CRAIN 675 Instructions Manual

No. 675 24" Carpet tile Cutter

SAFETY FIRST - read and save all instructions!

The Crain 24" Carpet Tile Cutter includes a 26" blade designed to cut soft tiles
including carpet tiles, VCT tiles, luxury vinyl tiles, rubber tiles and cork tiles.
Do not use the 26" blade for cutting wood or laminate planks, or ceramic tiles.
A 13" wood cutting blade is available for cutting wood and laminate ooring
planks only (not shingles or wall siding), and is sold separately. Do not use this
cutter for any purpose not described in this manual.

This cutter has a sharp blade. Keep hands away! The blade is lever-activated
and can cause severe cuts or sever ngers or hands. Pay attention to the posi­tion and motion of the blade in operation and transportation of the cutter.

If the material being cut gets stuck on the blade, remove the stuck material
from the blade using scrap material or other tool. Do not use bare hands! Keep
hands away from the blade at all times. Use of new, clean, sharp blades can
reduce the sticking of materials on the blade.

Scrap materials, dust, and splinters can accumulate around the blade, behind
the blade, or on the bed of the cutter. These can impair the safe operation of
the cutter. Keep these clear at all times by dusting them off using a piece of
scrap material or other tool. Keep hands away from the blade. Wear eye and
ear protection when using this cutter.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR

Carrying
Handle

Rear
Stand

Ruler

Cut Guide

Fence

Bottom
Bar

Blade

Pressure
Roller

Pressure
Roller

Blade
Carrier

Safety
Lock

Connector
Tube

Leverage

Handle

Grip

Bed

Guide
Post

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CRAIN

KEEP HANDS
AWAY FROM:

WARNING!

BLADE
BLADE CARRIER
PRESSURE ROLLERS

Figure 1

2

The cutting operation may leave splinters or sharp edges on the material that is
being cut. Some materials may require sanding before nal installation. Inspect
all cuts prior to installation. Do not install cut pieces with splinters or sharp edg­es. Keep splinters and cut pieces with sharp edges out of the work area.

This cutter has two pressure rollers that can pinch and crush ngers or hands.
Keep hands away! Keep ngers and hands out from under the blade carrier,
as they can be crushed against the material being cut, or the bed of the cutter.

The cutter has a safety lock that holds the leverage handle and the blade in the
down position. For protection, lock the safety lock whenever the cutter is not in
use. Also, lock the safety lock whenever the cutter is being transported or placed
in storage. To lock the safety lock, move the handle to the down position, then
slide the safety lock to the far right (Figure 3). When the safety lock is locked,
tighten the safety lock’s lock nut to x the safety lock in locked position.

This cutter has a spring-loaded leverage handle that rises automatically with
enough force to cause injury (Figure 4). Be aware of the motion of the leverage
handle. As it rises, guide the leverage handle to its starting upright position to
prevent it from slamming against its stop or impacting your body. In operation,
kneel to the side of the leverage handle, keeping head and body out of its arc.

This cutter is not to be used by children or persons with reduced physical, sen­sory or mental ability, or that lack experience and knowledge, unless they have
been given supervision or instruction.

Keep the work area clean. Clutter invites accidents. The work environment
should be clean, dry, well lit, and clear of any ammable materials or explosive
gasses. Do not use the cutter in wet or damp conditions. Keep children and
bystanders away from the cutter and out of the work area.

This cutter is a ooring tool for use on the oor only. It has a spring-loaded
leverage handle that generates a lot of force and can cause motion such as
tipping of the cutter. Do not use the tool on a table that can tip and cause the
cutter to fall, or anywhere near stairs or balconies from which it may fall.

Keep blades clean and sharp. Dull blades can require excessive cutting force,
which may result in increased risk of injury, or damage to the tool.

LOCK
NUT

Figure 2 - Unlocked Figure 3 - Locked Figure 4

3

CAUTION: Do not apply excessive force to the cutter, as this can cause injuries,
including back injuries, or damage the cutter. Don’t alter the cutter by using
attachments such as extended leverage handles or other power sources. Dam­age or injury may result. Use only Crain replacement blades for this cutter.

Some dust created by cutting contains chemicals that can be injurious to your
health, including formaldehyde. Work in a well-ventilated area, and work with
approved safety equipment. If necessary, wear a dust respirator mask or a
dual lter (dust and fume) respirator mask which has been approved by the Oc­cupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute of
Safety and Health (NIOSH), or the United States Bureau of Mines. These masks
and replaceable lters are readily available at major hardware stores. Be sure
the mask ts. Beards and facial hair may keep masks from sealing properly.
Change lter often. DISPOSABLE PAPER MASKS ARE NOT ADEQUATE.

WARNING: Some dust created by power sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling,
and other construction activities contains chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Some
examples of these chemicals are: lead from lead-based paints, crystalline silica
from brick, cement and other masonry products, and arsenic and chromium
from chemically-treated lumber. Your risk from these exposures varies, de­pending on how often you do this type of work. To reduce your exposure to
these chemicals: work in a well-ventilated area, and work with approved safety
equipment, such as those dust masks that are specially designed to lter out
microscopic particles.

CAUTION: Tool is heavy! Users with adequate strength should move the cutter
with proper lifting technique and constant awareness of the sharp blade. Be
careful not to drop the machine on feet or other body parts. Carry the cutter by
its carrying handle (Figure 1). Do not carry the cutter by the leverage handle, the
blade carrier, or bottom bar. Keep hands away from the blade!

Store the cutter out of reach of children, with the safety lock in the locked posi­tion (Figure 3), and in a safe location that prevents the cutter from falling.

OPERATION:

MATERIALS THAT CAN BE CUT: This cutter is designed to cut soft ooring

tiles up to 24" wide using its 26" blade. Using its 26" blade, it can make diago­nal cuts in tiles up to 18" wide.

A 13" wood cutting blade for this cutter is sold separately. See the section on
changing blades below for instructions (especially Figure 14). Using the 13"
blade, the cutter can cut wood and laminate plank oor materials up to ¾"
thick ONE PLANK AT A TIME. Don’t use the 26" blade on wood or laminate
planks or ceramic tiles, as it will become dull quickly and won’t make precision
straight cuts. Some wood or laminate may require excessive force to be cut,
resulting in possible damage to the cutter, or injury to the user. This depends on
the hardness of the material, grain structure, thickness of the laminate or other