Make a Butter Knife for Spreading Cold, Hard Butter

Hello Instructablers.

Here's how you can make a butter knife that can handle cold butter straight from the fridge without ripping up your bread or toast.

The original idea is not mine. I spotted it on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1070983896/th...

The project was super-successful, and for good reason; it's a work of pure ingeniousness.

Anyway, with a butter challenge in the offing, I couldn't resist having a crack at making my own. In the end it worked quite well. My fellow Instructablers will certainly be able to improve on the design, but I hope this will at least help inspire someone to have a go.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

Step 1: Materials and Tools

The only material is some stainless steel. I used the housing of an old submersible bore pump. These things are designed to last so I know it will be good quality stainless steel. The steel is about 1mm thick - you would not want it thinner.

Of course you will also need some tools to cut it out, grind, drill and polish.

• Sharpie pen to mark out.
• For cutting I used a plasma cutter, but an angle grinder with cutting discs will be just as good.
• Grinding disc or bench grinder to clean up after cutting.
• Centre punch and hammer to locate holes.
• Drill with 2mm or 3mm drill bit.
• Flap disc and polishing wheels and polishing compound for finishing.

Step 2: Mark Out and Cut

Use your sharpie to m ark out a nice butter knife shape. I traced around a bought one I found in a kitchen drawer.

Cut out the shape.

Grind the rough edges off, and adjust then shape until it looks approximately just right. As m steel came off a cylinder I also had to do some hammering at this stage to make it flat.

Step 3: Drill Some Holes

I used a larger drill bit to mark the line where I wanted the holes to go.

Just use a drill bit twice the size of the distance you want to mark. Hold the drill bit flat on the bench and drag the steel past it. A 4mm drill bit will leave a mark 2mm from the edge.

Use a centre punch to mark where you want the holes. I actually did mine one at a time to make sure the spacing looked okay.

If you look at the picture you will get the idea. I didn't do any measuring. I just did it by eye, and it turned out okay. I don't think it's a very exact science.

Step 4: Finish

I used polishing wheels on my drill with polishing compound. The stainless steel quickly became bright and shiny.

I wish I had the time to make a beautiful handle for this, but I will have to leave that up to you. Please share some pictures when it's done.

Step 5: Time for a Snack

Get some lovely fresh bread. Go to the coldest part of your fridge and get out some rock-hard butter. Don't let the butter soften; just drag your new knife across its surface so worm-like threads of butter are extruded through the holes. Gently spread the extruded butter worms on your bread. While your mouth is hanging open in amazement throw the bread and butter in and enjoy.

If you like my stuff please feel free to check out my Etsy store at deBurghSTEEL.

Comments

[Alex in NZ]

This is really a work of genius. Thank you for sharing it :-)

[MrRedBeard]

You just changed the game! Butter without having to wait for it to come to room temperature.

[tsmith70]

Try using a glass and tile drill. The cutting edges are tungsten carbide and the small sets can be had cheaply at harbor freight.

[christopher.roskosh]

Love this little bit of brilliance, even if it isn't originally yours. For years we've just been putting the butter container (we get Amish butter and put it in our own container) on top of the coffee maker first thing in the morning. This of course melts the bottom butter and leaves the top nice and hard anyway, I'm giving this a try with a mismatched knife we somehow acquired.

[SonikaJAnand]

Nice and innovative idea..

[cammers]

thanks

[Silver2107]

Thank you for this nice instructable. I might even try it with some hard plastic. You can get butter slicers that use wires but I always felt the slices would be too thick. This looks just right. Then I read that butter doesn't have to be refrigerated. Just keep it covered and a stick will be good for 2 weeks. I go through a stick a week. Enjoy.

[punkgirl]

The suggestions of drilling into an existing knife and using graters etc are great and all, but there's is something so satisfying in making a project completely from scratch. I think it's great you went the extra mile and made your own knife, well done! :)

[cammers]

Thanks Punkgirl. You clearly get why we makers make stuff.

[MrIlson17]

Can I drill some holes in a butter knife?

[tisaconundrum]

this is what i was thinking as well. This approach sounds easier XD. Either way this is an excellent and humorous 'ible

[cammers]

good idea.

[rimar2000]

Very clever!

[cammers]

Hi Rimar. Haven't seen you for a while. How are you?

[rimar2000]

Thanks for your concern, cammers. I tired a little, making instructables. I am doing diverse things, but no one of them deserves a publishing.

[cammers]

Very good. Nice to see you.

I had a year or two off. Then tempted back in by the metal contest. I think I'm hooked again now.

[rimar2000]

Today I begun to make my own "muscle powered" honing stone, maybe I will publish it, depending on the result...

[cammers]

I look forward to seeing it.

[kitemancake]

Two suggestions: Drill holes in a plastic knife.

I currently use a fork, which creates large curls (No drilling required.) Try it!

[janar100000]

You can just use a cheese knife.