Paper cutters?

mesaboogie · May 6, 2016

Maybe a dumb question, but I never bought a paper cutter before... Is there anything to look for in a quality paper cutter? Brands or models? I feel I will be doing a lot of cutting down to make squares so I want a decent one rather than just for making test strips.
I don't imagine needing one over 16x20, and mostly will 8x10 or maybe 11x14 getting cut to 8 or 11.

removed account4 · May 6, 2016

hi mesaboogie

if you can afford a rototrim that is a good brand
or something "like it" ( rotary cutter ). they work well AND are pricey
you can also look into getting a simple guillotine cutter.
i've 2 of them they aren't too expensive ( i think mine are 12x12? ).
they work well unless you are cutting a stack of things, or something very thick.
stacks of things will creep and be an uneven cut, unless you are good at
putting pressure on the top sheets to keep everything in 1 place
adn cutting thick things ( like single ply mat board and cardboard &c ) works
only as well as you are good at holding it and cutting. some swing arms aren't too sharp
so it frays while it cuts something thick.
if you find a swing arm ( guillotine ) cutter and it has a 2nd arm that comes down,
that is what is used to pressure the paper \/ board so it doesn't move, used by bookbinders and printshops
really kind of expensive but who knows maybe craigs list sal's place, good will or a use office supply place&c
are your friend. old cutters may be inexpensive, sturdy and if you bring them to a sharpening place they can
make them work like they were brand new.

good luck !
john

Mainecoonmaniac · May 6, 2016

I use a scrapbooker's rotary cutter. Fiskars cutter are the better ones. I like them because the rotary blades can be replaced and cheap. They're so precise that you can shave 1/32" whiskers from whatever you're cutting.

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tedr1 · May 6, 2016

Two neat things to have: measurement grid on the panel; sliding right angle stop.

There are lots of cheap rotary paper cutters on ebay which I looked at and decided I could afford to avoid, cheap often means it doesn't work properly. I bought a new 20inch Dahle rotary from B&H for about $150 and I am very pleased with the quality.

MattKing · May 6, 2016

Make sure you get one that is big enough to cut the largest dimension of the paper you use.

The larger ones are quite large themselves, so take into account the space you have for them. I have a nice, older 18" Rotatrim that is awkward because my temporary darkroom's counter isn't quite big enough for it. So I bought a cheap, Russian made rotary cutter that fits the counter better.

If you work in inches, you probably don't want a metric only measurement grid. And under safe-light only illumination, some printed (rather than engraved) measurement grids can be hard to see.

Patrick Robert James · May 6, 2016

I used to have a true guillotine cutter and it was great. Something like this-

http://www.amazon.com/OrangeA-Guillotine-Trimmer-Machine-Cutting/dp/B01C50S7WA/

It had a clamp to keep the paper in place and it could do an entire box of paper in one go! Talk about a time saver. These days I use a two rail Rotatrim which works fantastic for the most part, but I miss being able to cut 50/100 sheets at a time. If I put more than four or so sheets in the Rotatrim the edges get rough. I probably could use a new blade since the thing is over 20 years old, but the blades ain't cheap.

If you are going to cut just one sheet at a time then just about anything will work fine.

DREW WILEY · May 6, 2016

Two-rail Rototrim. They come in a lot of sizes. By comparison, the combination of being in the dark and the nomenclature of "guillotine" appropriately carries connotations of human dismemberment; in other words, count your fingers both before and after.

dpurdy · May 6, 2016

I find I need both, a premier chopper type and a rotary trimmer. The problem with the chopper is precision and the problem with the rotary is it can't cut anything heavy. I find cutting down most stuff like photo paper and 2 ply mat board works well with the chopper. For trimming off a small fraction of an inch from a sheet of film I use the rotary. Even so I still do a fair amount of cutting with an xacto knife and cutting mat.

mesaboogie · May 6, 2016

Is that OrangeA one really good or was that just to show the style? I don't mind spending $150 if it's quality. My main goal is main two fold... 1) simple who cares test strips 2) cutting paper to square for my Hassey 6x6 prints.
If I could cut 4 sheets at once and they were square, I would like that, but I don't need that, I want more OCD right angle satisfaction lol.

Sirius Glass · May 6, 2016

Great a good rotary cutter with a grid and a T-square or right angle stop. I have had a lot of experience with guillotine cutters and the paper stock tends to be pulled and change the angle of the cut. Avoid guillotine cutters.

mesaboogie · May 6, 2016

tedr1 said:
Two neat things to have: measurement grid on the panel; sliding right angle stop.

There are lots of cheap rotary paper cutters on ebay which I looked at and decided I could afford to avoid, cheap often means it doesn't work properly. I bought a new 20inch Dahle rotary from B&H for about $150 and I am very pleased with the quality.

These look nice. Would I be better off not cutting test strips with it to save the blade life or do they stay sharp for a while? I figure I can use a scissors for test strips if I need to.
Edit: I see its self sharpening.

Sirius Glass · May 6, 2016

Rotary cutting blades are inexpensive and easy to replace.

mesaboogie · May 7, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
Rotary cutting blades are inexpensive and easy to replace.

I like this Dahle 20" 552 or 442 option. I will look into if there are any other brands that are better but I think this is the route I am going then.

Newt_on_Swings · May 7, 2016

my rototrim makes smooth and precise cuts. a bit large and space consuming though as i have a 30inch model. blades are about $70 which is pretty pricey. If i had the room i would get what i use at work. a huge metal mat cutter as long as i am tall that has slots for blades at an angle and straight. works great on thick mats, and blades are so cheap.

Doremus Scudder · May 7, 2016

I've used a number of different kinds of paper cutters/trimmers over the years. A Rototrim Mastercut (or whatever the new appellation is) wins hands down for ease of use, stability accuracy and squareness of the cuts for cutting single sheet of photo paper. I haven't used a Dahle, and they look pretty good, but I'm not parting with my Rototrims any time soon...

Buy the best and cry once.

Doremus

scheimfluger_77 · May 7, 2016

mesaboogie said:
Is that OrangeA one really good or was that just to show the style? I don't mind spending $150 if it's quality. My main goal is main two fold... 1) simple who cares test strips 2) cutting paper to square for my Hassey 6x6 prints.
If I could cut 4 sheets at once and they were square, I would like that, but I don't need that, I want more OCD right angle satisfaction lol.

If you do buy a Stack cutter be sure the right angle back stop locks down. I made a decision too quickly on one that is held by magnets only. Not good. The cutter seems to work fine otherwise.

ac12 · May 7, 2016

In the darkroom I prefer a rotary cutter. This is just for safety.
I used a swing-arm guillotine cutter in high school, and it was rather dangerous to use in the darkroom, especially when cutting paper down to smaller sizes or cutting paper for test strips.

jvo · May 7, 2016

I use a guillotine cutter to square my prints - and do so after processing, I use the extra space for notes or handling. sine it,s done with lights on no safety problem.

jvo

mesaboogie · May 7, 2016

I think I am going to get a Rototrim or Dahle. Going to give it a few days to see what's out there used before just ordering a new one.

Sirius Glass · May 8, 2016

I have the Dahle, but the Rototrim is comparable. Both work well in daylight and in the darkroom with safe lights.

Ronald Moravec · May 15, 2016

Guillotine ones have tendency to twist paper as you lever down. Do not buy.

Buy a rotary.

nsurit · May 22, 2016

I use a Kutrimmer and have been very pleased with it for several years. It is a Guillotine cutter and is well made. I know it will make some cringe, however I've also used it to cut metal gravure plates. They are not cheap, however they are good. Do a little price shopping and you can ave a few bucks. Bill Barber

pentaxuser · May 22, 2016

I thought that Rotatrim twin cutters were advertised as being self sharpening? Not quite sure how this works but I feel sure that this was one of Rotatrim's selling points

pentaxuser

RalphLambrecht · May 23, 2016

dpurdy said:
I find I need both, a premier chopper type and a rotary trimmer. The problem with the chopper is precision and the problem with the rotary is it can't cut anything heavy. I find cutting down most stuff like photo paper and 2 ply mat board works well with the chopper. For trimming off a small fraction of an inch from a sheet of film I use the rotary. Even so I still do a fair amount of cutting with an xacto knife and cutting mat.

facto knife and cutting mat is still my preferred way but the flesh on my finger tips is kind of getting thin.

Peter Schrager · May 23, 2016

Rotatrim...never look back

Paper cutters?

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