Just noting advantages/disadvantages of dedicated ice-makers.... Advantages.... 1) Ice that is shaped other than crescent. Majority of ice-makers make crescent-shaped "cubes" that suck up to the walls of any cylindrical glass (aren't they all?) that you're drinking from and make imbibing a more-than-occasional nuisance. Actual cubes or circular cubes don't do this. Sounds pretty trivial but it surely is nice. I would not consider a dedicated Ice-maker that produced crescent-cubes. 2) Clear ice. Mo/betta if RO or other processed-water used. Clear ice is absolutely where its at. 3) Lots of ice, quickly. Dedicated machines can really put out compared with ref. devices. If you have a need for volume, there really is no substitute. Disadvantages... 1) "Wet" ice. Which is to say soft ice. Dedicated ice-makers typically produce ice at just a little below freezing. That's part of how they keep it clear and part of how they produce as much as quickly as they do. The product is not as cold as the zero-or-below product of ref. ice-makers. 2) Waste water. The ice produced is constantly melting...hence the need for drains or drain-pumps. You're going to be wasting a LOT of water. 3) Unless you're careful you may find that your chosen machine makes a LOT of noise. Very common complaint. 4) Expense. RV ice machines can be had at Wal-Mart for $150.00...and they work astonishingly well. Cabinet-installed machines for the home are priced almost like whole refrigerators.....and have all the inconveniences plus a drain or pump required. Need to decide just how important it is. 5) Like ref. ice-makers, they tend to be troublesome.

Usually imported means from China and if you ask most in this forum they would not want kitchen cabinets made from it.

Thanks! I was leaning in that direction but wasn't sure. I'm teaching myself and it would be nice to have a dedicated topic on candy making. Made plenty of microwave fudge in 14 years of Scouting, but boys don't savor they stuff, so it was ok for them but now I want to make the good kind. :)

I have no idea but am going to blatantly do a little "jack" here and got a tad OT. Back when bread makers were first THE gift to give (maybe early 90's), sister friend gave her one. She was all excited about using it. Went with a basic recipe from cookbook that came along... one of those dump everything in, set machine, and wait for bread. About half way thru first rise... realized she had put in TBSP's of yeast where should have been tsp's. We though we were gonna relive that classic I Love Lucy episode!