Johan Simbade
Which Paper Trimmer Should You Buy?
Paper trimmers are an indispensable tool for many types of jobs. A paper trimmer, also called a paper cutter or just guillotine, is basically a tool primarily found in schools and offices, designed to cut out a huge quantity of paper sheets in order to print your document with a clean line in one clean slice. However, not all paper trimmers are created equal. While they can do the job well enough for most people, there are still some very important facts you should know before buying one. These facts will ensure you get the best out of your paper trimmer.
First off, it’s important to note that paper trimmers aren’t just a one-pass kind of machine. The fact that they can cut out thousands of sheets per hour means that they require a bit of maintenance. Paper trimmers usually have a trigger on the handle which makes them snap up to cut the sheets automatically. This action, however, means that one pass is much faster than if you manually cut the sheets. So be careful when using your paper trimmer and try to cut fewer sheets in a single pass, since you’ll need to replace it more often.
Second, check out the speed of the trimmer blades. Some paper trimmers have variable-speed blades, while others have constant speed. The variable-speed blades tend to work better for scrapbooking, and especially scrapbooking photographs, since they’ll be able to slice through thick layers of paper effortlessly. Constant speed trimmers are best for other uses, like paper shredders. They don’t move that fast, so the last thing you want is your picture’s to become fuzzy because you weren’t able to use a fast enough blade.
Third, consider how easy the cutting equipment is to clean. Many paper trimmers are designed to be fairly easy to clean. Some come with removable parts that you can clean between uses. Some even have cleaning solutions you can spray onto the blades. A lot of paper trimmers have removable holders for cartridges, so if you don’t want to carry it around or store it, that’s no problem. You can even find some paper trimmers with detachable cases, so you can take it apart and store it in a different place if you don’t want to take care of it.
Fourth, think about how you’ll be cutting different materials. Some paper trimmers are specifically designed for a specific purpose. For example, some are specifically designed to cut photo papers. Some are designed for thin papers and high quality card stocks, while others are made for thicker materials and thicker papers. Think about what your projects will be before you buy a paper trimmer. If you plan on doing many projects with paper trimmers, make sure you get one that’s made specifically for the project you plan to do.
Fifth, think about how long you’ll be using the paper trimmer. Each paper trimmer blade comes with a minimum blade life of a year. Some come with a lifetime warranty. If you plan to use it a lot, or if you’re buying it for professional use, it’s probably a good idea to buy a blade that’s longer than the minimum. You can get longer blades for less money, so don’t skimp.
