If I didn't already have 2....

KitchenAid's eBay store has a sale on refurbished Pro-600 stand mixers for 210 dollars. That's a pretty serious deal, as it drops it to less than the price of the smaller Artisan, and just slightly above the baseline 4.5 quart Classic model.

It's been a while since I shopped for one, but I think I recall the Pro-500 getting a lot of negative reviews as far as reliability. But the Pro-600, I think, was lauded for being a real workhorse and worthy of the KitchenAid reputation of old.

I don't think, personally, you could do better for the money than this if you were looking for a large stand mixer. Which does lead me to state the obvious: it IS large, and perhaps too large if you're not churning out batches of gruel for the orphanage 3 times a day. I have a large and a small KA, and with just me and the wife in the house I find myself plugging in the 4 quart more often than the behemoth. It just works better on things like kneading a single batch of bread dough, or making enough whipped cream for just one 9" cake.

Still, when you DO need massive firepower, it's good to have the Monster Truck of KA's at your disposal. For anyone who spent time using the classic Hobart restaurant line when the two were owned by the same company, you know what I mean. This Pro-600 will probably be as close to the small Hobarts as you can get now, at least in the KA line.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kitchenaid-KP26M1X-Pro-600-Stand-Mixer-6-qt-Super-Big-Large-Capacity-Many-Colors/360593721010?afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Mr. Enabler, out.

[Jenise]

Oh my, that's SO tempting. And did you see all the colors available? Green apple, boysenberry, licorice, cobalt blue.... Oh man, I've always lusted after the bigger one. I'm going to go download the stats. If it's not too tall for my appliance bar, I'm going to buy (color me coco silver), so thanks! I'll let you know.

Oh my, that's SO tempting. And did you see all the colors available? Green apple, boysenberry, licorice, cobalt blue.... Oh man, I've always lusted after the bigger one. I'm going to go download the stats. If it's not too tall for my appliance bar, I'm going to buy (color me coco silver), so thanks! I'll let you know.

I know, the color choices are pretty impressive! I guess being the factory, they have access to a bunch.

Yeah, lemme know if you pull the trigger on one!

That's a really good deal, and I'm tempted. I just don't know where we'd put the thing!

That's a really good deal, and I'm tempted. I just don't know where we'd put the thing!

Move it into your living room. Makes a great, and sturdy, ottoman.

Oh my, that's SO tempting. And did you see all the colors available? Green apple, boysenberry, licorice, cobalt blue.... Oh man, I've always lusted after the bigger one. I'm going to go download the stats. If it's not too tall for my appliance bar, I'm going to buy (color me coco silver), so thanks! I'll let you know.

I thought you already had the model that raised and lowered the bowl rather than the head, but I didn't pay enough attention I guess.

[Jenise]

I *do* have the one that raises and lowers the bowl. I'd prefer to have the reverse--it's not the raising/lowering of the head that makes the fit I need as the appliance bar is almost more storage than user space, though I do sometimes use it there. If I'm just creaming some butter, it stays put. If I'm making pasta, it moves into the kitchen (to those who wouldn't be aware, my appliance bar is in the pantry). Regardless of that, a new additional mixer would also have to live on the appliance bar--I refuse to have any appliances on my kitchen counters. Unfortunately, this bigger machine won't quite fit on the appliance bar--the rod that holds up the chain mail curtain is in the way. So, I'll be getting by with my small old one--almost 30 years old now, though, and seemingly immortal.