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I have used tons of cutters over the years and gave up on finding one that cuts accurate for me. Maybe it's just user error on my part. I am hopeful the market has finally made the perfect one. Will you share which one you feel is best?
There is a perfect one - but like anything else - it's an investment. It's the Rotatrim - I talk about it a lot on my blog. Made in England, self sharpening, no room for the blade housing to flex or shift. Best money I've ever spent and I wish I had done it 20 years ago so I didn't spend probably thousands of dollars on cutters and blades in between
I have a Rotatrim, and agree it's great Mine has a selection of different edged blades too.Mine is the Edgemaster 300, but I have a feeling it's discontinued, I've had it some years.
I did want to say that getting accurate cuts depends as much on the original sheet of cardstock being cut square at the manufacturers, which I have found many times to not be the case.
I've also seen it said that the grid marks on the cutter bases are better to follow than the actual edges of the base you butt up to, for straightness.
My personal favourite is not a rotary cutter, but the TH/Tonic Guillotine- I find i Get better cuts from that, and the blade self sharpens, ben using this for years too.
IMHO There is no such thing as a perfect trimmer. The roto and guillotine trimmers are limited by not being able to place the blade on a specific place. The thin blade type blades dull quickly.
I second the TH/Tonic guillotine cutter being a personal favorite. I have the smaller version (6 inch wide base) and the larger one that can accomodate 12 inch cardstock. Those two cutters are what I use 99% of the time.
IMHO There is no such thing as a perfect trimmer. The roto and guillotine trimmers are limited by not being able to place the blade on a specific place. The thin blade type blades dull quickly.
This is a good point about the limitations. I do like to position the blade for some specific cuts.
Thanks to everyone who is contributing to this discussion.
There is a perfect one - but like anything else - it's an investment. It's the Rotatrim - I talk about it a lot on my blog. Made in England, self sharpening, no room for the blade housing to flex or shift. Best money I've ever spent and I wish I had done it 20 years ago so I didn't spend probably thousands of dollars on cutters and blades in between
I agree on the Rotatrim. Money well spent. Also wish I had found it sooner. I have the 12” size with the two rails. Got mine on Amazon about a year ago. I bought it after returning a $100 cutter that was misaligned from the get go. The company did not provide any CS solutions so I went for the Rotatrim.
I have the Tonic guillotine cutter. My boyfriend bought it for me at least 9 or 10 years ago. I always get accurate cuts. It has a self sharpening blade and is very sturdy. For me it is the perfect paper cutter and it has been around for years. I bought the smaller one about 2 years ago and love that one as well. It's nice for smaller cut jobs.
So similar to the Rotatrim maybe is the Cutterpiller. I have the Cutterpiller crop and love it for certian cutting. But as southgirl stated you can't position the rotary blade at a specific spot. I love making shutter cards so I always need 2 cutters. The other one I use (actually 2) is either my Fiskar or believe it or not I love the Martha Stewart one for special cuts.
UnderstandBlue, which model of the rotatrim do you have?
I am interested in a new trimmer, too. Thanks for your input.
I have the 15" on that's on my blog. It's perfection.
I agree about manufacturer's having wonky cardstock, but with the grid system on the Rotatrim, I can square it up when I get it and then cut it down. I've wasted sooooo much money on other cutters - I'm glad I found my unicorn.
I, too, use the Rotatrim. Love it. Only issue is when I want to cut a narrow piece into an even narrower piece. Then I have to get out my SU trimmer. I had the 15" and changed to the 12" due to the smaller footprint. I bought a Cutterpiller too...but same issue and I don't like that it has nothing at the edge to put the paper under to help hold it steady.
I, too, use the Rotatrim. Love it. Only issue is when I want to cut a narrow piece into an even narrower piece. Then I have to get out my SU trimmer. I had the 15" and changed to the 12" due to the smaller footprint. I bought a Cutterpiller too...but same issue and I don't like that it has nothing at the edge to put the paper under to help hold it steady.
Ahhh..yes! Something to hold the paper down would have been nice on the Cutterpiller
I have the 15" on that's on my blog. It's perfection.
I agree about manufacturer's having wonky cardstock, but with the grid system on the Rotatrim, I can square it up when I get it and then cut it down. I've wasted sooooo much money on other cutters - I'm glad I found my unicorn.
Thank for your reply and all others who replied, too.
I've been in the market for a new cutter/trimmer and really appreciate all this feedback. Happy Stampin', everyone.
Yep the Rotatrim doesn’t replace the need for something smaller to cut strips from a small piece of cardstock. I use a wire trimmer for that and other little quick jobs. I like to have a small cutter.ar my desk. My mini Tonic guillotine works for little jobs too. I stopped having my cardstock cut into card sizes at Fed Ex though so eventually that will pay for my Rotatrim.
I have not made the investment in an expensive cutter yet. But I have been on the look out for the perfect, inexpensive cutter and I have found it, for me. It has quickly become my go to cutter. It is the the one from cricut that came out maybe a couple years or so ago. I watch for blades at Joanns and get 2 per pk when they are on sale. I LOVE this cutter. For an inexpensive cutter, it is the bees knees and you can get anywhere, just about, for less than $15 and if you get it at walmart, just a little over $12 at mine. Like I said, this is inexpensive, but I do LOVE it. hope this helps, patty
I *love* my Xacto guillotine trimmer with battery operated laser guide. Got it from Staples years ago but saw it again recently, and its also on Amazon for $43 prime. I can cut small strips without a guard getting in my way. The grid and cutting arm came in alignment, but it comes with instructions on how to realign the arm if its either dropped or suffers damage in a move. I've probably had it for 12 years or more and its never failed me. I love that its heavy duty enough to cut multiple pages at once (it got so much use in my PTA days!!!) and is 12 x 12. For the rare times I need a interior cut, I have an old Paper Cow cutter with 8 interchangable blades. They're on a track that doesn't allow for wiggle. Used to be a decent travel cutter, but sadly I haven't cropped away from home in years.
I have the little Tonic cutter. I like the little paper holders on it that you use to hold the paper straight. It is very sharp & shaves off little pieces very well. I have an large old guillotine cutter. I try to use my fingers spread out like the Tonic to hold the paper straight. It works pretty well.
I recently retired my guillotine paper cutter that I had for 20+yrs. It was replaced with Fiskars Bypass trimmer. What a big difference! It cuts so much better. https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-01-00...48TVVTSY7P1801
Wow...such great reviews- I had no idea there were so many trimmers out there. I'm currently using an SU trimmer and am having the devil of a time with the clear plastic blade guide. I can only cut if the blade is at the bottom of the paper/card stock. If I try to come down from the top, the blade will begin to stick part way into the cut. So annoying. I've tried a second blade guide and new blades and no luck.. maybe |I'll try to wax the rails and see if that works...sigh
I can't afford the Rotatrim...perhaps a Fiskar will work.
I really appreciate everyone's comments and suggestions
__________________ Just keep breathing...that's the key.
I'm very happy with my old Xacto guillotine. Bought it at least 16 years ago at an office closeout store. It's 12", and it's never gotten dull. It's wood, with lots of grid lines.
I have to admit, I'm intrigued by the idea of having a laser feature, though....
Is there a perfect cardstock cutter?
