About this project
Hello backers, today we are introducing //SKID - the first wooden chef knife.
„A knife made out of wood. How can that work?"
It has been a long period of research and testing but now we have found the solution:
It took us nearly two years to create this unique wooden chef knife: the perfect synergy between cutting-edge steel and the most sustainable wood with exceptional durability.
To produce 1kg of steel you need 30-50l of fresh water. Using this you can approximately produce 2-3 knife of this size. LIGNUM can produce 70-90 knives with the same amount of steel. Furthermore we are planting trees for our knives and even use the offcut for packaging and holding systems.
During our studies we were asked to rethink a product of everyday use. Our professor presented us to the idea of wooden scissors - unfortunately that hasn’t worked out so far, sorry for that Prof.
However, cutting with wood - the idea captured us. Since then we couldn’t stop thinking about creating a wooden knife but remained sceptical about the viability of the project. We then experimented with various kinds of wood, combinations with different materials and 3D printing with woodfill.
With every failure we made baby steps forward... The result: A wooden body combined with a very thin blade of steel. More precise: 97% Robinia wood and 3% high alloyed carbon steel making a familiar handling and cutting experience for all daily purposes in the kitchen.
Last knife you will ever buy?
Wood has many great characteristics: Robinia and Walnut, the woods of our choice have a very high percentage of tannin. Tannin is the stuff that kills bacteria and gives wood the ability of self-cleaning. Consequently, all you need for cleaning your //SKID is warm water. On top it is durable and lightweight, harder than oak and a renewable resource.
Yes! Every //SKID is vacuum infiltrated with linseed oil - a 100% natural oil. It keeps up the ability of self-cleaning and the anti bacterial properties of tannin. The oil closes the pores of //SKID, so that it is not getting porous and can’t contain germs.
A dozen prototypes later we found the solution to connect wood and steel in a durable and seamless way.
The //SKID light and dark blades contain a high alloyed carbon steel (1.3503) with a hardness of 59 - 61 HRC. Traditional Japanese blacksmith use this kind of steel to create the sharpest knifes in the world. Every //SKIDs blade is handcrafted in Magdeburg, Germany and connected with the wooden body with a self-developed technique. The result: a new level of cutting experience perfectly balanced and natural in handling. The very own grain of every single piece of wood make every //SKID unique. Lastly //SKID gets its final touch by hand. The result: a new level of cutting experience!
After making more than 20 design studies by hand and endless hours of sitting in front of a 3D printer to find the right shape, we created our first wooden prototype.
Before testing //SKID under real conditions we used different simulations and test courts to prove the durability of //SKID.
Then we got serious: We sent //SKID around the world to have it tested by several chefs.
First reaction of everyone:
But then:
And of course we tested //SKID ourselves. We worked for 14 days as a kitchen assistants for a big food caterer during the Light & Building fair in Frankfurt - it turned out to be the hardest job we have ever done.
Not only we, but also //SKID passed the stress test. Cutting hundred pineapples a day or more then 500 carrots - suddenly this was daily routine. But did //SKID get blunt? Nope! Even on the last day after having prepared 1000 of meals SKID still cuts a piece of paper like butter.
We have an approved knife design that has been heavily tested and refined at every step along the way. We have partnered with craftspeople, factories and raw material suppliers in Germany.
The proud result: //SKID
So now we're ready to go.
25.000 EUR for producing the first series of //SKID. More specifically, we have to order a lot of wood, pay our helping hands and of course pay the machines that we are using for manufacturing and the assembly.
We are an interdisciplinary group of engineers, designers, computer scientists and blacksmiths. Together we form a team with an extended set of skills and expertise.
Risks and challenges
We already have fully established relationships with our suppliers and manufacturers in Germany.
All //SKIDs are manufactured by ourselfs and our partners.
Unexpected hiccups can happen along the way. If so, we’ll be open and upfront. We know how important transparency is and we commit to always keeping you in the loop about the status of our campaign.
FAQ
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Blade an Body have a form fit. The result: Traction! To make the tiny gap between both components food-safe and long lasting, we developed a strong but flexible epoxy. The combination of both methods creates a seamless and especially durable surface to cut with.
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NO! Every single //SKID is vacuum infiltrated with linseed oil - a 100% natural oil. It keeps up the ability of tannin to kill bacterias and the wood stays food safe.
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Self-cleaning doesn't mean, that you don't have to clean your //SKID after using. It means, that you do not have to use chemical cleaners. The natural tannin that every hardwood contains is killing bacteria.
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Clean //SKID directly after using it with hot water and dry it after that immediately. It is not necessary to soak it.
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To produce 1kg of steel you need 30-50l of fresh water. Using this you can approximately produce 2-3 "normal" knives of this size.
Lignum can produce 70-90 knifes with the same amount of steel. Furthermore we are planting trees for our knifes and even use the offcut for packaging and holding systems. -
1 Use a piece of leather for every 3rd use (back to the roots)
2 Once in a month (max) you can use a sandstone (grain size: 1000 first/3000 second), with warm water and a bottle of red wine (of course)
3 Detailed information about the angle and number of repetitions will be in the delivery of your //SKID -
YES, even the packaging and our CNC - machines are built in Germany ;).