Product listings state cordless heated butter knives provide up to about 100 minutes of use per charge.
Many foam hot knives heat very quickly; product details commonly show them reaching around 150°C in roughly 10–15 seconds, with some models reaching cutting temperature in just a few seconds.
Hot knives cover two main uses: cordless heated spreaders (butter knives) that soften cold butter, cream cheese and other spreads for easier spreading, and electric hot-cutting tools that heat blades or wires to make smooth cuts through foam and related craft materials.
Heated spreaders (cordless butter knives) are battery-powered and list run times per charge (examples cite up to ~100 minutes). Foam-cutting tools are typically mains-powered and include a power supply, controller or transformer in the kit.
Kits commonly include straight blades (e.g., 6" and 8"), wand-style needles (roughly 5–11 cm), bow blades and replacement wire for bow tools, replacement wires or blades, cleaning brushes, a wrench or holder, and often a digital voltage controller or transformer and a carrying case.
Recommendations vary by model. Some listings warn against continuous use (for example, limiting runs to about 5 minutes), while others advise warming up before use and taking periodic rests after extended running (for example, after around 30 minutes). Many tools also list safety features such as an on/off safety button, UL‑certified power supplies, and heat‑resistant insulated housings.