Barbara Kraus asked a question about how to get a razor blade installed on the lame handle from TMB (SFBI). I thought some photos would be most informative.
Lame handle with double edged razor blade installed
Tip of handle on which the razor blade gets installed
Was wanting some information from anyone whom has used both. I currently use the Pure Komachi 2 Tomato knife but was wondering if there was an advantage to using an actual Lame.
Hi,
I received a wonderful new lame this December and just can't figure out how to use it.
I have tried to follow the directions in Hamelmann's "Bread", but even with this guidance, it seems I can't get a nice cut - more like a drag through the dough.
Is this a problem with my dough? Or my technique? (possibly both)
ANy help is greatly appreciated! I'm about to go back to my serrated knife for slashing and I know that's not for the best. :-)
MommaT
I was in Smart and Final yesterday checking out the plastic storage containers. I bought sizes from one quart (for sourdough) to 12 quarts (for grains), including dough-rising sizes.
Office supplies were nearby, and they had a box-cutter that uses a single-edged razor blade. It was seventy-nine cents, including one blade. Got me thinking about my other box cutters.
Has anyone used box cutters as lames? I have a good supply of razor blades, and the price was right, so I bought one. I've been slashing using bare-naked razors, but this will clothe it a bit.
As a wood worker I have been sharpening my own tools for a long time. One thing I have learned is that the term "sharp" is relative and means many things to different people. A sharp drywall knife wouldn't cut butter very well but a sharp plane blade or chisel can be used to shave with. For a time I was learning how to cut tissue masks on photos so I could air brush and add artwork. (This was before Photoshop and computers in general but just a little after the invention of the car).
After searching high and low and not being able to find my precious curved lame ANYWHERE, and with many batards needing scoring, I threaded a double-edged razor through a Q-Tip and it worked great! The curve seemed identical to the one my lame provided, and the cuts bloomed beautifully. The only drawback is that a Q-Tip has a much shorter handle than my lame, but in a pinch (or for the penny-pincher), this solution works great.
Hi everyone - I was curious what what everyone thinks about lame style/shape.. I can see the advantage of a curved blade scoring a rounded slash on a rounded boule or baguette, but some slashes are straight. Does a straight lame/razor work as well in rounded slashes? Mine is an all in one curved razor, plastic handle, with cover I bought at my local high-end cooking store (I even think it's from France). I believe there is some sort of coating on it and it's quite thin but doesnt seem to cut as well as I think it should.
