Dough mixer recommendations

[web monkey]

I throw pizza parties several times a year, and currently make the dough, in my Kitchen Aid 5 Qt mixer. Since each batch of dough only makes 4 pizzas, each time I do this, I need to run 4 batches of dough which takes me longer than I really want to spend.

After close to 10 years of hard use, KA now gets very hot and makes nasty grinding noises, so I'm looking to replace it. Also, since this use seems to be beyond what the KA was designed for, I really don't want to buy another one just to grind it up,

Does anybody have any recommendations for something that can do a really nice job kneading a decent sized batch of dough (about 10 Lbs flour and 3 1/4 quarts water)?

Also, I've heard that a rotating bowl mixer is favored over the rotating dough-hook type. Is there any significant difference?

Note that I do this at home, not in a restaurant, so a 500 pound beast of a floor-mixer probably wouldn't be appropriate.

Thanks!

Terry

[Harpua]

Out of curiosity, was it a Pro model? I just want to know how long I have

[web monkey]

Originally Posted by Harpua

Out of curiosity, was it a Pro model? I just want to know how long I have

It was the 325 watt model from Sam's Club (KSM5, I believe)

The newer models have a spiral dough hook that mashes the dough down instead of kneading it against the side of the bowl, and a thrust bearing to take the additional upward load. I have no idea how well the new one kneads or how long it will last.

Terry