Sorry Mark, only just found the thread when you topped it.

I had trouble guaging the correct spot to clip the foot. I was forever intruding on the swirl of the wrapper and actually causing damage. At my first HERF, I noticed a brother place his Xikar cutter on the table, then stand the cigar in the cutting blade, vertically like a candle, then closing the blade. The small amount space between the blade and the table top are just enough to vent the foot without damaging the wrapper.