On Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:15:33 -0600, Sqwertz >
wrote:

>On Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:51:21 -0500, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
>> On 13 Dec 2010 16:11:33 GMT, notbob > wrote:
>>
>>>On 2010-12-13, Jim Elbrecht > wrote:
>>>
>>>> I can afford it. Any brand, model that gives a lot of bang for the
>>>> buck?
>>>
>>>Look at these from Cabelas. Note the Waring refurb for 40% off:
>>>
>>>http://www.cabelas.com/slicers.shtml
>>
>> Not bad, but sorta toys r us. I think the Cabela's Pro 150 @ $99 is a
>> much better value. However for slicing dried beef paper thin the
>> mandoline may do a better/safer job. Of course we've no idea of
>> quantity; for occasional home use I can slice a couple-three pounds
>> paper thin with my carbon steel chefs knife... no more than 20 minutes
>> including clean up.
>
>I highly doubt you're going to get through dried beef such as
>bresola with a mandolin, no matter how sharp. You'd have to saw it
>back and forth. You certainly aren't going to be able to wave it
>across the blade and expect it to slice it. The blade needs to be
>moving.

Depends how dry the beef... it won't slice jerky but if you can slice
it with a kitchen knife a mandolin will slice it too... a mandoline
will slice harder/drier meat than a deli slicer can... I've sliced
some mighty hard dry sausage with a mandolin... the trick is that the
average diameter of the hunk of meat (or whatever) does not overwhelm
the size of the mandoline blade If one has access to a mandoline I
strongly suggest trying that first rather than running out to buy a
deli slicer. I certainly wouldn't use slicing dried beef as an excuse
to buy a deli slicer... I see no reason to own one for a home kitchen,
besides being dangerous they're a bitch to clean, and unless one is
willing to spend the big bucks and has real use for a commercial sized
machine they will just have another little used gadget to find a place
to store. I've seen lots of those $100-$200 toys r us slicers at
Salvation Army type stores. Anyway, as I previously indicated for
home use I'd use a chefs knife.