You can cube cut with a sharp knife. After I break it apart, I take slim layers, and use my finger nails to cut into bits and drop them in the bowl at the bottom and top. In the middle, I make the pieces bigger. If the pieces are too hard or coarse to use my fingernails, I rip or cut thin layers into small pieces. It helps with the burn rate and moisture level, though I sometimes have to stir up the tobacco in the bottom quarter or third of the bowl.