Cutting 11" Flexwatt - Can I cut just anywhere?

I just use scissors. I would like to think I cut pretty straight. Never had any problems.

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Use a Razor knife and a straight edge on mine :)

As has been said, with the straight line material, cut where you please as long as you stay between the black lines. Works just like the 3"/4" element. I have used both scissors and paper cutter, pretty much anything you can cut the element with is fine.

What happens if you cut the black lines- well not much really, as long as you don't run your finger along that edge when it is plugged in. You have basically exposed the conductive element and made the whole edge potentially "live" instead of just the buss bars. Cut between the lines.

The zig-zag type has been around as long as I have been in reptiles, which is quite a while now. A couple years back I was asking the manufacturer why I could not get straight element like the 3"/4". They said sure, we have that. No one asks for it. So I asked for it. As far as I know- and may be wrong- I "pioneered" the straight line element on the 11" at that point. So there you go, just ask I guess. Who knew??

Why zig-zag? The wattage density is the same and I would speculate if you added up the total square inches of black on the two elements you would end up right about the same. Many things in the reptile hobby have been hi-jacked from other hobbies or human endeavors and a lot of times you see something like this that just does not make sense. I am not really sure the real reason for the original zig-zag but I do know it gained acceptance and no one ever asked about straight element. I imagine some other customer/reasoning many years ago needed zig-zag, a reptile person got a hold of it and the rest is history. I suggest you get the straight line style for this hobby and that you get it from ME :)

I too have some of both. Recently I have the straight stuff. I was curious so I tinkered and as near as I can tell the max temp is about the same. The only difference I saw was that the zig zag produces more even temps. The straight bars seem to vary more. I prefer the zig zag my self. I can deal with the pain to cut it for the sake of even temps.