Panasonic MK-G20NR Meat Grinder Review

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(More customer reviews)We are originally from Eastern Europe and meat is a huge part of our diet. Initially we used hand powered meat grinder and when I say use I mean on a weekly basis. Finally we got tired of it and decided to upgrade our kitchen equipment.
We tried 4 different electric meat grinders before we got to this one from Krups to Kitchen Aid but they all had problems till we got to this one. Then finally we got this one and o boy it was great. We use it on a weekly basis and it holds its own against any meat we through into it. Cleaning is a snap and the whole experience is awesome.
Several points to consider when buying electric meat grinder:
1) Anything less than 550 watts will get clogged by meat fibers.
2) If blades are not Stainless still they WILL rust.
3) This machine has all the attachments you'll ever need in a meat grinders and they are great quality and will last you a lifetime without rusting
P.S. This machine is so good we bought one for my mother and most importantly one for my mother-in-law and they both love it.


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Features: Large metal hopper. Meat feeder included. Stainless steel cutting blade. Equipped with all metal parts except for the meat feeder. Circuit breaker helps protect your motor when overloaded. Three cutting plates to choose from: fine, medium, and coarse. Comes with recipe ideas to assist you with cooking. Dimensions: 12.2"H x 15.2"W x 6.5"D. Sausage attachment.

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Vita-Mix 1320 Professional Series, Platinum Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My wife and I have two Vita-Mix blenders. We bought one at a fair 6 years ago, and picked up a new-in-the-box commercial model at an auction about 3 years ago. We have used both heavily. Vita-Mix blenders are tall (too tall to fit under typical kitchen cabinets), heavy, loud, and very, very effective. Like most, we've burned through any number of typical home blenders. The Vita-Mix blenders last.
Customer service is superb. We've had exactly one problem - the variable speed dial got really difficult to turn. With about two weeks go to on the original 5-year warranty (warranties have changed since - they're longer now), Vita-Mix fixed the base, including paying shipping both ways, and also told us to send along the container so they could make sure it was in good shape - and then replaced the blade for us.
Vita-Mix blenders come with a tamper, and a lid designed to take the tamper. Most of the time you don't need it. It comes in handy for very thick, very cold blends, like thick smoothies, ice cream, etc. You will absolutely, positively need to have a tamper - or stop and use a scraper - with ANY blender, no matter how powerful, the shape of the container, or configuration of the blades. "Tamper" is actually something of a misnomer. While it is used to tamp at times, it actually changes the mixing dynamics by effectively taking up part of the volume at the center of the container, eliminating cavitation in mixes where that's helpful.
The Vita-Mix base units are heavy because they use heavy-duty motors. Don't be taken in by competing companies' horsepower claims with lighter-duty motors with half the weight. The competitors hit higher horsepower ratings by running their motors at higher speeds. All blender motors run fast, of course, and bumping up the horsepower by pulling more amps this way can be appropriate for some motor applications, but you can't consider one factor in a vacuum. The Vita-Mix motors are heavy, and heavy motors last longer by using heavier cores and windings, both of which make the motor stand up longer to heavy use and heat without breaking down. Vita-Mix containers also employ a heavy flywheel below the blades. That, in conjunction with the heavier-duty motor, is what gives you longevity, and the ability to chop heavy stuff for years. If you look at the motor-to-container connector, you will also see that the Vita-Mix uses a larger diameter connector - less stress, more life, and lower possibility of stripping.
I do wish they were quieter, but the competitors are in the same ballpark, claims to the contrary notwithstanding. The height can be dealt with by simply storing the container away from the base (which we leave on the countertop). My only real complaint is the cost of extra containers. I'd love one of the 32oz containers, but think $100-$120 (typical price at a fair)is too much.

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"It's not a blender - It's a Vita-Mix!"Ordinary blenders can't begin to approach the speed nor the results you'll enjoy while using the powerful Vita-Mix machine.Like no other kitchen appliance available, the Professional Series Vita-Mix, multi-tasking appliance will unlock the deep rich flavor treasures hidden in all your select ingredients.You can create dishes the way professional chefs do.It easily handles the work of many appliances so you can blend, puree, chop, juice, grind and more, all in this one versatile machine!An easel-design recipe booksaves counter space and is packed with over 300 full-color, easy-to-follow, step-by-step recipes and tips from top-rated chefs.Instructional DVD and owner's manual included.

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Viking Professional 5 -quart Stand Mixer Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this mixer!! I began researching the countertop mixers after reading the poor reviews on the KitchenAid. This mixer works wonderfully! I use spouted whole grain flour to make everything from cookies to bread; it is a very heavy and dense flour to work with, but no problem for this mixer at all. I even made sprouted whole grain oatmeal raisin chip cookies and it mixed all the ingreidents very quickly and perfectly. This receipe used to bog down my old hand mixer and I would end up mixing by hand...forever. This is a wonderful machine and I am so glad I bought it. FYI, it is heavy, but has wheels in the base that allow you to roll it accross the counter.

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Eight hundred watts of power and planetary mixing action ensure efficient mixing and beating. Not only can this heavy duty stand mixer knead even the toughest whole grain bread dough into submission, it also has a sufficient range of settings, allowing it to tenderly beat a meringue. Locking pop up heads make clean up snap. A special stirring speed helps prevent flour pouf, and liquid splatter during the initial mixing stage. Max speed is engineered for whipping custards, cream, and meringues - in other words when you want to incorporate maximum air. There are numerous attachments available for this unit to increase its multi-tasking capabilities. If you've become a fan of Viking's reliability, quality and style, no doubt this stand mixer would be a most welcome addition to your kitchen.

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HealthMaster LWHM Living Well/Montel 1100-Watt 2-Quart Fruit-and-Vegetable Emulsifier Review

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(More customer reviews)UPDATE 9/9/2010: This unit has been out for awhile now, and the complaints are rising steadily, not only here at Amazon, but other sites as well. The complaints, that surface either immediately or within 6 months are: Leaking containers,motors that burn out emitting an electrical odor that sometimes will trip your circuit breakers, container lid is hard to remove and put back on, terrible customer service (from the healthmaster site and not amazon), and now, a poster said that the container is not safe to use because of the plastic, and will emit chemicals into your food! Now, QVC is selling a new and improved Healthmaster, called the Healthmaster VS. It is now BPA free, (the container on this one isn't)they nixed the digital display and the design went back to the old Jack La Lanne style using flip switches and dials. There are already negative reviews of the new machine. PLEASE do your research before buying this product! If you have a leaking container, put clear water into the container and run on speed 8 for about 30 seconds, if it becomes discolored then oil is getting into your mixtures!
MY ORIGINAL REVIEW :This unit is a Jack La Lanne Healthmaster, redesigned with a new digital display, and costs more. I owned the Jack La Lanne, and within 6 months, the bearings stripped, and a rust color was dripping from the container, with the food being tainted by rust on the blades. I threw it out and bought a Vitamix. The same problems are beginning to surface with this machine problems develop either immediately or within 3 to 6 months of use. A neighbor, who loves Montel, and ignored my warnings, bought this machine through the healthmaster website. Within 3 days, the motor burnt out. It took several weeks to get a replacement. Upon receiving the replacement, the motor burnt out again. She returned the unit for a refund, and has yet to receive it. She paid for the extra warranty, and HM did not pay for the shipping to return it (the warranty is bogus, if you read the fine print, the warranty can be voided), YOU have to pay for it. This machine does what it is supposed to do, it makes good smoothies, but simply isn't powerful enough and cannot handle the strain. Other reviews on other sites state the same thing. The infomercial, has the same woman that was on the infomercial for jack la lanne.If you must, buy it here, the return policy is much better, however I recommend that you spend a few extra bucks and get a Vitamix, which I have had for several years now with absolutely no problems, and has a automatic 7 year guarantee,excellent customer service, and they pay for shipping. You get what you pay for. Give yourself, or your loved ones, a better machine than this, especially for xmas.

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Equipped with an 1100-watt almost-2-horsepower motor, this fruit-and-vegetable emulsifier goes way beyond a standard countertop blender. What can't be done with the machine might be easier to mention, but without intending to overwhelm, here's a short list of what it can do: juice whole fruits and vegetables, make ice cream and frozen yogurt, simmer soup, create dips and salsas, blend fruit smoothies and milkshakes, grind nut butters, whisk salad dressings, melt chocolate and cheese, and puree party dips, or use it to grate cheese from coarse to fine, whip cream, mince garlic and herbs, mash potatoes, chop veggies, dice onions, cream butter, aerate egg whites for fluffy meringues, mix up drinks and cocktails, or crush up to 2 quarts of ice in seconds. The versatile appliance replaces 20 different kitchen appliances, including a blender, a mini chopper, a 10-inch cook's knife, a coffee and spice mill/grinder, a cheese/veggie grater, a juicer, a meat grinder, a snow-cone maker, an ice-cream maker, a smoothie maker, a soy milk maker, and a latte whip or other milk-frothing device--just to name a few. The kitchen appliance features a digital emulsification system that pulverizes and liquefies whole fruits and vegetables in seconds, and its centrifugal friction "cooks" foods naturally, retaining the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phyto-nutrients. Choose from a variety of one-touch controls, including eight variable speed settings. The machine also provides commercial-grade wet/dry culinary blades that never need replacing and an extra-large 70-ounce (2 quart) polycarbonate-plastic pitcher with measuring marks up the side, a generous easy-grip handle, a drip-free pouring spout, and a secure-fitting lid with a built-in safety valve that releases steam and pressure when making soup. For added safety, the unit must be properly assembled or it will not turn on; it will also turn off automatically to prevent overheating. Dishwasher-safe parts make cleanup a snap, and four bonus recipe books and a healthy eating plan come included. Endorsed by Montel Williams, the fruit-and-vegetable emulsifier measures 21 by 12-3/4 by 16-1/2 inches and carries a 60-day warranty with a 100-year warranty on the motor.

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Vitamix CIA Professional Countertop Blender with 2+ HP Motor, Platinum Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had my platinum Vita-Mix 1363 CIA (Culinary Institute of America) model blender for just over a month. So far, I am loving it! I have definitely increased my consumption of fruits and vegetables since getting it. I start most mornings off with a smoothie now. I throw in whatever fruit is in season (I love berries, but I've used peaches, nectarines, plums, grapes, apples, bananas and various frozen fruits), a scoop or two of protein powder, milk or water, a couple handfuls of fresh spinach, a couple handfuls of ice and sweetener if needed. Surprisingly, the spinach doesn't noticeably change the flavor, but it does boost the nutritional content of the smoothie. In less than 10 minutes I can have my smoothie made, poured into a "to go" cup and have the machine all clean (just add warm water and a couple drops of dish soap- turn it on for 30 seconds, then empty and rinse the container). The smoothies always turn out 100% smooth- berry seeds, apple seeds, ice and other hard bits are totally pulverized and drinkable. I've made great low-cal salad dressings using fresh herbs, garlic, low fat cottage cheese, a splash of milk and salt (if you prefer, you could use Ranch dressing mix with cottage cheese and milk). I made a very satisfying tomato soup with home grown tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, onion and salt. I've made great blended piña coladas, too! I'm having a lot of fun experimenting with different recipes. Because the Vita-Mix processes foods quickly, I'm actually finding that I'm making healthier eating choices. It's faster for me to put together a salad with pre-washed greens, veggies and homemade dressing than it is to go to the nearest fast food restaurant... and in the end, it's more satisfying and a LOT healthier. Yes, this is an expensive machine, but I think it will pay for itself within the first two years by reducing my spending on going out to eat.
This is a heavy-duty machine. It is loud when it's in use, but generally you won't need to run the machine for more than a couple minutes at a time. This is definitely a professional quality machine and will yield professional quality results. A regular home blender cannot compare!
The Vita-Mix 1363 CIA model and the Vita-Mix 5200 model are essentially the same machine. The CIA model has some different color choices and comes with a HUGE recipe book called "Create", a smaller "recipes and techniques" booklet and an hour long cooking class DVD. The 5200 model includes a different booklet and DVD. Both have the same 7-year warranty. If the color of the machine and the recipe book don't matter to you, save yourself some $$$ and go for the 5200 model instead.

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With its 2-plus peak horsepower motor that generates blade speeds of 240 MPH, this versatile countertop appliance works great for blending, pureeing, chopping, juicing, grinding, and more. The blender features a laser-cut stainless-steel blade assembly, durable all-metal construction, a brushed aluminum faceplate, and variable speed control for processing at just the right speed. In addition, the blender's oversized 64-ounce polycarbonate jar creates a powerful vortex that forces ingredients up from the blade and back down to the center to ensure thorough blending. Make delicious homemade dips, soups, sauces, appetizers, salsas, dressings, desserts, beverages, smoothies, sorbets, ice cream--the options are endless. An exclusive new recipe book comes included, "Recipes and Techniques from the CIA Master Chefs." The book features more than 20 recipes developed by the CIA's Certified Master Chefs. The blender also comes with an instructional DVD, an owner's manual, and a space-saving easel-design recipe book packed with over 300 easy-to-prepare recipes in full color from some of the country's top professional chefs. The blender measures 8-3/4 by 7-1/4 by 20 inches and carries a full seven-year warranty.

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Vitamix 1700 Turbo Blend 4500 Countertop Blender with 2+ HP Motor Review

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(More customer reviews)Vitamix makes excellent products. I have owned this one for about 7 or 8 years and just purchased a Blendtec a few months ago, as well.
Both are great blenders. Comparison of differences:
1) Motor - Blendtec has a more powerful motor. Noticeably more powerful - 3 HP vs 2 HP.
2) Construction - Blendtec is not as substantial in construction. Vitamix feels more heavy-duty, and is heavier. Vitamix will not rock and shake as much. Both are made in the USA with BPA-free containers.
3) Noise level - I don't notice that much difference. Maybe Blendtec is a bit louder, but it doesn't bother me.
4) Controls - There are more controls on the Blendtec - slower/faster, pulse, and preprogrammed selections. For example: Smoothies is one of the preprogrammed selections. So this means the Blendtec will alter its speed on its own in order to make sure items get blended that might otherwise stay bouncing around on top. It is optimized for each setting. You can do the same thing manually with the Vitamix with the spin dial that controls speed. Physically the Vitamix manually spin dial is easier to use. The Blendtec has a digital counter to tell you how many times you have used it.
5) Warranty - the Vitamix warranty is longer - 7 years on ALL parts that can be extended to 10 for an extra cost. Blendtec is normally only 3, not including the containers. This can be extended to 7 at no extra cost if purchased at Costco. The Vitamix had to have its motor replaced once. They were happy to do it and paid for shipping BOTH ways. Customer service was excellent. I can't evaluate this yet for the Blendtec since I haven't had it long enough, but the warranty does not cover shipping both ways.
6) Height - the Blendtec is shorter and fits easily under the cabinets in the kitchen. The Vitamix, at 20.5 inches, does not.
7) Containers - Both are BPA-free. The design of the Blendtec containers, while less substantial, is better. Wider instead of taller, they are easier to clean and easier to get food out of. Plus, this design lends itself to better performance.
8) Performance - the Blendtec will spin and pulverize thicker food even when the Vitamix will sit there and spin with nothing moving on top. The Vitamix requires a bit more work in those cases. If the liquid is thinner, the Vitamix does not do this and spins fine. The Blendtec 4 qt 4 inch blade container is better in this regard even than the 3 qt 3 inch blade container. I don't have to push the food down much at all with the Blendtec. However, with the bit of extra effort, the Vitamix will end up blending just as well as the Blendtec.
9) Splashing - the Blendtec definitely splashes food more in the container than the Vitamix. Be sure to keep that lid on the Blendtec.
10) Guarantee - The Vitamix accepts a return within 30 days and pay for your shipping back:
Vitamix says:
"You get FREE return shipping as part of the Vitamix 30-day NO-RISK trial. Call Vitamix at 1-800-848-2649 for a pre-paid return shipping label. Contact Customer Service at 1-800-848-2649 option #2 to receive a Return Authorization Number."
Blendtec says this about their return policy:
"Any item purchased on [...] that is returned within 30 days of purchase is subject to inspection prior to a refund or credit being given. Shipping fees are non-refundable and in some cases a usage or restocking fee may apply. If a return is near the end of the 30-day satisfaction guarantee period, we ask that you please call a customer service representative so we can document what product is being returned. No refunds will be given after 30 days."I have enjoyed them both. Both are great products. I like the Blendtec a little better in terms of performance, but the Vitacost did a good job, too. Vitacost customer service was really excellent.

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No need to worry about the sound of a strained, unhappy motor with this powerful machine--even when mixing up nut butters or icy concoctions. The versatile countertop appliance features a 2-plus peak horsepower motor, which runs substantially cooler and efficiently generates blade speeds of over 200 MPH for blending, pureeing, chopping, juicing, grinding, and more. The unit's stainless-steel enclosed blade assembly, with sealed ball bearings, can process fresh, whole foods--including the leaves, peel, and stem--in seconds for superior taste and a smooth texture without any stringy bits or unblended chunks. In addition, the unit's easy-to-clean front panel provides moisture-shielded switches, two speed options, and an on/off switch. The heavy-duty, commercial-quality blender also comes equipped with a large, clear, 64-ounce container made from Eastman Tritan copolyester material, which makes it BPA-free, virtually unbreakable, and more chemical resistant. The container offers convenient measuring marks, a plunger, and a spill-proof locking lid that removes easily. Blend a large batch of soup for the whole family or as little as 4 ounces at a time. Make delicious beverages, soups, homemade dips and sauces, salsas, dressings, desserts, baby foods, purees, and smoothies--the options are endless. A Healthy Lifestyle recipe book containing over 150 step-by-step recipes in full color comes included. The 1380-watt two-speed blender measures 7-1/4 by 8-3/4 by 20 inches and carries a five-year limited warranty.

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Eureka 71B Hand-Held Vacuum Review

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(More customer reviews)Two cats and two fabric-covered couches, can you feel my pain? After a while, I was going nuts. I'd go broke buying the adhesive type lint rollers, the rubber ones (search for "sweepa") and the reusable brush type didn't do the job. All I'd heard about was dysons, dysons, dysons, so I started saving. But then I thought, hey, what I want is the little motorized roller brush attachment -- so I got online, started searching, and found this. I figured $40 as opposed to $500 was worth a try, especially with the good reviews.
and it *was*. It gets all the cat hair off my couch, and the nice thing is that the hose just tugs right out and you can also get the little cracks and crevices without missing a beat. The "riser visor" thing, I thought was kinda silly til I started using it -- and it's great. You can vacuum horizontally and vertically, and for furniture, stairs, etc--a great feature.
My only complaint is that it's just a *bit* heavy, especially for longer use. Wears that arm out, but that can be a good thing, too.
I'm still hoping to get a dyson eventually, but for the job I wanted to do, getting pet hair off my furniture -- this is *perfect*.

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Remove deeply embedded dirt from anywhere in your home or car. Ideal for cleaning stairs and auto upholstery, this hand vacuum cleans with the help of a revolving brushroll with Riser Visor, a stretch hose and attachments for getting into tight spaces.The onboard crevice tool gets into those places too small for the brushroll.

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Vita-Mix 1300 TurboBlend 4500 Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned the Vita-Mix Super 5000 since 1997, and I love it. I can grind flour, make juice, soup, ice cream (the fruit smoothies I make with this are to die for)--in short, every kind of food processing you can imagine. This baby is built to last and has a 7-year warranty.
In 2004, a couple weeks after the 7 years were up, I was very upset when it broke down. I thought, "Isn't that just the way these things tend to go with warranties?" I searched for Vita-Mix on the web (the URL is their name, and there is a link on this page, to them, too). I clicked on the button for service, got their 800 number, and called them at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time, and they were there. The service rep was friendly and knowledgeable. She asked me to describe in detail the symptoms of my ailing Vita-Mix. She then said, when I asked about it, that even though I was past the window period to do so, the company would still allow me to buy a three-year extended warranty for $120. I jumped at that, and found out that I could use it to cover the parts (and shipping) to fix the problem. She said I needed an "assembly piece" that sold for $75 without a warranty, a "drive socket" worth $12.00 and the shipping of $9.95 would be no charge to me. She said she was including a small wrench and instructions and I can fix it myself. So right off the bat I used most of the $120 to fix my first problem.
I've never seen anything like this kind of service. When our tabletop water distiller broke, we had to send it in for warrantied repair, which cost $50 shipping (we paid), and weeks to get back. I think shipping the Vita-Mix to the company might have cost nearly that much, so I was delighted to have this option of getting the parts in 10 days to fix it myself and have my beloved Vita-Mix back working within a week and a half.
If you are ever in the market for a food processor that is professional quality that works great with amazing customer service, this is it. The price is very competitive for what you get, and the product itself is fabulous. (Only one tiny little caveat--which is true for =any= blender--wear earplugs when you do the very high speeds or you could hurt your ears.)
Update March 23, 2009: I've owned the Vita-Mix 12 years now, and I still love it! See my comment to this review with today's date which contains information on my experiences with the sales personnel of the Vita-Mix company today.


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Vita-Mix TurboBlend 4500 is a heavy-duty, commercial-quality blender that delivers optimum performance and power.Superior engineering strengthens each part, ensuring a product that will last.

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Lasko 3540 Cyclone 20-Inch Pivoting Floor Fan with Remote Control Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am not sure what fan some of the other folks here received but let me state my opinion.
3 speeds, high speed is perfect, not too noisy, adequate air flow, definitely not too strong, I would have even liked it a bit more powerful on high.
Remote control is sweet, allows power on and off, and to change the speed and set the timer.
Yes, the fan does emit a beep when using the remote for any function, no it is not that loud or annoying. How many times are you really going to change settings in an hour or 2?
Overall, for the money, this fits the bill nicely. I will most likely purchase a second one.

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Combining a sleek look with powerful performance, this electronically controlled floor fan features five-paddle 20-inch blades and a Cyclone grill that helps deliver a straight stream of air. To adjust the direction of the air, simply tilt the head of the fan. The unit's user-friendly control panel includes an on/off power button; a button for selecting the speed--low, medium, or high; and a button for setting the electronic timer, which allows the fan to run for two, four, or eight hours before automatically shutting off. A full-function remote control comes included, making it easy to adjust the settings from across the room. Ideal for large spaces, the high-output air circulator can be used on its own or in addition to an air-conditioning unit to help reduce cooling costs. Other highlights include quiet operation, a convenient carrying handle, and a lightweight, portable design. The UL-listed floor fan ships fully assembled, measures 21-4/5 by 5 by 23-1/5 inches, and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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