Description
The Equalizer
®
Freedom is an interior auto
glass cut out knife. They are designed to
cut the urethane bonding which holds most
modern auto glass in cars. The .020” thick
blade reciprocates inside a metal sheath.
This sheath protects the dash and garnish
mouldings and regulates the depth at which
the blade cuts. The blade is exposed only
1/2 inch to 1-1/2 inches on the end, depend-
ing on how you adjust the blade. The blade
length is adjustable because different cars
have different widths of urethane bonding.
Blade Replacement
A hex screw holds the
blade in place. Loosen
the screw and pull the
blade out of the sheath.
Insert a new blade and
tighten the screw tightly
against the blade. The
blade retaining screw is
accessible through the side of the base on all
Equalizer
®
tools.
Removing Auto Gass With Your Equalizer
®
Freedom
Put The Blade In
Correctly
Look at how the
blade is installed
when you receive
your Equalizer
®
Freedom and always
put it in the same
way. The flat side
rides against the
glass. This method
of installing the blade is important because
the unique way the blade is sharpened
makes it hug the glass and cut the urethane
where it is easier to cut. The only exception
to the above is when the glass is encapsu-
lated or has mouldings bonded to the glass.
If you are trying to take an encapsulated
glass out without breaking it, turn the blade
around so the flat side will hug the pinch-
weld. If you do not do this the blade may cut
into the plastic and damage the moulding.
Adjusting Blade Length
To adjust the length the blade comes out
of the sheath, loosen the sheath retainer
screws 1/2 turn and pull the sheath down.
Pulling the sheath down in the clamp
decreases the length the blade comes out
of the sheath. Putting the sheath higher in
the sheath clamp increases the length the
blade comes out. Always use the correct
size blade for the correct sheath (example:
4-inch blade in 4-inch sheath, 8-inch blade
in 8-inch sheath). Never adjust the blade
length with the tool plugged in or running.
Urethane
Blade Appearance From Inside
Looking Out
Sheath Up For
Longer Blade
Sheath Down For
Shorter Blade
The Sheath
The sheath is a unique patented idea that
makes Equalizer
®
tools work. The sheath is
a protective sleeve that surrounds the blade
so the blade will not damage the dash or
garnish mouldings. The sheath is designed
to help you regulate the length of the
blade. This is important to keep the blade
from hitting the pinchweld on the outside.
Sheaths are available in 4-inch, 8-inch and
12-inch sizes. The 4 inch is most com-
monly used around quarter glasses where
there is not much vertical height. The 8
inch is the most commonly used size when
removing windshields or back glasses. The
12 inch is useful when reaching far below
the dash on vehicles where the windshield
extends below the hood.
WARNING!
Our blade material is a special made mate-
rial. It has rounded edges so it will not bind
in the sheath. It has the correct Rockwell
hardness so it will not buckle inside the
sheath. The use of any material other than
our blades will cause damage to the sheath
and drive unit and will void your warranty.
Patented Worldwide
Caution
When you are changing the blade and sheath
at the same time, be sure to put the sheath in
and tighten it first, then install the blade. If you
install and tighten the blade first, the sheath can
bind against it and damage the tool.
Patented Worldwide
The Blade
The blade is made of mild steel so it will not
shatter. If it bends, use a pair of pliers and
straighten it. To sharpen the blade simply
grind the edge on a bench grinder, belt sander,
or use a file or honing stone. You do not have
to remove the blade to sharpen it. Be sure
to disconnect electric tools from the power
source, disconnect air tools from air pressure
and remove the battery from cordless tools.
Changing The Sheath
The sheath is held in
place by four hex head
screws. To change
the sheath, loosen the
screws and pull the
sheath out of the sheath
clamp. Insert the new
sheath and tighten
the screws. Use care not to overtighten the
screws and crush the sheath. Crushing the
sheath can cause the blade to bind and dam-
age the drive unit.
Side View
Caution
Keep the sheath clean inside! Failure to do
so can put excess strain on the drive unit and
damage it. We will not warranty tools dam-
aged in this way!
2
Sheath Maintenance
If urethane or butyl is
pulled up into the sheath it
can be cleaned by remov-
ing the sheath and soaking
it in a solvent. We recom-
mend using Equalizer
®
Sheath Cleaner SCS775.
Avoid the use of harsh
cleaners such as lacquer
thinner or similar “hot”
cleaners. We also recom-
mend our Sheath Cleaning
Container ESC780. Its
unique design keeps you
from wasting cleaner,
stores the sheaths in a
sealed container, and holds
the sheath in an upright
position so the urethane
or butyl will drain out the
bottom of the sheath.
