[Steve Lindsay]

Hi Steve, Great job on the pendant. Very cool! Glad you're liking the tool!

Holding your finger over the exhaust won't make the tool go into a short stroke. It will muffle it a bit if you are running at a long stroke but the stroke distance the piston travels isn't controlled by the exhaust itself. There is a ridge step where the adjust ring is and so the exhaust holes can't get totally blocked off. I'd say don't worry where your fingers are riding unless you have the tool set at the longest stroke running at 70 or 80 psi and you're digging a deep hole. Blocking the exhaust then may muffle the power some but otherwise in general hold the tool in a way that is most comfortable for you. Laying your fingers over that area will have pretty much nil effect unless your maxed out with the stroke adjustment and psi.

Steve
PS... If engraving deep a tungsten piston at 70 or 80 psi will be very helpful.