With the eyesight diminishing and the aim not being what it used to be, the fine motor skills required to use a big ass butcher knife in the kitchen are not as fine as they used to be. I convinced the missus we needed a mandolin slicer for the kitchen and she got us one and I proceeded to play with it to figure out its peculiarities. Holy crap that thing is sharp and dangerous! You can lose half an inch of finger before noticing!
I shared my newly acquired respect and outright cowardice in my Facebook wall and I was amazed at the response I had from other guys. Some seasoned warriors who have seen the elephant and the some who were complaining how they were attacked by the brutish tool and now they are in fear of Julienne some carrots.
For some reason, not a single response from the woman’s camp. Then again they are doted with common sense so they may know how to operate those things safely and just leave the boys to themselves.
So, basically this is us men:
I use mine a few times a week but give it a healthy dose of respect. I was fortunate that my first one was a cheap-ass one so I only cut my finger good instead of chopping it off. I have a better one now and treat it with kid gloves. As for the women, my wife won’t touch it, so maybe that’s why you heard nothing? Perhaps they know the fear already and just stay away.
Women: They have the brains 🙂
I’ve got a mid level quality one but it’s taken it’s fair share of blood. My thumb tip looks normal again but it’s been a couple years for it to grow back.
Everytime I suggest to my wife she use it when we’re cooking a big batch of something and deploying it makes sense she either says “No” or “You do it”.
She’s definitely smarter than me.
Cut resistant gloves are sold in the kitchenware section of your favorite Target/Mart store. My mandolin has drawn plenty of blood, but not after getting the glove.