If this model is what you mean then it is normally used for meats, not fruits and vegetables. I suppose you could use it but given the cost, it is far more than is needed.

Mandolines are normally used for fruits/vegetables. Or food processors. Used properly either one would be much faster.

Dave

My good old, Sunbeam Oster Kitchen Center has an attachment that offers thin, thick, and crinkle cut slices as well as a blade disk for cutting into diced pieces. The unit has no built on bowl to catch the slices, but instead a slinger and output shute off the side. I cna slice cukes very fast and prety much any other food. It also has graters for cheese. My true 10" blade slicer was bought from Weston, and it was their last one, so I git it for under $200. Its nearly the same size as delis use, but I wouldn't use it for slicing anything but meats. Mine also came with a blde sharpener attachment.

Who big is 'substantial'?

Kitchen aid mixers also have an attachment that slices a lot of vegetables fast.

I was also going to mention that. I think they are sort of conical shaped and the slices fall out the wider front end. You don't get various thicknesses however.

The OXO slicer is pretty good. It's less than $25 and feels pretty good. You can hook it onto a bowl. If you have more money to spend, a Pinzon stainless steel mandoline looks great.

Here is a link that might be useful: Food slicer reviews

The KitchenAid Slicer/shredder attachment has 4 cones - a thick slice, thin slice, coarse shredder and fine shredder. I use mine a lot.

Carol