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Waste King L-8000 vs Moen 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Published

Waste King L-8000 1 HP

$115 from Amazon

Moen 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal

$141.17 from Amazon
Waste King L-8000 vs Moen 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal

Overall Verdict

The choice between the Waste King L-8000 and the Moen is more than a simple pick between a larger 1 HP and smaller 1/2 HP disposal. Both use permanent magnetic motors, but the Waste King as a EZ mount installation and the Moen a 3-bolt. Additionally, Waste King has stronger grinder components, whereas the Moen setup is more basic. 

Even so, the Moen proved far more effective in specialized operations like grinding raw fish or chicken scraps, whereas the Waste King was the obviously better choice for mixed scraps. The Waste King is the better all rounder, unless you really need a grinder to deal specifically with chicken scraps, then the Moen may be the better choice.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Noise reduction
  • High torque 
  • High speed 
  • Stainless steel grinding components
  • Affordable
  • High capacity
  • High-speed motor
  • Stainless steel grind components
  • Noise reduction
  • Affordable
  • Heavy build
  • Takes up a lot of space 
  • Can be loud
  • Can be loud
  • Heavy build

Key Specs

Type of feed
Continuous
Continuous
Horsepower
1
1/2
Motor type
Permanent magnet
Permanent magnet
Averaged RPM
4149
4214
Family size
3-4 people
1-2 people
Dimensions
L5.5 x W8.4 x H16.2 inches
L5.4 x W7.3 x H13.4 inches

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$111.07
$91.68
$115 at Amazon
$141.17 at Amazon

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Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
6.9
5.5

Scrap Mix

8.1
4.9
8.11 ounces of visible fish pin bones in mess of ground assorted scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
Layer 1
8.11 ounces of visible fish pin bones in mess of ground assorted scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
12.56 ounces of ground assorted scraps, including dietary fibers, bones, etc., on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
0.15 ounces of shredded pieces of fish backbone and celery stalk, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
Moen 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal Scrap Mix Test
14.8 ounces of assorted scraps from garbage disposal on digital scale on granite-looking top.
16.69 ounces of assorted scraps, including fibers, bones, etc on digital scale.
0.05 ounces of shredded dietary fiber on digital scale.
Input Load
90.0 oz (2551 g)
96.0 oz (2722 g)
Time
2 min
3 min
Layer 1
8.1 oz (230 g)
14.8 oz (420 g)
Layer 2
12.6 oz (356 g)
16.7 oz (473 g)
Leftovers
0.1 oz (4 g)
0.1 oz (1 g)

Raw Fish Scraps

6.7
5.7
5.71 ounces of visible pin bones among mess of raw fibrous tissue from fish scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
Layer 1
5.71 ounces of visible pin bones among mess of raw fibrous tissue from fish scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
2.47 ounces of shredded bones and fibrous tissue from fish scraps, on digital scale, placed on granite-looking top.
2.8 ounces of fish vertebrae among mess of shredded fish skin, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
Moen 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal Raw Fish Scraps Test
0.92 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded soft tissues and shredded bones.
1.84 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of assorted shredded bones and raw fibrous tissue.
2.83 ounces of ground fish scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded fish backbone and skin.
Input Load
49.4 oz (1400 g)
49.4 oz (1400 g)
Time
3 min
3 min
Layer 1
5.7 oz (162 g)
9.0 oz (255 g)
Layer 2
2.5 oz (70 g)
1.8 oz (52 g)
Leftovers
2.8 oz (79 g)
2.8 oz (80 g)

Raw Chicken Scraps

4.6
6.3
1.44 ounces of fibrous soft tissue and few pieces of shredded chicken bones, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
Layer 1
1.44 ounces of fibrous soft tissue and few pieces of shredded chicken bones, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
1.79 ounces of shredded soft tissue and pieces of shredded chicken bones, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
0.91 ounces of shredded soft stringy tissue and cartilage from chicken scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
Moen 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal Raw Chicken Scraps Test
0.92 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded soft tissues and shredded bones.
1.55 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded tissues and shredded bones.
0.6 ounces of ground chicken scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of soft tissue and pieces of shredded cartilage.
Input Load
7.4 oz (210 g)
7.4 oz (210 g)
Time
3 min
3 min
Layer 1
1.4 oz (41 g)
0.9 oz (26 g)
Layer 2
1.8 oz (51 g)
1.6 oz (44 g)
Leftovers
0.9 oz (26 g)
0.6 oz (17 g)

Design

Overall Design Scoring
9.2
8.6

In the Box

L-8000, EZ Mount on top, its box, user manual, stopper, adapter kit, elbow tube, rubber gasket, flange, bolts, wire nuts.
Moen GX50C 1/2 Horsepower Garbage Disposal with EZ Mount assembly on top, next to its box, user manual, registration slip, sink stopper, elbow tube, and a set of flange and bolts.

Dimensions

Waste King 1 HP with mount assembly, elbow tube. Showing 8.4-inch width, 14.6-inch height, 4.3-inch depth to dishwasher outlet, 7.4-inch depth to outlet, 5.4-inch distance to elbow tube.
Moen GX50C 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal with mount assembly and elbow tube. Dimensions show 7.3-inch width, 13.3-inch height, 3.4-inch depth to dishwasher outlet, 6.9-inch depth to outlet, 5.4-inch distance to elbow tube.
Length
5.5" (14.0 cm)
5.4" (13.7 cm)
Width
8.4" (21.3 cm)
7.3" (18.5 cm)
Height
16.2" (41.1 cm)
13.4" (34.0 cm)
Weight
12.7 lbs (5.8 kg)
9.9 lbs (4.5 kg)

Mount Assembly

EZ Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform with stopper in position.
EZ Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform with stopper in position.
Support ring, mounting ring, cushion mount, fiber gasket, rubber gasket, sink flange, stopper, removable sink splash guard.
3-Bolt Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform. “Moen” engraving on rim of sink flange. Sink stopper in position.
3-Bolt Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform. “Moen” engraving on rim of sink flange. Sink stopper in position.
Parts of 3-Bolt Mount assembly on white platform, including backup flange, mounting ring, snap ring, fiber gasket, stopper, cushion mount, sink flange with “Moen” engravings, removable sink baffle, lower mounting ring.

Grind Chamber

8.5
7.5
Top view into chamber of Waste King L-8000 garbage disposal after testing, looking at layout of grinding components.
Top view into chamber of Waste King L-8000 garbage disposal after testing, looking at layout of grinding components.
Inside view of Waste King L-8000 garbage disposal, showing design of two-level grater/grinder ring and details on flywheel.
Inside view of Waste King L-8000 food disposer, showing design of impellers and details of flywheel and grater/grinder ring.
Grind chamber of Moen GX50C garbage disposal, showing two-level grinder ring and details on flywheel.
Grind chamber of Moen GX50C garbage disposal, showing two-level grinder ring and details on flywheel.
Grind chamber of Moen GX50C garbage disposal, showing impellers and details of flywheel and grinder ring.
Grind chamber of Moen GX50C garbage disposal, showing impellers and details of flywheel and grinder ring.
Capacity
30.0 fl oz (887.2 ml)
30.0 fl oz (887.2 ml)
Verticality
6.8" (17.3 cm)
6.3" (16.0 cm)
Flywheel
4.4" (11.1 cm)
4.4" (11.2 cm)
Assembly Material
Intermediate
Stainless steel
Layout
Stainless steel
Basic

Motor

10
8.5
A digital tachometer is measuring the speed of the motor/flywheel of the Moen 1/2-HP garbage disposal in our speed test. A smartphone is running the timer app.
Horsepower
1
1/2
Speed
2800 RPM
2600 RPM
Real Speed
4149 RPM
4207 RPM
Voltage
115 V (60 Hz)
115 V (60 Hz)
Current
7 A
3.2 A
Wattage
805 W
368 W
Heat
n/a
N/a
Reverse
No
No

Power Cord

Bottom view of Waste King L-8000 1 HP corded garbage disposal with type-B power cord.
Type B power cord of Moen GX50C GX Series Prep 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal.
Length
2.8 ft (0.9 m)
34.0" (86.4 cm)
Type
3-prong (Type B)
3-prong (B)

Accessories

Standard outlet/discharge set for garbage disposals on granite-looking top, showing elbow pipe, rubber gasket, flange, bolts
Standard outlet/discharge set for garbage disposals on granite-looking top, showing elbow pipe, rubber gasket, flange, bolts.
Width
3.3" (8.3 cm)
3.3" (8.3 cm)
Length
5.3" (13.3 cm)
5.3" (13.3 cm)
Material
PVC
PVC

Build Quality

9.0
9.5
Waste King Legend Series L-8000 1 HP Garbage Disposal, with EZ Mount assembly on top and outlet/discharge set installed.
Moen GX50C garbage disposal with 3-Bolt Mount assembly on top and outlet/discharge set installed.
Noise Reduction
Yes
Yes
Vibration Reduction
No
No

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
7.3
8.2

Ease of Use

8.0
9.0

Installation

7.0
8.5

Smooth Operation

8.0
8.0

Unjam Mechanics

0.0
0.0
Inside view of permanent-magnet garbage disposal showing manual unjam mechanics with wooden stick in flywheel’s opening/gap.
Inside view of permanent-magnet garbage disposal showing manual unjam mechanics with wooden stick in flywheel’s opening/gap.
External
No
No
Auto Unjam
No
No