A blade clamp for use in an automated, high speed potato slicing apparatus to slice chips to a predetermined size for packaging purposes. The blade clamp includes a cutting head; a blade mount having a slot therein; a first knife element between the cutting head and the blade mount, the first knife element having a first cutting edge; and optionally a second knife element having a second knife edge, the second knife element extending from the slot of the blade mount, such that the first and second cutting edges are substantially orthogonal to each other.