I normally used a sharp knife as well. But I’m planning to dramatically increase the decorative slashing aspect and a three inch or longer blade just isn’t going to work for that.

Standard x-acto type knife seems like a simple solution?

The device in front is a pretty standard tool for slashing dough for baking. I did not like it at all.

The blade sits out in the open and you lose the little sheath that comes with it.
It doesn’t give you control. If you want to do a big slash it’s fine but if you want to get ornate small cuts it sucks.

So I started trying different designs in the woodshop. So far I like the second from the bottom first. It’s better for my hand size. The blade can be stored in the device when not in use. It allows for fine movements where you can control pressure and angle.

The third from the bottom is just large enough to hold the blade inside when not in use. It’s too small for a lot of hands. It requires complete disassembly to store the blade instead of just tucking it inside after loosening the wing nut. Each time you have to touch a blade increases the hazard.

The top one is a mix between two and three. I made it just a hair too small to allow for the blade to just swing inside but it does offer a wide profile for easy control.

These were all made with scraps (maple, cherry, white oak) and stainless steel nuts and bolts. Sealed with Watco butcher block sealant. Cost each was about $2 for hardware because I went with stainless instead of zinc. Going with zinc would get the cost down to under a dollar but for kitchen use I recommend stainless or brass.

The dough was leftover from a week of pita eating. I’ll need to find a use for it other than its current status of experiment fodder. These days I make a few pounds of dough and let my cravings figure out what to do with it within two weeks.

I’ve made one from forged carbon fibers, I prefer designs with a handle and slightly curved blade. I 3d printed a TPU cap for it too, so not afraid of losing it (I can just print another one)

If I didn’t know better, I wouldn’t guess I’m in a post about baking.

I created this post on baking and yet I had the same issue when I saw this comment. I’m sure it’s very functional. But it’s also prison scary.

I think it’s the little dough stains that do it. If it was scrubbed clean, just matte black, our sensory machines would probably be less alerted.

Wouldn’t have guessed it would happen to people used to baking, glad to know it wasn’t just my ignorance haha.

I created this post on baking and yet I had the same issue when I saw this comment. I’m sure it’s very functional. But it’s also prison scary.

It would sure make a fine weapon if I ever get assaulted in my kitchen

Which stains? What you see is the reflection from the carbon fibers embedded into the resin. It’s polished shiny ^^