Scissors are great for cutting paper, as long as you’re only cutting a few sheets at a time. To cut a lot of paper or cardstock or to cut along a straight line, you need a paper cutter.
Paper cutters make short of work of paper cutting projects with precision and professionalism. Industrial paper cutters can cut three-inch thick paper stacks, while a manual paper trimmer may cut only a single sheet at a time. Both feature attachments to keep the paper in place as it’s being cut, so that you can get sharp 90-degree corners.
Paper cutting equipment comes in the following types:
1. A moderate-use manual paper cutter, with a lever, arm or guillotine; to cut through 10 to 50 sheets of paper at once.
2. A high-volume manual paper cutter, cutting from 200 to 800 sheets at once.
3. A rotary paper cutter, either manual or electric, with a circular blade for cropping photographs, artwork and blocks of text for professional graphic design.
4. A corner rounder, used for business cards, playing cards and other items.
5. A business card cutter or slitter, to cut a sheet of cardstock into business cards, badge cards, educational cards and labels.
6. A perforator or form cutter for making tear-away coupons, checks and brochures that require a detachable component.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Slice into your work with the right paper cutter for your needs
If you don't have to cut paper very often, a lever-action manual paper cutter will probably meet your needs. If, however, you need to cut a lot of paper or have many other tasks to perform, an automatic paper cutter may suit you better.
I recommend: Whitaker Brothers offers both manual and electric paper cutters, including programmable models, while
Advanced Document System & Supply offers lever and stack cutters, as well as automatic paper cutters.
Buzzsaw through your projects with a rotary paper cutter
A rotary paper cutter cuts through not only paper, but also plastic, poster board and matte board, making it ideal for commercial or personal art projects.
I recommend: Lamination Plus sells handheld and as free-standing rotary that can cut in either direction.
Factory Express also offers rotary cutters from Dahle, Martin Yale, Carl, GBC and Rotatrim, many of which feature self-sharpening blades.
Cut the cards with a custom paper cutter
Not every paper-cutting task is suited to a standard manual or electric paper cutter. Some projects require special shapes or sizes not possible with a guillotine, rotary or stack cutter.
I recommend: Filmsource sells a manual card cutter that can cut over 60 cards in a minute’s time. Factory Express offers table-top and floor-model
business card slitters that can cut up to 500 cards per minute, as well as
perforators and
corner rounders.
Replace those dull paper cutter blades
No matter the make or model, paper cutters are only as good as the blades in them, and those blades need to be replaced periodically.
I recommend: FactoryExpress cuts it with replacement paper cutter blades and other parts for many industry-standard paper cutters, while
Advanced Document System & Supply also offers such accessories as knife guards, lubricants and jogger blocks and clamp pads to hold your paper in place without marking it.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Pick up paper cutters by their non-bladed edges and carry them with the blade locked down and away from you.
- Place the paper cutter where it won't get bumped or jostled, either while you're using it or between uses.
- Leave the blade safety guard in place when using the paper cutter and lock the blade in place with the blade latch when not using it or when cleaning up between uses.
- If your paper cutter uses a tension spring, make sure the spring is in good condition. If not, don't use the cutter until you replace it.
- Pay attention to the task when you're using a paper cutter, both to make sure you cut the paper the way you want and that you don't cut yourself in the process.
The official source of Paper Cutters is the Paper Cutters page at Business.com
Featured Vendors
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