# Single bevel cooking knives. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-bevel-cooking-knives/812977 "2018-04-23T14:32:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-bevel-cooking-knives/812977/21 "2018-04-25T03:17:07Z")
They make single bevel carpenters knives called scribing or marking knives. You hold them against a straightedge and the single bevel presses it to the straightedge. You buy a set of left and right bevels: [http://www.leevalley.com/us/hardware/page.aspx?p=32502&cat=1,42936,42949&ap=1](http://www.leevalley.com/us/hardware/page.aspx?p=32502&cat=1,42936,42949&ap=1) Dennis ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-bevel-cooking-knives/812977/22 "2018-04-25T10:52:24Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > They make single bevel carpenters knives called scribing or marking knives. You hold them against a straightedge and the single bevel presses it to the straightedge. You buy a set of left and right bevels: > > [Hardware - Lee Valley Tools](http://www.leevalley.com/us/hardware/page.aspx?p=32502&cat=1,42936,42949&ap=1) > > Dennis Interesting. When would you use a scribing knife v. good sharp pencil? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-bevel-cooking-knives/812977/23 "2018-04-25T12:16:40Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Interesting. When would you use a scribing knife v. good sharp pencil? When you’re going to be using a saw or chisel across the grain - the idea is that the knife cuts the top layer of fibres, helping to keep the saw or chisel on line better. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-bevel-cooking-knives/812977/24 "2018-04-25T15:41:31Z")
Ah. In fine woodworking. Makes sense. T/Y. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-bevel-cooking-knives/812977/25 "2018-04-26T18:51:14Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Try flipping the loaf over and start cutting from the bottom. The bottom “corners” of the bread are usually stronger than the top, so you can hold on tighter. Just don’t hold so tight that you mash the bread flat. I do both of these. Electric knife, and flipping, but I go a little farther. What I do: I have an electric knife with two types of blades, one for meat, one for bread. I take my nice fresh-baked loaf out, put it on a cutting board, and slice. I set the slice aside, rotate the loaf 90 degrees, and cut the next slice. Rotate another 90 degrees (clockwise or counter- doesn’t matter, but keep it revolving in the same direction), and another. Repeat until the whole loaf is cut. That way, I figure, if there’s any smashing or irregularity in the cut, it’ll work its way out in short order as the loaf gets rotated. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-bevel-cooking-knives/812977/26 "2018-05-04T15:53:25Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > I do both of these. Electric knife, and flipping, but I go a little farther. > > What I do: I have an electric knife with two types of blades, one for meat, one for bread. I take my nice fresh-baked loaf out, put it on a cutting board, and slice. I set the slice aside, rotate the loaf 90 degrees, and cut the next slice. Rotate another 90 degrees (clockwise or counter- doesn’t matter, but keep it revolving in the same direction), and another. Repeat until the whole loaf is cut. That way, I figure, if there’s any smashing or irregularity in the cut, it’ll work its way out in short order as the loaf gets rotated. That’s a nice trick, though keeping every cut perpendicular to the board (or parallel to the wall, if that idea helps more) should make the cuts turn out pretty regular anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-bevel-cooking-knives/812977.md?page=1)