Electric carving knife: superior cardboard-carving tool

Who knew that kids' playtime could be so enhanced with an electric carving knife? Think of the fun we'll have! Asha at ParentHacks has the scoop:

I was given an electric carving knife as a wedding present with a note that went something like this: This is great as a carving knife, but even better for all those times you need to cut cardboard for your childrens' projects. I have yet to use the knife for my own children, but as a teacher I use it all the time. So nice and easy!

Cut cardboard with an electric carving knife (Thanks, Marilyn!)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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morcheeba

I worked at a place that built satellites using a honeycomb aluminum composite. Guess what the best thing to cut that honeycomb with was… the electric knife cut the thin aluminum without destroying the shape.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_honeycomb
Antinous

I always reach for my Hamilton Beach.
LeftyX

Also great for carving foam rubber! Hints: you get a straighter cut if you slant the blade, and don’t rush.
nehpetsE

Lefty is correct. They are also great for carving foam rubber!

BUT!!! i have found that for larger hunks of foam rubber, a long, sharp, nonelectric, serrated bread knife combined with rapid sawing motion and brute force are MUCH faster(and it finally allows one to use the well toned masturbation muscles for something useful)
eustace

Although I’ve heard some scattered rumors about how well these cut foam rubber, the ideal tool for cutting foam rubber is a white-hot length of nichrome wire connected to an AC power supply. Just don’t breathe the fumes.
rcanzlovar

They’re handy for cutting foam, too.
back seat astronaut

“I saw this ad for electric scissors … I, right then, vowed that I would retain this image everytime I hear George Bush say ‘the terrorists hate our freedom.’ You know what? I hate our freedom. Little ol’ me, an American! I hate it! That’s all we’ve done with it? We’re fucking assholes, man.” –David Cross
Lauren O

“I was given an electric carving knife as a wedding present…I have yet to use the knife for my own children.”

Good God, woman, I know they’re annoying, but murdering kids puts you in jail for a long time!
Lydia9

Yes indeed! I used to be a prop fabricator, and we used these for all sorts of things. The added bonus is that every time you’re carving something, you can reenact the dinner scene in Rocky Horror.
Anonymous

They work great for cutting foam rubber (like for cushion-filling) too!
gem

great for cutting out this DIY $10 Photo Studio i just read about in the Strobist (http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html).

i was just thinking of where i can find a good, sharp, box cutter that won’t make messy edges.
Anonymous

@ all coments with a rocky horror reference sing it with me now “Let’s do the time warp agaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin. let’s do the tim ewarp agaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!” its just a jump to the left ….. and then a step to the riiiiiiight……. put your hands on your hips….. and bend your knees in tight. but its the pelvic thrust that really drives you in sayayayayane. LETS DO THE TIME WARP AGAIIIIIIIIIIIN :D
anthony

The knife is more planet-friendly.
eustace

Turn your kid into an instant Rodin (well, more Brancusi really). Big chunk of packing foam (the rubbery kind) + electric carving knife + kid = fun.
wynneth

@4 –
Eddie!
eustace

A tender subject. Another slice, anyone?
anthony

Hmm. Noted. This may eliminate the use of box cutters by high school students (but not the need for a first aid kit),
He said off-handedly.