Solid state Kitchenaid mixers were introduced in 1978 (the K45SS and the K5SS). In 1986 the line was sold to Whirlpool and all the Artisan, Classic etc. mixers sold today are basically the same models as made in 1986 (some improvements and efficiencies in the machining but anyone who has an old "original" K45SS or K5SS can repair it using today's parts). The Pro line was developed as something entirely new so it doesn't have the same history, but the company has worked very hard to upgrade and improve the model since its inception. There was a period of time when people were having a lot of trouble with their Kitchenaid mixers and the company had to work very hard to restore the reputation of the product. That's when they instituted the one-year no-questions-asked full replacement policy. It's still the best guarantee in the business (my opinion). I'm not convinced the old Hobart mixers are inherently superior to the Kitchenaids made today. I think there's a lot of mythology attached to the brand, but my take on it is people have trouble with the newer mixers because they ask them to do more than they were designed for, especially kneading bread. 50 or 60 years ago women (and it was women in the home kitchen) fortunate enough to have mixers used them for cakes, cookies, meringues, whipped cream, etc. They didn't use them for bread dough, which was generally kneaded by hand. My MIL baked 4 loaves every other day and her old Dormeyer never saw the dough. There's a lot of discussion on The Fresh Loaf about people who burn out their mixers with stiff doughs mixed at speeds higher than the recommended "2" setting. Bread is not the KitchenAid's strong point, though you can mix a perfectly fine one or two-loaf batch or autolyse a portion of a bigger recipe and finish by hand. For bread the Bosch (stiff doughs) or the Ankarsrum/Electrolux Assistant/Magic Mill, etc. (wet doughs) are more suitable. Getting back to the original discussion, the two attachments I use most often on the KA are the grinder and the colander/sieve. The colander/sieve is wonderful, but you have to purchase a vintage one and the K5 is the biggest mixer one will fit. Why the company doesn't offer a new colander/sieve for the 6 quart I do not know. The Viking/Cuisinart/De Longhi (all the same machine) did have a colander/sieve attachment available. I use the shredder attachment less frequently, but I do use it, and even though I have a 14-cup Cuisinart, I prefer the shredder attachment because I find since the mixer is already on the counter, it's less fuss for me to use. Just one of those individual quirks we all have. Carol

lynnalexandra, I really do like the KA 12-cup, it seems very powerful and fast. I've used it for a lot of grating, and I was able to make a Julia Child bread recipe in it (posted on cooking by lindac's son) with no trouble. However, it could not handle the stickier dough in Ann T's italian rustic bread (that's the same dough that killed the cuisinart)--altho it didn't choke, i just felt it overheating and decided it was better to stop, rather than kill again! For that dough, i'd say i definitely need a stand mixer like the ones you mentioned. Most other bread recipes i've been making, i've kneaded by hand b/c they seem to only call for 5 minutes or so at a time. However, for all the chores i've always used a food processor for--pureeing, grating/shredding, chopping--it does it much faster than my old one. In terms of Cuisinart vs KA, both seem to have their die-hard fans! I find this one very easy to assemble and disassemble and somehow easier to clean (fewer small crevices on the parts that come in contact with the food, maybe). I also like the minibowl for chopping small amounts (i used it to chop ice and to do a cup of onions). The only thing I think I can fault with it, so far, is that when using the grating disk, a small amount of the item will remain ungrated and sitting on top of the disk, b/c of the gap between the feeder tube and the top of the disk, if that makes any sense. I'm not sure this would be different in any other large capacity machine and , in any case, it hasn't been an issue. I think I had the same issue w/my old one, but i didn't pay as much attention to it... I bought an Oxo food chopper at the same time, which I thought i'd use on small quantities, but i haven't used it all that much yet b/c the minibowl is so handy. If you're particularly interested in doing bread in the food processor, rather than a stand mixer, another CF member directed me to a book that was written for just that purpose. It's out of print, but several places are selling it used, and it has excellent reviews. Of course i can't recall the title now, but I can look it up, if you're interested. Good luck with your decision!

It's usual that in a quality product what breaks is a part that is possibly simple, for the right person, to repair. If it's a part made of steel it can be brazed for $20 at a friendly shop. Do you know what part(s) you need? I would look at craigslist, nationally this way to see if anyone would consider repairing it. Then see if they'll do it under an 'ebay' advert. That way you have some recourse if they take your money. Go to gooogle and type: site:craigslist.org cuisinart repair try variations like this: site:craigslist.org "cuisinart repair" site:craigslist.org cuisinart -"for sale" site:craigslist.org quality small OR kitchen appliance repair Those should keep you busy. Write a note that's' the same to each one like boilerplate saying what you said here: If anyone replies then post the reply here and ask them if they want 'more work' from your connections to a national web site. If yes then you have a 'winner' for round one. Let us know how it goes. Repairs was a thing of the past.. our generation is learning that it's the trend of the future. You and your machine are in the middle and I'll try to help - Andre

My last food processor was great while it lasted (which was for about a year after I purchased it) at a thrift store for a song. It was one of the "newer" models which I got at a thrift store back when you could find such things at thrift stores. My contention is that so many people now shop thrift stores to resell things that things like good food processors disappear off those shelves faster than ever. And since I rarely am able to get over to the thrift store, I must buy from the resellers on eBay. A while back (a long while back) I did a lot of research on Cuisinarts online. I don't know where all that information is now, because it is nowhere to be found -- but I can tell you that back then (over ten years ago) I ran into a LOT of people very unhappy with Cuisinart food processors since the company was sold (back in the late '80s, I believe) and their #1 complaint was that the newer blades broke so easily. That always stuck in my mind, so this time around since I had to go to eBay anyhow I did a lot of research to figure out what to get. I learned that I am NOT a typical food processor user, in that I am not buying it primarily for shredding, grating or even making bread or pie crusts. For me it is mostly for making my own tahini (just put the sesame seeds in with about a TBL of sesame or olive oil for every cup or two of seeds and let it whir for a while -- maybe 10 min). The tahini is out-of-this world and soooo much better than anything I could buy. Now store-bought tahini tastes rancid to me! And then of course I make hummus using the food processor. Another thing I love to make is "coconut butter" using organic flaked coconut. This take about 12 minutes with the S-blade and doesn't really need any oil added. WAY cheaper than buying coconut butter in the jar, and so good for you! Last but not least, I think it is awful good fun to make my own butter (and buttermilk) using some grass-fed organic heavy cream. I haven't done this yet but have seen a couple videos of it on YouTube. Anyhow, the fp I am getting is the Cuisinart cfp-5A. Thanks for all the reviews you have done on that model, John Liu, in past years -- helped a lot! It was also good to know that this model is NOT good for making bread, and I was able to buy it with my eyes wide open about that. It will be a drag to have to turn the lid left and right in order to "pulse," but I can live with that. I was able to get the cfp-5A with the S-blade and with the basket and lid having sustained zero chips or cracks for just a little over $70 including shipping, so I'm a happy camper (or will be when it gets here). And in time I may spring for a blade that grates, shreds or slices. Unfortunately I have not been able to find a manual for the cfp5 or cfp5A. If anyone knows where I can get the pdf of that manual please let me know! Maybe it does not exist, since I cannot even find it on the Cuisinart manuals page which has manuals for 66 different models of food processors! By the way, what IS the difference between a shredder and a grater in these discs? Would either of these work well to very finely grate ginger? Also, can anyone tell me the serial numbers I would need for the discs that go with the cfp-5 series? I am surprised how little information I can really find on the Cuisinart cfp-5 series. My goodness, I could not even find a YouTube video demonstrating it. Surprising!