Swissmar Borner V Power Mandoline, V-7000, White

My first Swissmar Borner mandolin was purchased 20 years ago. As a former chef, I had purchased mandolins for over $200 and returned them because they were a disappointment. When I received my first Swissmar mandolin I was disappointed and thought it was a cheap piece of crap...until I tried it and realized that they put all the money in the blades. You can slice a ripe tomato in slices so thin you can see through it...great for pizza! I kept that unit for 15 years and threw it out figuring the company had updated the unit and made the body as awesome as the blade. It cut as well after 15 years as the day I bought it...then I found there had been no change and bought another of the same unit 5 years ago. I have that unit to this day but when I saw they FINALLY updated the body I jumped at it.First of all I LOVE the new safety feature that protects the blade flat...I now have a grandson and always worry he will find it in a drawer and cut himself...and those blades are sharp. Unlike the old unit where you flipped the plate over for thick or thin, you have several options for thickness. The grip feet at the base are nice and the holder for the other two blades is an improvement. Although it's still plastic, it doesn't look as cheap as the older model and the plastic is better quality.The blades are the gem here and it remains the same. You can still slice that tomato paper thin or nice and thick or in between. I paid a fortune for my food processor but this is what I break out 90% of the time.When my daughter found out I bought this unit she begged me for my old one...I ordered her one of these instead.Now if they would only make this in stainless steel I would pay the high price tag...maybe someday.In the meantime enjoy a really well made mandolin for a bargain price...and please don't ignore the safety holder...20 years ago I thought I could do without it until it took a good chunk of my knuckle...now I might start slicing a carrot or cucumber without it but once I get halfway I put the guard on...these blades are REALLY sharp. I have always put it in the dishwasher and never had a problems with warping, rusting or dulling.

I wanted a mandoline slicer for some time but didn’t want to spend a lot of money nor did I want to buy a cheap product that was hard to use and didn’t work. I spent a lot of time searching for the best product. Finally I made my decision to purchase a Börner V-Slicer. There were many good reviews that persuaded me to buy this unit. I decided on this mandoline. It has 2 blade inserts and 1 plain insert. It comes with a holder so everything is stored nicely. I also purchased the bowl that fits nicely and has a slot that hold the slicer on the bowl.The slicer cuts so easily that when I first started using it I had to check to see if it sliced the vegetable. The first couple passes over the blade I didn’t notice any tension. It cuts everything with ease and all the cuts are even. This product makes cutting so easy and everything comes out perfect. So far I’m very happy with this purchase. It did cost more than some mandoline slicers but I’m confident after using it that this slicer was well worth the price. I’m excited to have the opportunity to own this and look forward to using this daily.Edit:After using the v slicer many times with different types of vegetables and fruits I’m amazed at how well it cuts. It’s very sharp and cuts through things with ease. I bought the bowl and it clips into the bowl very nicely which makes slicing so easy and my food stays put in the bowl. It’s definitely worth the purchase. I almost use it daily.

This is not an expensive, professional chef model, but I am a home cook that doesn't need the latest and greatest version of every kitchen gadge. I just need dependable products that do what they are supposed to, that last, and that make cooking easier and fun. That is exactly what I get with the Swissmar Borner V slicer.I am very pleased with the quality of this mandolin. The blades are very sharp as advertised. I've had no problem slicing anything from potatoes to celery, eggplant to hard boiled eggs. The thickness is adjustable from thick down to nearly paper thin by simply sliding the knob on the outer edge of the mandolin and adjusting the blade plate to the proper position. Very easy to do. Like all mandolins, you have to use some elbow grease to slice the food, but this brand is so sharp that it is much easier and smoother to use.I appreciate the safety guard for the blade slicer when not in use and the hard plastic container for the menacing-looking julienne blades. Being able to store them straight into that container when still wet to let them drip dry while still being protected is awesome.The handle is thick and has ridges which makes it easy to grip. The bottom grips the counter and cutting board much better than other brands I've tried. The safety food holder is better than most. The prongs that grasp the food are long and the recessed cap area deep so you really get a good grip on the food you are slicing. But it is small by necessity to fit the width of the mandolin, so some items just don't fit. Use safety gloves always!I'm able to make a great chop or mince of my vegetables once I got the hang of the technique using the julienne blades. It is so much faster and easier than using a knife, and my eyes are thankful for less time exposed to onion fumes!My only complaint is with the width of the julienne blades. The are great for shreds and thin sticks, but the widest width slices potatoes the size of shoe string fries. I had hoped to use this to cut at least medium french fries, but there's no way. If they had included a wider-spaced blade, even for a few dollars more, I would have given it 5 stars.I always wear a safety glove when using a mandolin. This is my current pair that I bought on Amazon. These saved my finger once already.http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007TSJHGO/ref=pdp_new_dp_review