A cutting blaster's purpose was to make paths through thick foliage. Unlike a typical blaster, its precision was lower, leading to fewer regulations compared to blasters designed for combat. This tool emitted a "cold blast" of energy, lasting 1.5 seconds, able to fell undergrowth and smaller trees. The term "cold blast" came from the low likelihood of the energy pulse igniting anything. Recharging this weapon from a standard starship's power grid took approximately four hours.