Thank you for owning a ChompSaw! 

If you’re reading this blog post, that means you’re one of our earliest supporters and we’re so excited to get you creating with cardboard! This guide is here to share tips and tricks for operating your tools, working with cardboard, and provide insights for troubleshooting.💡

If you haven’t yet, don’t forget to visit our Learning Hub for step-by-step instructions and video tutorials on how to use all of your ChompShop tools and accessories!

Getting Started with Your ChompSaw:

You just got your ChompSaw, so the first thing you’ll want to do is: 

1. Find a Workspace: Set up on a flat surface near an outlet. 
2. Locate Your Power Supply: Your power cord is stored under the lid of your ChompSaw!
3. Check out our video tutorial below for a step-by-step walkthrough of how to use your ChompSaw.
   

For more detailed instructions, this link will take you to our Learning Hub where we’ve shared everything there is to know about owning and operating a ChompSaw!

Tips for Cutting Cardboard:

In order to guarantee our ChompSaw is completely kid-safe, we designed it to chomp cardboard under 3mm thick, think Amazon box 📦. Keep in mind, not all cardboard is the same, so here are some tricks for sourcing and using the cardboard you have on hand!

Choosing the Right Cardboard:

While we know it sounds technical, B flute cardboard (roughly 2 pennies tall) is the perfect size for your ChompSaw. Most of the boxes we get in the mail are around this thickness, but occasionally you’ll find some that are a bit too thick for your ChompSaw. 

If you run into a box that’s difficult to push through or gets stuck in your cutting head, here are a few things you can try to make it chomp! 🪚

• Score It! Draw out your cutting path, then use a scoring tool— or even your hand — to press along your cutting path (this will squish your cardboard so it fits under the cutting head).
• Smush It! Jump or walk all over the entire piece of cardboard to pack it down and then free cut.

Note: We hope to change this in the future, but the exterior box our Maker Bundle comes in is E flute, which means you may have trouble pushing it through your cutting head without trying the tips above! 

Where To Find Cardboard: 👀

Cardboard is just about everywhere, but one of our favorite places to source cardboard is local big box stores! They often have large, thin sheets used for separating pallets and these are perfect for bigger projects (like building a set for Shark Tank 😉) but always ask for permission before taking!

Cutting Tips:

The ChompSaw only cuts in one direction, so you’ll want to:

• Make sure the white line on your cutting head lines up with where you want to cut! 
• Use both hands to apply steady pressure when feeding cardboard into the saw: Like this👇

If your ChompSaw starts sliding around, this may be occurring because:

1. The cardboard being used is a bit too thick ...
2. ... or you might just need to slow down, as you may be pushing with too much force (faster than the ChompSaw can chomp!)

Fun Tip!💥 Some of our customers have found inking plates are a great way to stabilize the ChompSaw, so you don’t get any slipping! We’ve also seen amazing workshops from our first customers that use wood clamps to house the ChompSaw (not required, just super cool!)

Troubleshooting Guide:

We’re still in our first few months of bringing the ChompSaw into the world and our #1 priority is to make sure you have the best experience possible.

Power Switch Stuck On/Off

Here’s a quick fix video for a demonstration.

Drawer Alignment Issue (Blinking White Light)

If your ChompSaw won’t power on unless the drawer is adjusted, it’s likely due to a misaligned metal piece, which in some cases has broken off due to rough transit. If you’re comfortable making a small repair at home, follow the instructions in the video linked below.

What You'll Need:

• A 3mm Allen wrench (long enough to reach the screws)
• A screwdriver

This fix does not require soldering or removing other components. Here’s how to do it:

Watch the repair video

Diagnosing Other Issues:

If your power button blinks red this could mean: 

1. Your ChompSaw is overheating and needs to cool down for at least 30 minutes.
2. There may be a fan malfunction and you'll want to turn your ChompSaw OFF and contact our support team. 
3. Your motor could be stalled and you'll want to turn your ChompSaw OFF and contact our support team. 

Your feedback is so important to us! We love to hear about your experiences and always welcome you to email  hello@chompshop.com for help, or just to say hello!

If you're looking for project ideas or more tips and tricks, we highly recommend following our ChompShop Creations Facebook Group where our community is always sharing creative solutions and awesome inventions. 👏

— Kausi & Max