SHOPYTHON
Laminating croissant or puff pastry dough by hand is slow, tiring and hard to keep even. Kneader's manual dough sheeters from Japan solve that without a big, expensive electric machine: you turn a handle, and the dough passes between two rollers set to an exact thickness.
There are three Kneader sheeters: the RS101, RS201 and RS301. This guide explains the differences, which board to choose, and which model suits your kitchen.
The short answer
- Home baker, small batches (up to 300 g): Kneader RS101, from RM2,499 with a board. Compact and folds away.
- Serious home baker or small café (up to 600 g): Kneader RS201, from RM3,799 with a board. Finer thickness control and a removable roller you can chill.
- Bakery or production kitchen (up to 2 kg): Kneader RS301, RM15,999. Comes with a large board. Made to order from Japan.
- Every set comes with a sheeter board. For the RS101 and RS201 you choose the board size when you order.
Why a manual sheeter?
A sheeter gives every pass the same thickness, so the butter layers in croissant and puff pastry stay even. That means a better rise and a cleaner honeycomb. Kneader sheeters need no electricity, are made of stainless steel with aluminium rollers, and come apart for washing. Besides pastry, they are handy for pizza bases, dumpling and noodle sheets, fondant and cookie dough.
The three models side by side
| RS101 | RS201 | RS301 | |
| Best for | Home baking | Home and café | Bakery production |
| Max dough per sheeting | 300 g (about 8 small croissants) | 600 g (about 12 small croissants) | 2 kg |
| Thickness range | 0–17.5 mm | 0–27 mm | 0–30 mm |
| Thickness steps | 11 settings: 1 mm steps to 5 mm, then 2.5 mm | 55 settings, every 0.5 mm | 0.5 mm to 2 mm, then 2.5 mm |
| Size open | 83 × 49 cm | 103 × 58 cm | 179 × 73 cm |
| Size folded | 14 × 37.5 × 20 cm | 30 × 47 × 11 cm | 62 × 30 × 11 cm |
| Weight | 4.5 kg | 6.5 kg | 12 kg |
| Board included? | Yes: SB-03 (60 cm) or SB-05 (70 cm) | Yes: SB-01 (90 cm) or SB-04 (100 cm) | Yes: SB-07 (120 × 55 cm) |
| In the box | Sheeter, handle, 2 guide bars, storage tote bag and your board | Sheeter with cover, handle, guide bar, removable roller pin and your board | Sheeter and SB-07 board |
| Price with board | RM2,499 (SB-03) or RM2,699 (SB-05) | RM3,799 (SB-01) or RM4,099 (SB-04) | RM15,999 (SB-07) |
RS101: the compact one
The RS101 is the smallest and lightest, and it packs into its own tote bag. It suits home bakers making a tray of croissants at a time, and anyone short on counter space. Its 11 thickness settings are plenty for pastry: fine 1 mm steps at the thin end where it matters, and bigger 2.5 mm steps for the first thick passes.
- Kneader RS101, from RM2,499: up to 300 g of dough, 0–17.5 mm, 4.5 kg. Sold with the SB-03 board (60 × 30 cm, RM2,499) or the sturdier three-layer SB-05 (70 × 30 cm, RM2,699).
- Kneader SB-05 board, RM499: spare or extra board for the RS101.
- Kneader SB-03 board, RM299: spare or extra board for the RS101.
RS201: the all-rounder
The RS201 doubles the dough capacity to 600 g and gives you 55 thickness settings in 0.5 mm steps, so you can reduce the dough gently, pass by pass, without tearing the butter layers. Its roller is removable, so you can keep it in the fridge. In a warm Malaysian kitchen, a cold roller keeps the butter firm for longer. It is also the only model that takes the CN-01 curling chain.
- Kneader RS201, from RM3,799: up to 600 g of dough, 0–27 mm in 0.5 mm steps, 6.5 kg. Sold with the SB-01 board (90 × 40 cm, RM3,799) or the longest, sturdiest three-layer SB-04 (100 × 40 cm, RM4,099).
- Kneader SB-04 board, RM699: spare or extra board for the RS201.
- Kneader SB-01 board, RM399: spare or extra board for the RS201.
- Kneader CN-01 curling chain, RM699, sold separately: clips onto either side of the RS201 and rolls sheeted dough into an even log as it comes out. Made for 250–500 g of dough. It does not fit the RS101 or RS301.
RS301: the professional one
The RS301 takes up to 2 kg of dough in one go, roughly a full bakery batch of croissant dough. It opens to 1.79 m but folds to 62 cm for storage, and it comes with the large SB-07 board, which has one face for cutting and one for delicate dough. It is still fully manual, so there is no motor to service.
- Kneader RS301, RM15,999: up to 2 kg of dough, 0–30 mm, 12 kg, SB-07 board included. Made to order from Japan, so ask us for the current lead time.
Which board should I choose?
Every Kneader sheeter we sell comes with a board, which sits under the rollers and carries the dough as it lengthens. For the RS101 and RS201, you choose between two sizes when you order; the RS301 comes with one large board:
- RS101: SB-03 (60 × 30 cm) or SB-05 (70 × 30 cm, sturdier three-layer board).
- RS201: SB-01 (90 × 40 cm) or SB-04 (100 × 40 cm, sturdier three-layer board).
- RS301: SB-07 (120 × 55 cm), one face for cutting and one for delicate dough.
The longer board gives the dough more room as it gets thinner. If you plan to sheet down to 3 mm or less, the longer board is the safer choice. Boards are also sold on their own, as a spare or so you have both sizes: SB-03, SB-05, SB-01 and SB-04.
Tips for laminating in Malaysia's heat
- Keep everything cold. Rest the dough in the fridge between folds, and on the RS201, chill the roller too.
- Reduce in small steps. Taking off a few millimetres per pass is easier on the butter layers than one big jump.
- Do not overload. Stay within the dough rating, so the sheet does not run off the end of the board.
- Work in air-conditioning if you can. If the butter starts to smear, put the dough back in the fridge for 15–20 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Kneader sheeter need electricity?
No. All three models are turned by hand, so you can use them anywhere and there is no motor to wear out.
Can I make croissants with the RS101?
Yes. The RS101 handles up to 300 g of dough, about 8 small croissants per sheeting. If you bake croissants for sale, the RS201's larger capacity and finer steps will save you time.
Is the sheeter board included?
Yes. The RS101 comes with the SB-03 or SB-05 board, the RS201 with the SB-01 or SB-04, and the RS301 with the SB-07. Choose the board when you order.
Can I use the CN-01 curling chain with the RS101 or RS301?
No. The CN-01 is designed for the RS201 only.
Still not sure?
Tell us what you laminate and how much per batch, and we will recommend a set. WhatsApp us on 017-805 6033, or browse all Kneader sheeters and boards.