I currently use an 8 inch bread knife to cut, level and carve cakes but i find it annoying when trying to level larger cakes as the knife is not big enough to cut right through.

How large do these knives go? Biggest i've seen is a 10inch blade but if there are any larger knives out there or any specialist bit of kit then please let me know!

PS I have heard of these "cake levelers" but haven't really heard great reviews and i dont know how large you can get them or whether they are worth buying.

Check out the Agbay. I do not have one myself ( Wish I did), but many others here swear buy them. You can get them in a big version and a smaller version. The bigger version will do 20 inches across.

If you can't afford Agbay, Wilton have a large leveller. The key to the Wilton one is that you have to saw through the cake.

I have a 14" knife by Fat Daddios. LOVE it!

thanks guys! 14 inch knife sounds great and i would have got that if it wasnt for this agbay contraption! now im never going to buy one as it seems to cost a lot but i am tempted to buy one of their replacement blades and make my own somehow!

AGBAY is the way to go. Don't know what I'd do without mine. If you need a quick inexpensive fix, just get out a length of dental floss and drag it across the top of a cake pan (with a cake in it) to level it off or wind it around a cake once then pull and it will dissect the cake for you, but make sure the string is level all the way around.

I have an Agbay and love it! Best investment I ever made. But if you can't afford it, I'd be leary of the Wilton leveler as their blade tends to flex.

If you have the 8" bread knife, take a look at this video. Around the 4 minute mark she shows how to level and torte what looks like a 14" square cake with the knife, using the straight armed method. You might find that works for you.

I think I might get this:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KEUKPG/?tag=cakecentral-20