It is a pen size hair trimmer about 6 inches long that you can get at Wal-Mart or Walgreens. It runs on a AA or AAA battery. Sells for $9-20.00. Some have a pivoting head but I prefer the ones that don't. They are made to vibrate to cut but will not cut fingers and the way the head is shaped the material cannot slip into the slots and reach the blade but the quilting threads slip in with a little pressure and a gentle raising and/or tug on the backing. I can take out a an 8 inch strip of panto pattern on a baby quilt in a matter of minutes. I use a damp cloth to gently rub the quilt top to brush the threads loose and follow with sticky lint roller to clean up if I need it.