Here are some basic tips to get the most from your FEIN cut-out knife.

• Sharpen blades before using. This includes even new blades. We recommend they be sharpened on a belt sander with 120 grit or finer. Other suitable methods are a whetstone or fine tooth file. Not sharpening the blades before using them will result in their breaking and unsatisfactory operation of the FEIN knife.

• Lubricate the area that will be cut with clean water before inserting the blade into urethane to help reduce heat.

• Always start the tool with the speed control set to position #1. Increase the speed control no higher than #3. This will keep the blade from smoking while cutting the urethane, and allows the blade maximum cutting efficiency. Often, a slower speed cuts the urethane faster.

• Keep the FEIN knife at a right angle to the work surface. The tool should not be twisted while in operation, putting undue stress on the tool and cutting blade.

• Do not force the knife though the urethane. It is recommended that the auxiliary pull cable handle #9-26-02-030-01-4 be used to help control the cutting of the blade.

• Use only original FEIN cutting blades. Using other blades will result in damage to the tool's bearing and housing assembly, caused by severe vibration of the tool. FEIN blades are designed to create a sickle-shaped hook cutting action. They are sharpened on both sides to allow the blade to cut in either direction, forward or backward, while counterfeit blades are sharpened on one side and hooked away from the drive shaft, causing the blade to beat against the urethane.

• FEIN blades are convex ground to keep them in the center of the urethane. Counterfeit blades are flat on one side, which may cause the blade to dive, hitting the pinchweld.