I'm not sure we are thinking along the same lines when you mention removing surface area. Relief cuts are intended to break tension. In the case of the foam pad, the cuts would be perpedicular to the flat face. If make with a knife, the cuts would not remove material. If make with a saw blade, a "kerf" the width of the blade would be removed, to the depth of the cut. The way I read your response, I took you to think I meant you should shave some of the pad's thickness away.

CM