My Favourite Baker’s Lame Is a UFO! Here’s Why I Love It because it completely changed how I score my sourdough bread. The UFO-shaped baker’s lame feels incredibly comfortable in hand and gives me clean, controlled cuts every single time. Unlike traditional straight lames, this design offers better grip and balance, which helps create beautiful oven spring and sharp ear formation. If you care about consistent results and professional-looking loaves, this baker’s lame is a must-have tool.
What really makes this UFO baker’s lame stand out is how easy and safe it is to use, even for beginners. The blade sits securely, reducing slips while scoring high-hydration dough. It’s also quick to clean and durable, making it perfect for regular home baking. Whether you’re baking rustic sourdough or artisan loaves, this unique baker’s lame delivers precision, comfort, and style—all in one small tool.
The Secret to Perfect Sourdough: Proofing in the Fridge: CLICK HERE
What’s different about the Wire Monkey lames?
From the title alone, you probably guessed my favourite UFO lame is the Wire Monkey baker’s lame, and yes—UFOs really do belong in baking bread. I know it sounds odd, but after years of using different lames, this tool changed how I safely and precisely score bread dough. The UFO design uses two discs that tighten together, housing a razor blade; by turning the discs, you can engage the blade or tuck it away for safe storage. I’ve tested this week three Wire Monkey designs, including the ARC and the POCO, and the UFO stands out. If you use the wire monkey affiliate links, you’ll even get a 10% discount at checkout on your order—a nice bonus.
My history with traditional lames has been a rocky relationship. A traditional lame usually measures around 20 cm, with the blade mounted at the opposite end of the handle. While that improves safety by keeping fingers out of the way, I often lose control, especially with precision cuts for decorative purposes. It’s fine for long cuts, but the degree of control just isn’t there. I found the clumsy holding frustrating, so mine ended up gathering dust in the cupboard. I switched to a run-and-gun approach, ditching the lame and holding the razor blade between my thumb and forefinger—effective, but every razor blade handheld moment filled me with dread. These are lethal little weapons, extremely easy to lose, and a misplaced blade can double your heart rate. Once my daughter started starting to bake with me in the kitchen, the safety issue became impossible to ignore.
That’s why Wire Monkeys baker’s lames, designed with precision, finally won me over. They fit snugly into my fingers, offering maximum control, and even the curved blade configuration on the Arc mirrors what bakers love—usable in the right hand or left hand. Beyond the gear, I genuinely like the Wire Monkey products and the company itself. Tyler, the owner, and Carter, the office manager, were super helpful and easy to communicate with. As a US-based company that’s family-run and committed to being eco-friendly, they’ve earned my trust—right alongside other favorites like How I Setup my Kitchen and Film my YouTube Cooking Videos and Sourdough Gift Guide: 15 Thoughtful Gifts for Home Bakers.
What material are the lames made out of?
The UFO NUX, Zero, POCO, and ARC lames are crafted from American black walnut and arrive pre-seasoned with fractionated coconut oil, which protects the wood and enhances its natural dark grain. The contrast between the shiny razor blades and dark walnut honestly looks fantastic, and it’s clear that lots of care has gone into the final finish—each of the lames I received had a surface that felt beautifully smooth. The machining is done carefully, and I was unable to find a flaw across all four lames. The UFO lames use small stainless steel fixings that allow you to unscrew the two pieces of walnut for inserting the blade, opening, and closing the lame, and I was genuinely surprised by how smooth fixings operate.
The thread is really fine, runs through the nut closely, and creates no wobble between two pieces, which is apparent when you open or close the UFO Nux—it’s extremely satisfying to smoothly wind it with one finger (see UFO Nux video). The stainless steel has a surgical appearance, creating a beautiful contrast against the walnut, and this thoughtful design fits perfectly alongside other reads like How I Setup my Kitchen and Film my YouTube Cooking Videos and Sourdough Gift Guide: 15 Thoughtful Gifts for Home Bakers.
How do I maintain and look after a wooden lame?
Because wire monkey lames are a natural wood product, they really benefit from a little TLC from time to time. I always remove the blade first—yes, the blade—then use a stiff brush to remove stubborn bits of dough, especially those stubborn bits of dough that dry on after baking.
A soft-bristled paintbrush (or any paintbrush) works great for dusting off flour. To season, I normally use mineral oil like I do on wooden cutting boards, peels, and rolling pins, but there’s a change on the horizon as Wire Monkey suggests fractionated coconut oil. Simply add the oil to a small container, place the lame inside, and leave the lame—I left mine for an hour—then wiped off the excess with a lint-free cloth and pour leftover oil back into the bottle. Don’t wash these lames in water; always keep them dry at all times. If you get the lame wet, start by removing the blade, separating the pieces, spreading out the pieces of the lame, and leaving it to dry at room temperature. This simple routine has worked perfectly alongside other projects like How I Setup my Kitchen and Film my YouTube Cooking Videos and Sourdough Gift Guide: 15 Thoughtful Gifts for Home Bakers.
Design
The Wire Monkey UFO Nux bread lame stands out for its thoughtful design, built from two circular pieces of American Black walnut with three impressions on the carved surface that feel natural in the hand. The quality of the stainless steel fixing is excellent, with no wobbling when you tighten pieces together, making it a real pleasure to open and close. The razor blade is placed between two discs—the walnut discs tighten together via the same stainless steel fixing—so the blade is held firmly for clean scoring, then tucks away safely for storing.
A subtle detail I love is the Wire Monkey logo stamped on the inside surface of one piece of walnut—you see it when changing the blade. This balance of function and finish fits perfectly alongside reads like How I Setup my Kitchen and Film my YouTube Cooking Videos and Sourdough Gift Guide: 15 Thoughtful Gifts for Home Bakers.
Fitting the blade
Each lame comes supplied with an Astra, double-edged, platinum, razor blade, and the process to fit the razor blade is refreshingly simple. You just unscrew the two pieces of walnut, place the blade placed over the central screw on one piece, then position the other piece placed over the top and screws down tight. The first time I tried it, it took me just 20 seconds to unscrew the lame, fit the blade, and screw it back together, which makes blade changes quick and stress-free. It’s a small detail, but one that fits perfectly with workflows I share in How I Setup my Kitchen and Film my YouTube Cooking Videos and recommendations from my Sourdough Gift Guide: 15 Thoughtful Gifts for Home Bakers.
Extending & retracting the blade
When it’s time to use the lame, the two pieces of walnut are easily loosened by unscrewing, and after a little wiggle the blade will reveal itself—it will not come out further than needed because the screw mechanism fits through the central channel. To close the blade, simply loosen again, push the blade in carefully, then tighten.
My fingers fit perfectly into the impressions machined into the walnut, which makes opening and closing this model easy; it’s also thicker than other UFO models, making it easy to handle and operate. In real use, it took me 14 seconds to retrieve the blade ready to use, and just 10 seconds to put the blade away safely—a smooth workflow that mirrors how I streamline setups in How I Setup my Kitchen and Film my YouTube Cooking Videos and why I recommend it in my Sourdough Gift Guide: 15 Thoughtful Gifts for Home Bakers.
Dimensions and weight
The Nux measures 46mm across the diameter and was just under 13mm thick. The lame weighs 9.2 grams including the razor blade.
Storage
This is a super-safe and almost bulletproof lame when it comes to storage. As long as the blade is fully retracted and secured inside the lame, you can confidently keep it in a drawer, an apron pocket, or even out on the counter without worrying about cutting yourself or losing the blade. It also fits snugly into the Wire Monkey holster, making storage neat, safe, and stress-free.
Handling the lame
The UFO NUX fits extremely well in my hand and feels tactile, making it easy to move smoothly across the dough while scoring. I’m used to hand-holding a blade, so the difference was immediately noticeable, but the UFO design makes the blade simple to guide and flip when changing direction or moving between cuts.
If you’ve ever scored dough with a bare blade, you’ll know how easy it is to accidentally nick the dough with the leading corner. With the UFO design, there’s zero chance of snagging, as the opposite corner is safely tucked away. It’s perfect for long cuts as well as more detailed incisions, making it a terrific all-rounder for everyday baking.
The Wire Monkey UFO ZERO lame
Design
The two pieces of American black walnut are thinner on this model, with softer engraving than the NUX. The same high-quality stainless steel fixings are used here, delivering smooth and reliable operation.
The razor blade sits neatly sandwiched between the two walnut discs. By unscrewing the discs, you can extend or retract the blade, which is held securely in place once everything is tightened back together.
When it’s time to change the blade, you’ll spot the Wire Monkey logo stamped on the inside surface of the walnut.
Fitting the Blade
An Astra double-edged platinum razor blade is supplied with the lame. To fit the blade, simply unscrew the two walnut pieces, place the blade over the central screw on one side, then position the second piece on top and tighten it down.
It took me 26 seconds to unscrew the lame, fit the blade, and screw it back together.
Extending & Retracting the Blade
When it’s time to use the lame, unscrew the two walnut pieces and give it a gentle shake—the razor blade will reveal itself. The central stainless steel screw prevents the blade from falling out completely, and once tightened, the lame is ready to use. Reverse the process to safely store the blade again.
Thanks to the machined grooves on the outside of each walnut piece, this lame is easy to open and close. It took me 17 seconds to retrieve the blade ready for use, and 11 seconds to put it away safely.
Dimensions and Weight
The Zero measures 46mm in diameter, with a thickness of just over 6mm. When fitted with a razor blade, the UFO ZERO weighs 6.4 grams.
Storage
This lame is extremely safe to store when the blade is fully retracted and secured. You won’t have any panic moments leaving it in a drawer or even an apron pocket. It fits perfectly inside the Wire Monkey holster.
Handling the Lame
The Zero is light, nimble, and comfortable to use in either hand. If you don’t own a turntable for spinning dough while scoring, this is a big advantage. It’s easy to change direction and move smoothly from one cut to the next.
Because one end of the razor blade is safely housed between the walnut, there’s no risk of snagging the leading corner in the dough while scoring. It works beautifully for long cuts as well as detailed scoring—this lame has you covered for all scoring tasks.
FAQs
What is the highest rated bread lame?
The best bread lame really depends on your style, but most top picks fall into three categories. The versatile Baker of Seville is popular for general use, thanks to its great handle and adjustable curve blade or straight blade. For detail work, the unique, compact Wire Monkey UFO Lame with its circular design is a favorite for intricate scoring, offering excellent control and safety. The Saint Germain is a simple option with a high-control option feel, though many bakers prefer Wire Monkey designs overall.
Why are lames curved?
The curved edge encourages the dough to lift and form defined ears, while the straight side is perfect for creating clean, decorative detail cuts.
What is a lame in baking?
A lame is a small razor-blade tool used to score bread dough before baking, helping it expand properly and create decorative cuts for better shape and oven spring.
How is bread lame pronounced?
A bread lame is pronounced lahm, rhyming with bomb—and not like the English word lame (as in unable to walk) or laym. It’s a French term meaning blade, and bakers use it for scoring dough to control its rise and create decorative patterns before baking. It’s one of those baking words that sounds confusing at first, but once you hear it, it sticks—just like the techniques I share in How I Setup my Kitchen and Film my YouTube Cooking Videos and my Sourdough Gift Guide: 15 Thoughtful Gifts for Home Bakers.
