Yep! Electric knife.
Stand the corn cob in a bundt or angel food cake pan with the stem end in the hole ( I put the whole thing down in the kitchen sink.
Use the electric knife to cut the kernels off, they fall right into the pan.
Just watch that you don't hit the pan with the knife or you'll have nice little metal shavings in your corn (don't ask how I know)!!
Deanna

There is a tool, I can't remember the name of it, but my mom got me one at her local hardware store. Have seen them online too. I am sure someone here will respond with the correct name.

Good luck and happy harvesting!
bluejean in ohio

If this is the tool you're talking about, I have not had good luck with it.
Still messy, takes some practice to get the right tension for the cob size, and I've had the whole darn thing go flying off the cutting board.
There's another sort of flat one too. You slide the cob down a trough with a blade in it. Haven't used that one, but could see myself slicing off a finger!! Ouch!
I think everyone has to find what works for them.
Deanna

Here is a link that might be useful: Corn Cob Cutter

That's it! I LOVE it. We use a piece of 2x4 lumber (untreated-of course) with a long nail in it- probably 4 inches long. The nail is driven through the piece of wood and the cob is shoved on the nail. It hols it perfectly in place. I typically set the board (around 6" long) in a big roasting pan. I slice down with the tool, and all the corn falls to the side. My mom and I have a system allowing the two of us to freeze a ton of corn quickly. She blanches and ste sit in ice water, I use the corn tool and then after we are done with all the ears (several dozen at a time), we both scrape along the ears with a butter knife to get all the milkiness out. Combine it all in a large bowl and then pack in pint size freezer bags. We pack the bags flat into a shoe box, allowing us to maximize the space in the freezer.

It works incredibly for us.

To each their own, I guess!
Happy harvesting,
bluejean in ohio

I think the 2 x 4 is the answer!!
Makes sense. The cob wouldn't tip over.
I was just thrilled to find a use for the dingy electric knife that someone gave us!! Hee hee.
Obviously, I don't use it for much else. Once in awhile, but it's rare.

Deanna

I have one of those and its not very good. The two round blades tend to dig into the cob. You need a strong base and steel nail to push the cobs onto to hold them upright. Its a bit messy. My round one had its cutters bend, so I drilled out the rivets and used a Dreemel tool to sharpen the serrations, then rovited it back together to make it a bit sharper. The most popular one I use has a curved bed and blade like a mandolin, so you make several horizontal passes. The device sits on the edge of a bowl and has a notch to hold it in place. Kitche Krafts sells this at- http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/product.asp?pn=FP0120&SID=GH072706&TID=0727KTCH&eicioi=67130&bhcd2=1155671210

Recently, I have tried a new corn kernal cutter and used it last night for the first time. Its all stainless and cuts about two rows of kernals at once, so multiple passes need to be done. Its much easier on the hand muscles when you can make several pases which require a lot less pulling power to cut off two rows at a time.

Here is a link that might be useful: Two row corn zipper

I just use a sharp knife and a cutting board. Never had any problems with kernels exploding every-which-way.

There is no real need for a board with a nail, whether you use a knife or one of those tools. In fact, I find the idea kind of silly. All you have to do is cut the cob even at the stem end. It will stand up just fine that way. You hold the pointy tip, and use the knifebelow your hand. No fuss, no muss.

That two handed round cutter has handles on both sides, so you must use your 'third hand' to hold the ear vertical. I tried it, and the cobs would slide and then the cutter would dig into the cobs. The one that has a mandolin shape worked best for me, even though I made the round cutters extra sharp. This new corn zipper had the best cuts and the kerns didn't spray out all over the place.

silly or not, it works for us.

but like I said, to each their own. We all have what works for us apparently. And hopefully all of our ideas can give Sautesmom some ideas that might work for her.

Happy harvesting,
bluejean in ohio

well...we always just (as your husking) broke off very tip(which only contains small undeveloped kernels anyway) even as you can...leave about an inch of stalk and stand it on end (tip end)holding the stalk on a large plate or platter....i never really have too much mess....i do use a VERY sharp chefs knife and remember to hold it up and down not at angle