It should still overlap the bottom piece by about 2 inches. Carpet cutters are devices used in the process of carpet installation. Using a carpet cutter and a utility knife (Photos 10 and 11), cut off the excess after the carpet is completely stretched. Essentially, the cutter makes it possible to trim and cut the carpeting in order to ensure proper installation. Using the right type of cutters for the project at hand makes it a lot more enjoyable and ensures the cuts turn out as expected. Heavy rubber pads ensure stability during cutting action while dual chrome-plated rail bars and linear ball-bearing slides enhance smooth scoring. long. Precision and accuracy are important factors that you need to have on top of your priority list when cutting a carpet, and you are getting that from this cutter. Nail the strips 1/2" from the wall (Image 2). Make sure to protect the surface beneath the remnant – the knife may cut … Using a carpet cutter and a utility knife (Photos 10 and 11), cut off the excess after the carpet is completely stretched. Insert the cushion-back carpet cutter between the piles at the carpet's edge, with the tool's long nose facing along the path. Use a sharp new blade in your utility knife and be careful not to slice into baseboard or walls. Just focus on cutting the carpet—you can pull the padding up later. Carpet is much easier to cut from the back than from the front. Cutting carpet may seem like a straightforward task, but there's an art to getting the job done right. The cutter has an extra long nose for better row separation plus a bottom platform and beveled surface that allows the cutter to stay straight. Keep pulling back the carpet and slicing it into strips. Using the right type of cutters for the project at hand makes it a lot more enjoyable and ensures the cuts turn out as expected. Make a cut that is 12 inches long. Cut an entry point for the cutter with the utility knife from the back. A straight edge is going to be necessary to guide your knife along the edge of the carpet. ... Rochelle. Slide the blade out of the inside of the tool by pushing it down with your thumb. Cut out the rug. Instead of raking your blade across the carpet and through the padding to make a cut, just make a 4-5 inch hole and use your fingers to pull the carpet up with one hand, then cut the raised carpet with the other using your utility knife. Use a black marker and straightedge to mark the carpet backing where you want to cut it. Use the straightedge to guide your carpet knife as you cut the carpet to ensure a clean, straight cut. Pull the cut piece gently away from the surrounding carpet to minimise pile loss. Lay the newly cut edge of carpet back down over the uncut piece. When you cut carpet, you need to make sure that you cut it straight. Hold the carpet trimmer with the other hand against the wall, in the corner, lowering the tucking mechanism over the cut edge of carpet. Lay the newly cut edge of carpet back down over the uncut piece. Extra long nose for better row separation Whether you are stretching in a carpet or gluing it down, you need to use a carpet trimmer to cut around the edges to give the carpet a finished appearance. Shop carpet cutters in the carpet tools & accessories section of Lowes.com. One of the most important things that you will want to do is use a straight edge. Trim the raw edge of the carpet with a carpet cutter to remove any loose fibers and create a clean edge. When the cut piece of carpet or vinyl is ready for removal a removal mechanism can be activated, eliminating the use of a board to remove material from the machine. The cutter is designed to trap the carpet against the woodwork and cut it accurately. Whether the carpet is woven or needle-punched, it should be possible to tell by looking at the pile side and/or the underside which way its "straight grain" runs. Keep pulling back the carpet and slicing it into strips. Cutting carpet may seem like a straightforward task, but there's an art to getting the job done right. We had quite a bit of leftover carpet after the carpet installers left, and decided to carpet one bathroom ourselves, and also to cut some (and bind the edges) for various needs, such as we made a long runner for the kitchen, made door mats, and made doggie placemats to set their cooked meals on. How to Cut Carpet. Place a straightedge along the edge of the cut carpet, and use the knife to cut through the bottom piece of carpet, slicing through only a single row of threads, as before. Use a Straight Edge. 1. Place the cutter, without blades, over the damaged area, and make three clockwise turns to push aside a ring of carpet fibers and expose the backing. Place a straightedge along the edge of the cut carpet, and use the knife to cut through the bottom piece of carpet, slicing through only a single row of threads, as before. This is best done from the underside using a knife so as not to cut the pile. Cut an entry point for the cutter with the utility knife from the back. Set the blade aside. In the absence of a carpet knife, a standard utility knife might work, but it will not be as easy or practical to use. Rub your hand over the carpet surrounding the damaged section, and note which direction makes the carpet fibers stand up. My husband and I tried and tried but gave up cutting carpet with this thing. Carpet cutters are devices used in the process of carpet installation. Don't install tackless strips across thresholds or doorways; the tacks on the strips are sharp and could poke through the carpet and hurt your feet.