Waring Immersion Blender Shaft Length: WSB55, WSB60 or WSB600X
Waring's Big Stix booklet limits submersion to 3/4 of the shaft, so pot depth decides between the 14 in. WSB55 and the 16 in. WSB60 or WSB600X. Plus when a countertop MX1000XTX does the job better.
In this guide
Pick a Waring Big Stix immersion blender by how deep your pots get. Waring's Big Stix booklet for the WSB55 and WSB60 says not to submerge more than 3/4 of the shaft, so the 14 in. shaft on the WSB55 can go about 10.5 in. into the liquid and the 16 in. shaft on the WSB60 about 12 in. The WSB600X booklet gives no figure; with the same 16 in. length, plan on the same 12 in. Waring rates the WSB55 for batches up to 15 gal and both 16 in. models up to 25 gal. For small batches of frozen drinks, smoothies or dressings, a countertop blender like the MX1000XTX does a different job.
Shaft length and pot depth
Only the shaft and the blade guard are designed to go into liquid. The power pack must stay out. Waring's booklet for the WSB55 and WSB60 sets the limit at 3/4 of the shaft length and asks you to angle the blender slightly, stir, and keep the blade off the bottom of the pot.
| Model | Shaft | Max. submersion | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| WSB55 | 14 in. | about 10.5 in. | 15 gal (60 qt) |
| WSB60 | 16 in. | about 12 in. | 25 gal (100 qt) |
| WSB600X | 16 in. | about 12 in. | 25 gal (100 qt) |
The submersion figures are 3/4 of each shaft length, rounded. Measure the liquid in your deepest pot, not the pot itself, and pick the shaft whose figure covers it.
Warning Don't lift the blender out of the liquid while it's running, or it splatters. For hot liquids, Waring says to use a tall container to reduce spillage.
WSB55 or WSB60
The two share the same power pack: a 1 HP, 750 W variable-speed motor with up to 18,000 RPM, a speed knob from 1 to 9 and a cord-wrap knob that doubles as a second handle. The difference is the shaft and what it reaches. The WSB55 has a 14 in. shaft and a 15 gal capacity, the WSB60 a 16 in. shaft and 25 gal. The WSB60 is 31 in. tall and weighs 11.2 lb, the WSB55 is 27 in. and 10 lb.
To start either one, press the safety switch and the power trigger together. You can let go of the safety switch, but the unit runs only while the trigger is held. Waring's spec sheets list a Continuous ON feature for both, but the instruction booklet says the unit stays on only as long as the power trigger is held. Plan on holding the trigger.
WSB600X: same shaft length, more motor
The WSB600X is from Waring's EvolutionX line. It has a 16 in. shaft, as long as the shaft on the WSB60, and the same 25 gal capacity, with a 1.5 HP, 1,145 W motor.
- An electronic control panel with speeds 1–9, LED indicators and +/- buttons instead of a knob.
- A continuous run mode: hold the control panel power button and a trigger for 3 seconds until the speed display flashes, then let go. Pressing either one stops it.
- A pivoting second handle with 7 positions and a dual-trigger handle.
- A 10 ft cord against 12 ft on the WSB55 and WSB60.
Tip Waring offers the WSBBC bowl clamp for all three to hold the blender on the pot. Only the WSB600X booklet describes a continuous run mode, so on the WSB55 and WSB60 plan on holding the trigger. The couplings are user replaceable on all three as well.
When the MX1000XTX countertop blender fits better
The MX1000XTX is a countertop blender with a 64 oz container, a 3½ peak HP motor and up to 30,000 RPM. Waring pitches it for ice and frozen fruit mixtures, smoothies, frozen drinks, thick spreads, desserts and dressings, and recommends it for 75+ cycles per day. That suits a bar, a coffee shop or a station that makes the same drink many times a shift.
It's the wrong tool for a stockpot of hot soup. For hot materials, which Waring defines as 100°F (38°C) or hotter, its booklet limits each batch to 1 pint, with the center of the two-piece lid removed and the blender started on the lowest speed. A Big Stix blends in the pot instead.
Picking one
- Pots with liquid up to about 10.5 in. deep, batches up to 15 gal: the Waring WSB55.
- Liquid up to about 12 in. deep, batches up to 25 gal: the Waring WSB60.
- The same reach as the WSB60 with a stronger motor, electronic speed control and a continuous run mode: the Waring WSB600X.
- Small batches of frozen drinks, smoothies and dressings: the Waring MX1000XTX.
More equipment for restaurant kitchens is in Commercial Kitchen.
FAQ
What size immersion blender do I need?
Size it by the depth of the liquid in your deepest pot. Waring's Big Stix booklet says to submerge no more than 3/4 of the shaft, which is about 10.5 in. for the 14 in. WSB55 and about 12 in. for the 16 in. WSB60. The WSB600X booklet gives no figure, so plan on the same 12 in. for its 16 in. shaft. Waring rates the WSB55 for up to 15 gal and the 16 in. models for up to 25 gal.
How long can you run an immersion blender?
Waring's booklets for the Big Stix models give no run-time limit. They have thermal protection instead: if the blender stops under heavy use, switch it off, unplug it and give the motor approximately 5 minutes to cool. The WSB55 and WSB60 reset automatically, the WSB600X has a manual reset switch.
How many watts should an immersion blender be?
Within the Big Stix line, the WSB55 and WSB60 have 750 W motors and the WSB600X a 1,145 W motor. The WSB60 and WSB600X both have 16 in. shafts and a 25 gal capacity, so the extra watts don't change how deep or how big a batch you can blend.
Specifications come from Waring's documents: the Big Stix instruction booklet, the EvolutionX instruction booklet, the WSB55, WSB60, WSB600X and MX1000XTX spec sheets, and the MX series instruction booklet.