One of the most versatile cutting tools
available is the rotary trimmer. It's the perfect thing to use when you
need to cut a perfectly straight line to produce professional-looking
work. Here is a short introduction to rotary trimmers so you can choose
one that's right for you.
One of the most versatile cutting tools
available is the rotary trimmer. It's the perfect thing to use when you
need to cut a perfectly straight line to produce professional-looking
work. Here's a short introduction to rotary trimmers so you can choose
one that's right for you.
Rotary trimmers come in a variety of lengths so
there are devices for both large and small projects. The cutting length
is something you need to think about before getting one. A lot of the
available cutters can usually paper that's 8.5" x 11" and smaller which
is fine for a lot of trimming jobs. However, if you regularly deal with
larger sheets of paper (such as ones that are 8.5" x 14" or 11" x 17"),
you're going to need a cutter that can handle them. So be sure to keep
length in mind.
It's important to realize
that rotary trimmers aren't really the best tools for cutting a large
amount of paper at once. If you need to work with dozens - or even
hundreds - of sheets at one time, you're better off with a guillotine or
stack cutter. That said, rotary trimmers have cutting capacities that
vary quite a bit. Some of them can only slice through a couple of sheets
per pass while others can handle up to 30.
Some
of these cutters have blades that are strong enough to trim materials
other than paper. These are trimmers that can handle cardstock, foam
board, laminating film, vinyl, and even fabric and leather. Devices that
can cut a variety of materials can be very handy but they're often a
bit expensive. However, one can be a good investment if you want a
durable, all-in-one cutter.
If you're
interested in crafting or other creative endeavors, it might be a good
idea to get a cutter with interchangeable blades. There are blades that
can create wavy edges as well as ones that can perforate and score your
paper. These devices are great to have around for scrapbooking, making
greeting cards, and so on.
One of the most
important things to look for in a rotary trimmer is that it's safe to
use. Luckily, most of the cutters available have been designed with
safety in mind so it's easy to find one that you'll feel comfortable
using. Be sure to look for one that has an encased blade. The casing
greatly reduces the chance of inadvertently touching the blade so you'll
stay safe.
Finally, whichever trimmer you
choose should be well-constructed and have a good warranty so you can
get as much use as possible out of it. It should also have a paper clamp
to keep your materials in place when you cut them as well as a
measurement grid. These features will help you do a great job every time
- and save money over the long run.
Now that you've had a short introduction to rotary trimmers, you
shouldn't have any trouble finding one that can help you out with your
daily cutting needs. Start hunting for your cutter today. Good luck!
Jeff McRitchie is the Director 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 articles 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.
