Patent ID: 8627752

Claim:
A method of cutting an elongate runner piece for supporting a ceiling tile and comprising an inverted T-shaped body having a width and including: a) a crossbar having a downwardly facing surface with a width; and b) a stem, the method comprising the steps of: providing a tool with a support assembly and cutting assembly; placing the runner piece in a cutting position upon the support assembly so that the body is supported by the support assembly by causing the support assembly to bear against the crossbar; with the runner piece in the cutting position, repositioning at least one cutting element on the cutting assembly so as to cause the at least one cutting element to move up to and against the supported crossbar to thereby cut into the crossbar over substantially the full width of the downwardly facing surface of the crossbar at a first lengthwise location; and cutting the stem adjacent to the first lengthwise location so that the runner piece can be separated into two pieces, wherein the crossbar on the body has first and second upwardly facing surfaces between which the stem resides and the support assembly comprises first and second upwardly facing flat support surfaces between which a receptacle is defined and the step of placing the runner piece in the cutting position comprises situating the stem of the body within the receptacle and the first and second upwardly facing crossbar surfaces respectively against the first and second upwardly facing flat support surfaces, and wherein the first and second upwardly facing flat support surfaces extend along and bear against a substantial length of the crossbar with the runner piece in the cutting position so as to thereby solidly support the runner piece in the cutting position in a consistent orientation on the support assembly and relative to the cutting element.