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I think I am going to get a guillotine cutter. Which one do you recommend? I have read some positive posts here about the Tonic, and it's less expensive than the SU by quite a bit. Is the SU one really so much better?
I've never used a guillotine - I've been using the Fiskars that was sold by SU but now getting replacement blades for it is getting difficult. I bought the new SU trimmer and am not sure I want to keep it. I'm not so enthralled by it.
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
I have the Tonic, because it was quite a bit cheaper. But if I got one now, I'd get the SU since it has much clearer measurement markings of white on black and black on grey. The Tonic has indentations in orange and orange printing on grey. Check out pics of both and it will make more sense. If that isn't a problem and your vision is better than mine then the Tonic is a better buy.
Cutting wise, both are the same. Works great and I can shave off slivers of cs and cut poster board and chipboard. It's self sharpening and the blade isn't scary sharp like old fashioned guillotine cutters. Only thing you can't do is cut out a square or rectangle in the middle of cs like you can with the Fiskars type trimmers.
The Tonic is so much cheaper - I have to think about this.
Thanks for this Cindy!
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
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I LOVE my SU cutter! It was pricey but to me worth every penny and I totally should have gotten it YEARS before I did. I love that the blade is self sharpening so if the cuts start getting fuzzy you just run the blade up and down a few times and you're good to go! I do have the smaller trimmer as well but I use the tabletop one for 90+% of my cutting. Cuts are super straight too as long as you press down firmly on the finger guards.
Do these cutters have a plastic layer over the surface where the markings are? The new trimmer does (apparently so that the markings don't wear off like they did with the old model) and it is so reflective I can see the bulb in the lamp that hangs over that end of my worktable like it was a mirror. I am finding it very annoying.
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rachelrose
Do these cutters have a plastic layer over the surface where the markings are? The new trimmer does (apparently so that the markings don't wear off like they did with the old model) and it is so reflective I can see the bulb in the lamp that hangs over that end of my worktable like it was a mirror. I am finding it very annoying.
The SU tabletop cutter does not seem to have a coating over the measurements but I have not heard of any trouble with them wearing off. I use mine heavily and have had it for a couple of years and it's fine. I don't think you'd find a glare on this one...but my lighting is terrible in that corner so I don't have that issue, ha!
Minders, I also have the SU cutter and it seems to be getting dull! What did you mean by running the blade up and down and it appears to be ok? My local Joann store has a guy come in to sharpen knives and cutters. Do I need to do this?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vz5dzh
I thought the SU trimmer was made by Tonic?
I think it is....I think. ANd yes, what she said...it's self sharpening so just "cut" with no paper a few times and you should be back in business. I do this every so often just to keep it sharp, I don't wait for it to dull out.
If it's made by Tonic then does it make any sense to spend twenty dollars more on the SU version? Other than the difference in the color of the markings, they look pretty similar.
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
I do have the SU tabletop cutter. It is the only cutter I use.
Can you exchange your new SU trimmer for the tabletop one? I'm not sure what the rules are on that.
If you could exchange, or you had hostess dollars to spend, or had a severe aversion to orange... then I could probably justify getting the SU one over the other. But I am not an expert on the Tonic version so I would probably read all the reviews out there.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rachelrose
If it's made by Tonic then does it make any sense to spend twenty dollars more on the SU version? Other than the difference in the color of the markings, they look pretty similar.
Hmm, I'm not sure then. Maybe someone else will know for sure....
To sharpen the Tonic blade, I do as the others have said but I also push the blade slightly in toward the cutter body. When you do this, the 2 metal parts work to sharpen the cutting blade. At least this is what I was told when I called customer service.
Love my guillotine cutters. I have the Tonic (got it online from JoAnn on sale) and my 9" Fiskars (got it with a coupon-this is the only Fiskars cutter I think is worth having. Over time have bought 4 Fiskars and this is the only one I have out.)
I just ordered some new blades for my old trimmer and also ordered the Tonic. I can't spend $50 on the SU cutter right now. The Tonic was $28 and free shipping on Amazon because I'm a Prime member. It's on sale for $25 at Joann's but with the shipping it would have been the same and I wouldn't have had it in 2 days.
I'm sending the trimmer back. I'll just use the exchange to keep adding to my firm foam pad collection. Of course I'm out shipping both ways, which will probably end up costing half the cost of the trimmer. But I can't have something sitting in my studio staring at me unused. Live and learn. And learn and learn...
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
I have 2 tonic paper cutters...The big full base 12" and the small desk 6"...I have had them for 5 years, I wipe them down wind ex on a weekly basis and nothing has worn off of either of them!
Thy both cut as sharp as the day I got them and I would not trade them for any other cutters on the market...
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
Thanks, Ryann. I did order the Tonic and should have it next week!
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
Well, I got the Tonic and I can see what you mean, Cindy. The markings don't show up so well against the orange. Why did they do that! It makes no sense.
Of course the SU guillotine just went on sale for a bit less than I paid for the new trimmer I am returning. However, I can't take advantage of it because the sale ends on the 28th of this month and with the holidays I'll never be able to get my trimmer back to them unless I send it by some expensive fast method and thereby defeat the purpose of the sale.
So my choice is to keep the Tonic or just buy the SU and deal with the extra expense. And exchange my trimmer for some other things. I can always use more full size pads.
Is the SU trimmer easier to read? Maybe I'll just get used to this one.
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
Can you order the Su guillotine and then ship back the other one whenever you have time, with that money either refunded or as credit for new Spring catalog or Sale a Bration items in January?
Although I'm a demo, I haven't yet had to do a return/exchange. I am planning to get the guillotine trim.er in my order.
No, SU is completely weird about returns. If you want to return something you can only exchange it, and if you exchange for merchandise over the amount of the merchandise you are returning, you have to give them your credit card info on the return form. If you return it for less, you lose the difference. They don't issue credits.
Don't you think that's odd? I mean about losing the difference? I do.
So the game you have to play is to try to make up an exchange order that is as close to the original as possible without going over. Or be willing to pay the overage. I'm not so averse to paying an overage, but I don't really feature writing my credit card number on a form and putting it in the mail. But that's me. Probably no one else would give it a thought.
Decisions, decisions.
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
Well, I really think the Tonic is going to be a nuisance to try to read. If the whole point is to be able to reliably cut very small increments off CS, then you have to be able to read the increments. So I am sending the Tonic back (free shipping both ways so no loss there), and I ordered the SU guillotine at the sale price, which was only a few dollars more than the Tonic was.
I'll use my trimmer exchange for something else. I just wish SU offered credits. Maybe if you're a demo they do. But I'm not a demo and I don't work through one anymore, not since my SIL let her demo status lapse.
But I did open up and try the Tonic, and I get why it's better for some things than a track-blade trimmer.
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
This makes me smile ... TONIC makes the SU! cutters! So either way it's a win/win! However, SU! may have some 'add ons' that are ONLY sold on their version ...
You'll LOVE it regardless!
__________________ Mischelle Smith www.mischellesmith.comFounder/CEO of The Angel Company and NOW a consultant with CTMH !
It makes me laugh! Returning a Tonic so I can buy a Tonic! And I would have kept the original Tonic, even with the hard-to-read markings, if they hadn't suddenly put the SU on sale for just about the same price!
A very big reduction, and actually it makes me wonder if they have a new one in the works....
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rachelrose
It makes me laugh! Returning a Tonic so I can buy a Tonic! And I would have kept the original Tonic, even with the hard-to-read markings, if they hadn't suddenly put the SU on sale for just about the same price!
A very big reduction, and actually it makes me wonder if they have a new one in the works....
I think it's just a sale, a very good sale! There aren't many complaints with our tabletop trimmer so I highly doubt they would be re-doing it:-)
I have the Tonic wide base guillotine trimmer and love, love it. I haven't found the markings to be an issue at all and I make cards most of the time so my cutter gets a workout. I've had it since 2004-2005 and it's never had a dull moment...hahaha
Even still I never knew to sharpen the blades so thanks for the tips, y'all!!
Which guillotine cutter - SU or tonic?
LOL!
