I cut the plate to exactly just before the first riffle--to hold carpet too.(see pix). I can never get tooo much water to the under--that just increases the backpressure and increases the finds of fines. Your top action predicates your angle for running. Your throttle is also the determing factor=high to crash and bash(and kill fingers) and slower and lower angle gets ya a great flare too. Your punchplate will work as I don't know what make/model of header your using?? tons a au 2 u 2-John