Do you need a new paper cutter for your school
or office? If so, you need to know how to choose the right trimmer for
your needs. Here is what to do:
Do you need a new paper cutter for your
school or office? If so, you need to know how to choose the right
trimmer for your needs. Here is what you need to do:
Check out the cutting capacity.
The trimmer's cutting capacity is definitely something you need to take
a look at. The cutting capacity will depend on the type of cutter. For
example, a rotary trimmer can usually only trim a few sheets at a time
while a stack cutter can process hundreds of sheets instantly. You
should choose a cutter that can process a good amount of sheets at once.
Do you need to trim cardstock? If
you're planning on using cardstock or other thicker types of paper, you
will want to make sure that your cutter can handle it. A guillotine
cutter is a terrific choice if you want to be able to work with
different stocks.
Look at how the machine is constructed. Since
you're probably going to be using your new cutter a lot, you need to
choose one that is durably constructed. If a trimmer features wooden and
metal parts, you can count on it being sturdy enough for frequent use.
While cutters with a lot of plastic parts can be less expensive, they're
simply not as durable. You might end up having to replace it sooner
than you would like.
Make sure the cutter is safe to use. Whether
you choose a rotary trimmer, guillotine cutter, or stack cutter,
there's no doubt about it: these devices can be dangerous, especially if
they're used inappropriately. Thus, you'll need to make sure the cutter
has good safety features. Some features to look for include a finger
guard and blade latch (for guillotine cutters). Many rotary trimmers
have blades that are encased in housing to keep your fingers safe. And a
lot of stack cutters require two-handed operation. Many of the more
sophisticated trimmers have optical eyes that can detect when your hands
are too close to the blade. If this happens, the cutter won't work.
Also, no matter what safety features your cutter has, you need to
exercise caution when using it. Children should also be closely
supervised if you want your students to use the cutter. Whatever you do,
be careful!
Consider brand names.
A lot of companies produce paper cutters and you may even recognize
some of the names such as GBC, Swingline, and Fellowes. Lesser known
names include Dahle, Premier, and Foster Keencut. All of these companies
make terrific cutters that are worth checking out and most of the
trimmers have great warranties.
Stick to your budget.
Finally, there are good paper cutters available at every price point.
Stick to your budget so you can get the cutter you need without breaking
the bank.
Choosing the
right paper cutter doesn't need to be difficult. Granted there are a
number of things you need to consider and you need to inspect your
potential device to make sure it's right for you, but it's easy. Start
looking for your paper shredder today.
Jeff McRitchie is the Vice-President of Marketing for MyBinding.com.
He regularly writes articles, reviews, and blog posts on topics related
to bookbinding, laminating, paper shredding, and office equipment. More
than 2,500 of his reviews have been published in thousands of locations
on the Internet. If you're looking for information about paper handling equipment, his articles are a great place to start.
