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How to Choose an Electric Gyro Knife (Gyro Slicer) for Your Restaurant
An electric gyro knife (also called a gyro slicer, doner knife or electric shawarma knife) shaves even slices off a vertical meat cone. Picking the right one comes down to five things: blade size, daily volume, power, cleaning and weight. This guide compares the German-made Dost, UYAR and Ceylan Devran slicers we sell, using only the specs on our product pages.
What an electric gyro knife does
A spinning circular blade cuts a set slice thickness every pass. That gives you consistent portions and more sandwiches per cone, and staff learn it in minutes. A manual knife depends on the hand holding it.
Step 1: Match blade size to your cones
- 80 mm:Dost 080, Ceylan Devran, UYAR P180 Competition, UYAR P280, UYAR S180 Plus, UYAR S280 Plus. Compact, light, easy to handle.
- 90 mm:Dost 090, UYAR D190.
- 100 mm:Dost 100, UYAR S3100 Plus.
- 120 mm:Dost 120 (the widest Dost, more torque at lower rpm) and UYAR T3120. Made for large, high-volume cones.
Step 2: Match your daily volume
Use the daily ratings as a guide, not a promise. These are the daily capacity figures confirmed by Gyrosknife.
| Slicer | Blade | Daily capacity | Weight | Speed | Slice thickness | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dost 080 | 80 mm | 60 kg / 150 lb | 830 g / 1.82 lb | 8000 rpm idle | 0-10 mm | 115V AC |
| Dost 090 | 90 mm | 60 kg / 150 lb | 860 g / 1.89 lb | 8000 rpm idle | 0-10 mm | 115V AC |
| Dost 100 | 100 mm | 60 kg / 150 lb | 990 g / 2.18 lb | 8000 rpm idle | 0-10 mm | 115V AC |
| Dost 120 | 120 mm | 200 kg / 440 lb | 1250 g / 2.75 lb | 2400 rpm idle (more torque) | 0-10 mm | 115V AC |
| Ceylan Devran | 80 mm | 90 kg / 220 lb | 1000 g | 7000 rpm | 0-10 mm | 115V |
| UYAR P180 Competition | 80 mm | about 70 kg / 150 lb | about 940 g | about 7000 rpm | 0-10 mm | 130 W; auto 110-220V |
| UYAR S3100 Plus | 100 mm | about 120 kg / 260 lb | about 1050 g | 2400 rpm | 0-10 mm | 130 W; auto 110-220V |
| UYAR T3120 | 120 mm | 150 kg / 330 lb | 1200 g | 2400 rpm | 0-10 mm | auto 110-220V |
Step 3: Power and voltage in the US and Canada
Dost and Devran models are 115V. UYAR's 3rd-generation power supply auto-senses 110V or 220V and has over-current, over-temperature, over-voltage and short-circuit protection. All slicers ship with a US/Canada power cord.
Step 4: Water resistance and cleaning
Dost slicers are sold as water-resistant. UYAR handpieces are not dishwasher safe; don't submerge them for more than 30 minutes, keep the power supply dry, and re-grease regularly. The XLR plug on UYAR and Dost slicers lets you unplug the knife to clean it. UYAR P180, P280, S180, S280 and D190 handpieces are rated IP67; the UYAR S3100 Plus is rated IP64. Dost slicers and the Ceylan Devran are rated IP64. None of our slicers are dishwasher safe.
Step 5: Weight and handling
From the spec sheets: Dost 080 830 g, Dost 090 860 g, UYAR P180 about 940 g, Dost 100 990 g, Dost 120 1250 g. Ceylan Devran 1000 g, UYAR S3100 Plus about 1050 g, UYAR T3120 1200 g. UYAR offers a straight handle (P series) and a pistol grip (S3100 Plus and T3120).
Step 6: Plan for blades, sharpening and parts
Blades are the main running cost. Every model has its own replacement blades; see our gyro slicer blades and fit guide. Sharpen daily with the sharpeners that come in the box. Parts for each machine are in our parts collection, and if a slicer stops working we fix it through our gyro slicer repair service.
Dost vs UYAR vs Ceylan Devran at a glance
| Dost | UYAR | Ceylan Devran | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made in | Germany | Germany (Künsebeck) | Germany |
| Blade sizes | 80, 90, 100, 120 mm | 80, 90, 100, 120 mm | 80 mm |
| Power | 115V | auto 110-220V, 130 W | 115V |
| In the box | extra blade, diamond + stone sharpener, spare fuse, pin for blade removal | extra blade, sharpening tool, grease syringe, metal pin for blade removal | extra blade, diamond + stone sharpener, spare fuse, pin for blade removal |
| Returns | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days |
Next steps
Browse all electric gyro knives, read our blade fit and replacement guide and our sharpening and maintenance guide, or call us to talk it through.
Buying from Gyrosknife: Gyrosknife is the exclusive UYAR distributor in the United States and Canada. Returns: 14 days on everything we sell, including UYAR (refund policy). We ship within the US and to Canada, and orders placed before 1 PM Eastern on a business day leave within 1 business day (shipping policy). Questions? Call 1-877-394-8227 or email info@gyrosknife.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best electric gyro knife for a restaurant?
The one that matches your cone size and daily volume. For a compact cone, an 80 mm slicer such as the Dost 080 (rated to 60 kg / 150 lb a day) or UYAR P180 Competition (about 70 kg / 150 lb) fits. For bigger cones, look at the 100 mm UYAR S3100 Plus (about 120 kg / 260 lb a day) or the 120 mm Dost 120 or UYAR T3120.
Do electric gyro slicers work on 110V in the US?
Yes. The Dost and Ceylan Devran slicers we sell are 115-volt models. UYAR's 3rd-generation power supply switches automatically between 110V and 220V.
Dost or UYAR: which electric doner knife should I buy?
Both are made in Germany. Dost slicers are water-resistant, 115V and come with an extra blade, two sharpeners and a spare fuse. UYAR slicers run on a 130 W motor with an auto-sensing 110/220V power supply and come with an extra blade, a sharpening tool and a grease syringe. Returns are 14 days on both. Compare blade size and daily volume first.
Can I clean an electric gyro knife in the dishwasher?
No. UYAR handpieces are not dishwasher safe and should not be submerged for more than 30 minutes, and the power supply must stay dry. None of our slicers are dishwasher safe. Dost slicers and the Ceylan Devran are rated IP64.
Can one gyro knife cut chicken and beef or lamb cones?
Yes. The store copy for these slicers lists gyro, doner, donair, chicken, beef or lamb shawarma and tacos al pastor. For lamb or beef shawarma (stacked meat) we recommend a serrated blade.
What comes in the box?
Dost and Ceylan Devran: an extra blade (smooth or serrated), a diamond sharpener, a stone sharpener, a spare fuse, a blade-removal pin, power supply and power cord. UYAR: an extra blade, a sharpening tool, a grease syringe, a metal locking pin for blade removal, the power supply and power cord.
What warranty comes with a slicer?
All new slicers come with a one-year warranty. Repairs come with a 6-month warranty on the replaced parts. Parts bought on their own have no warranty. See our warranty page.