorry
Sdtok his channel is always interesting because it gives a different look at cooking along with the Maker influence. When he began to disassemble I assumed he would refurbish and make it better. Just an odd use of an 11 minute video in my opinion.
@@dimitar4y I agree that this video isn't that great, but you really came out swinging on this comment. Like he is still basically the same guy doing the same things. Sure the croissant series is a bit less Alex then usual but not enough to warrent your comment imo
Disassemble the whole thing, scrub it with a brush and soapy water, clean it again with bleach/rubbing alkohol, assemle it gack together. No need to sell it
After 25 years in a commercial kitchen I'm surprised they didn't come scurrying out as soon as he opened it up. Clean it up, disinfect it and call it good.
Alex I respect that you want and need a cleaner machine. Food safety should not be compromised and it isn’t easy to get rid of bugs once you get them... harsh and hazardous chemicals are needed... who wants that. Good luck with the search. Can hardly wait to see what you find and better yet make with it.... Bagels perhaps?
Restoration is your answer sir .... since it made from metal restoration process 100% possible some professional youtubers gonna love to to make that and i mean it for real
You should buy a Bosch Universal Kitchen machine. It's made for dough and it can handle up to 4,5 kg of dough (available on internet at 250 euros in France). Other possibility, if you want professional grade machine from a recognized company, used in bakery for small batches : the Santos petrin 10 liters (4kg of dough) - arround 800 Euros - brand new. The first one (bosch) is a batteur melangeur, so it's able to mix eggs and any other stuff while the Santos is only for mixing dough.
I have a Bjørn Varimixer 10l from 1997, still going strong. It's a 3 phase 400 V though. Most of these machines can be rewired and run 230 V 1 phase. My local electrician charged me 20€ for the rewiring, as I wasn't comfortable doing it my self. My advise, don't go for pizza dough mixers, those with the fixed kneading fixture. They are usually pretty beat up, and the smaller form factor makes it harder to fix them yourself.
I'm not sure if it's in your price range but I would suggest the Ankarsrum Assistent. Perfect for making dough, 1500 watt engine and a 7 liter bowl and more compact than that big machine.
Cant clean it? is that a French thing? Edit: Take the mixer apart as far as possible. Clean the bad parts but use sand paper on the paint and strip it to the metal. repaint it whatever beutiful colors you want and it will be perfect clean and look the way you want it.
Clean it! Clean it! Clean it! I was looking forward to a good teardown, sandblast, repaint (metal flake color of your choice) , 3D print a new knob or two. Something that when done, would truly be personalized by/for Alex!
Alex, I love to buy used equipment from auctions of a closing restaurant or food market Often any used equipment will also be dirty. So just keep what you have and clean it
We are sooooo lucky here in the USA because Hobart is here and has been here nearly a century. That means KitchenAid and commercial Hobart mixers are everywhere; new, used, like new, received as gift but never used, and anything else. All for very reasonable $$$
Check for local stores that recently close down, check local auction, etc ... My dad is a pastry chef in Lyon and bought a lot of stuff from shops that were closing
Disappointing video, not only clickbait but also NO progress afterall. It was basiclly just nonsense, to show this in a video... it wasnt a fail or something you could draw conclusions from.
Oooo 955k subscribers. Toulouse trip..cassoulet, foie gras..love the usual French shop assistant enthusiasm. Ahh the good corner...French Craigslist. I bought a horse that way.
Dear Alex, Take heart! You are NOT alone. I know that I relate - to being let down hard, when expectations are high. May the outcome from all this serve you well. Love always, Bonnie
