[Steve Lindsay]

There are two ways to come out of a cut. We can power out for a tapered ending cut or pop out for an abrupt ending. I generally pop out unless it is a long taper ending cut, as it is faster. It sounds like you may have been first pointing the graver deeper and pushing before popping which can be harder on the point. Just pick the point up in a continuous motion at the ends. Some of the cutting in these videos might show this. I use the same method for either the foot pedal or the palm. The videos show the PalmControl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGnyHm4Obbw
http://www.engravingschool.com/handengraving.wmv

There are two modes of thinking when engraving with the PalmControl.
1: I'm going to push engrave to operate the tool.
2: I'm going to squeeze the tool to operate it.

Either way of thinking works. After using the tool for a time, some combination of both techniques are used unconsciously.

The PalmControl can be used with a foot pedal controller in addition to the palm.