Which kind of heavy duty paper trimmer would you recommend?

I have 2 cheap personal paper trimmers( Fiskars & Cutterpede), but have always wanted a heavy duty trimmer. Originally, I always planned on buying one of the traditional swing arm style cutters that you see at office supply stores. More recently I have been seeing that alot of people are giving the Making Memories rotary trimmer great reviews, and I'm kind of tempted by it, but am not convinced I want a rotary cutter. I was considering the Purple Cow 2 in 1, but have seen that several people say they are having trouble getting a straight line and I think I would maybe rather just have a cutter that does one or the other. Anyways, I know I have rambled on forever, but basically I just want some help because it is an expensive purchase and I don't want to be sorry. I was wondering what people's opinions are on rotary vs swing arm trimmers. Also, I was wondering if there's anyone that has bought a more expensive trimmer and wishes they wouldn't have spent the money because they like the cheaper ones just as well(I'm still trying to decide if it's worth spending the extra money when I have 2 trimmers that work fine.) I would appreciate any opinions that people want to share, because I like to analyze things to death before I make a purchase! Thanks!!

I have the Making Memories rotary trimmer and I LOVE it! I orginally wanted a swing arm trimmer and my BF bought me the MM rotary as a gift. I wasn't sure I'd like it at first, but I LOVE it and highly recommend it! HTH

I have a cheap-o Fiskars that has always worked fine for me. I have noticed that as I work with heavier CS like Bazzill , though, I've had to change the blade more frequently. Therefore, I can understand your desire for a more heavy duty trimmer.

I got the Purple Cows laminator and trimmer. It's for photos and such, not for 12x12 products, but since I had such a hard time with it and also didn't get great customer service when I contacted the company, I would not recommend buying their larger trimmer, either. I figured it'd help to post the "don't buys" as well as the "do buys"!

Yes, it does help--thanks so much! Any opinions good or bad on the subject help--I am just so torn.

I had a Fiskars Euro trimmer but it wasn't cutting straight so I researched trimmers and ended up buying a Making Memories trimmer. I love it! Cuts straight everytime and can cut the tiniest sliver also. And best of all the blade is self sharpening. I think it was well worth the money, especially since I used a 50% coupon!

Another vote here for the MM precision trimmer! I LOVE this trimmer and I'm super fussy about straight cuts. I've owned this one for over a year and it's perfect every time and the blade is as sharp as day one !!!

Just be sure to use the grid lines on this one for precise cuts

Definitley seems like people are happy with their MM trimmers.

I've got an utterly ancient Fiskars , and while it has held up relatively well, I don't like that I can only cut a few sheets at a time.

Definitely need a guillotine-type paper cutter here.

I have the Purple Cows Incorporated - Two In One Combo Trimmer - Paper Trimmer and love it!!

Love my MM cutter!

I picked up a Fiskers at Costco and it worked well for about 4 months then nothing but crooked cuts, changed the blade but still crooked.

Now I have a MM and so far so good. I have only had it about 1 month but I am hoping it stays straight.

I have always heard good things about MM customer service too.

Loving my MM cutter plus it folds in half- I love that part, too.

I really like my MM trimmer BUT I also have a Dahle 500 for smaller paper like 8 1/2 by 11.
It is a rotary trimmer as well. I also have a cutterpede (small model) to cut my pics and make mounting sqares for the pics. For cardstock, the rotary style works the best.
Let us know what you decided.

votes for the MM too! I've had it for almost a year now and it's still cutting straight and still cuts/trims the littlest piece.

hth

With the MM trimmer can you see when you line your paper up to cut where it will be cutting?

I have a Fiskers (SP?) and it is now sitting there because I refuse to use it. I can't see at all where the blade will be cutting. So I've been carting this huge paper cutter from work back and forth when I think I might need it but when I don't have it I can pretty much guarentee that I won't be cutting a straight cut.

I like the straight blade cutter but would like the convenience of the rotary blade and ability to fold the cutter like the MM has so I keep trying to decide between the MM and the Purple Cow 2 in 1.I keep reading here but just can't make up my mind.

I have the MM cutter and LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! I was on the fence about buying it but am so glad that i did. I have read that the grid sometimes will wear off and you cannot see the measurments anymore. I haven't had this happen but others that have and posted it on here contacted MM and they were replaced for them. I have heard nothing but good reviews about their service.

I have the 15" HD Rotary Carl Cutter. I used to be an Stampin Up Demo and needed to cut a lot of cardstock at once and it worked like a charm!

"I like the straight blade cutter but would like the convenience of the rotary blade and ability to fold the cutter like the MM has so I keep trying to decide between the MM and the Purple Cow 2 in 1.I keep reading here but just can't make up my mind."

This is the same exact dilemma I'm having! I like the swing arm, but I can't seem to ignore all the rave reviews from people who have the MM trimmer. I think I am leaning towards the MM, but just still can't quite decide! I love how willing everyone is to share their opinions & experiences to help out--it's so helpful!!!

I'm bummed. ACM's has a 50% coupon today and tomorrow and they don't have the MM instock.

• Notelady Said:

I have a Dahle 508 that I adore.

Although the MM trimmer sounds really nice, I'm going to throw another trimmer in the mix. It's a GBC trimmer from Office Depot. It cuts 12x12, and is a lot smaller than the MM. It cost me under $10, and came w. a replacement blade (which after 4 years of constant use, I still haven't had to use). It cuts straight every time, and has a grid on it so you can line up. Cuts heavy card stock w/ no problem. I haven't tried anything thicker though.

• mickeymarie Said:

I'd like to throw another element into this decision for our original poster to consider that I'd like to get some feedback on.

I have been in NEED of a cutter for close to a year now. I've hemmed and hawed also, because of the cost of both the MM Cutter and the Purple Cows . As I've written before on sb.com , I've heard good and bad things about both. Well, I finally took the plunge and got the MM Cutter last weekend with a Mike's coupon. While this does 'fold down,' this cutter is till BIG! Opened it takes up half my scrapping space and folded, it still takes up a good portion of my table. I'm contemplating rearranging my entire work space (spread out over a large computer desk with a computer and a portable cabinet w/drop down table top). The problem is I have a lot of papers, misc scrapbook supplies, an original Cricut AND a Sizzix.

So, my question to all those MM owners who have posted: How do you make space for this thing on your desk?

Also, FYI, unlike the majority of the other cutters, this one does not offer wavy, perf, scoring or any other deco blades, so don't give up your trusty stand-by's.

TIA,
PageR

Hmm...interesting. How will I ever make up my mind? Thanks for the different view--it's good to know pros & cons when buying something!

Ok, so I thought I pretty much had my mind made up on the MM trimmer because of it's rave reviews. Then I saw on another thread that someone had a Tonic guillotine trimmer that they loved, and I'm kind of torn because I do like the idea of a guillotine trimmer. Anyone else have one of the Tonic trimmers, I would like to hear more than one opinion on them. I looked at one on HSN and it looked kind of neat.

• Scrappin' Page Said:

I don't scrap at a desk, I have to scrap at the dining table. We live in a rather tiny apartment, and turned our dining room into a bedroom for our almost-ten-year-old son, Jory. So our great room is a combination dining room and living room. The table is situated that I can sit at my place, scrap, and watch TV/DVDs/videos at the same time. I have my shelving and drawers to my left, and a a small kiddie table (my daughter destroyed the cover to her Princess table, so I snagged it and use it as a printer table) to my right. My dining table is a fairly large oval one, so I have room. Even room to spare for one scrapper-friend. HTH!

• mkthomas Said:

Their service IS the best! I had THREE trimmers with measurements that rubbed off. (I'm incredibly anal about measuring things exactly and precisely.) I contacted then and each time they replaced the trimmer. With the fourth trimmer, they offered me my choice of a new-and-improved trimmer and a goodie pack worth the same amount as the trimmer. I originally chose just the trimmer, but then I had to wait an extra two weeks for their shipment to come in, so I politely requested, and got, both. I am extremely happy with their service, and will tell anybody and everybody how awesome they are.

BTW, if it makes any difference, all trimmers with the measurements that rubbed off came in plastic clamshell containers; the new-and-improved one I just got came in a box. Don't know if that helps or not...just thought I'd throw that out there.

I have a Tonic and really like it. I like the guillotine trimmers better, personally. I think it's easier to get a straight line. You do have to have the desk space though.

Oh my, although sad, I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one with trimmer trama! I use a Fiskars 12" trimmer from Stampin' Up! It's the same as the regular Fiskars trimmers except that it has a clear ruler instead of blue or lilac. I couldn't see the measurements on dark paper with the lilac ruler. I wish it could cut more paper and the rapid rate of blade replacement is costly. I like the slide instead of a rotary. I have a rotary and it hurts my elbow (don't know why and yes it has a new blade). I keep using this trimmer because it will cut 12" and it's small and light weight. I have a large gullitone printer but I rarely use it.

What do I want:
A trimmer with a small footprint
light weight
not a rotary
cuts more than 1 piece of cardstock
no metric measurements
must, must have a 1/4" grid.

I've been looking for over a year - maybe we need to design one and get someone to make it!! Could it smell like chocolate???

I love my MM trimmer for use at home. I use it heavely as I pre-cut layouts or other projects for my customers and it works great. I use the fiskers trimmer for on the road and it is "Ole' Reliable" for me.
Kim

I have the 2 in 1 Purple Cow and I have not had any trouble with it at all. It is great!

They don't have them in stock at my ACMs either! When are they going to restock them?

They have them at M's though.

• BamaBug Said:

I love mine, too! It cuts straight and separates to take up a little less space.

Our's restocks on Thursday and got 4 more in but still haven't gotten the MM in and it's been a month. I finally just went to Michaels and picked it up, I was worried about the space and the Purple Cow . I have a gulitiene (sp?) cutter I can use at work if I need to.

• luv2scrap:) Said:

I have the Tonic Large base Guillotine trimmer and I absolutely LOVE it. I have had it for about 3 years now. I cannot say enough good things about this trimmer!!!

I just purchased an MM trimmer yesterday with a 40% coupon from Ms. I have a Fiskars Ultimate Trimmer, but the replacement blade doesn't stay on. I liked the idea of having a trimmer that self-sharpens.

Like someone else said, it is huge. But I don't leave my trimmers on my scrapping desk. I only pull it out when I really need it which is all the time, but it folds up and fits nicely under my desk. Cool beans!

I also like the fact that it has a magnetic ruler which took me 10 minutes to get off of the trimmer the first time. I like the fact that I can actually line things up and see where the cutter is before cutting.

I got one from Ms too. I used it at a crop last weekend and I love it! It fit into my AMM tote when it is folded. I don't have any complaints about it.

Two weeks ago I purchased the 12"
Tonic Paper Trimmer V Blade. I wanted to use it for a bit to see if I liked it before posting and so far its great!

Its a slide (not rotary), has a 1/4 grid on the base, a swing out ruler for use with 12x12 paper,
Cuts up to 3 sheets at one time.

It has a press down lever that lifts the blade and ruler off the base that I don't use. I find I just lift the ruler with the handle on the blade.

It cuts straight, I can easily see where the cut will be, it has a stopper on the slide out ruler that you can set for repetitive cuts.

Its small and light weight which is perfect for being able to have it a my work table and fits into my case.

I think I found the one - finally!

I have the cheap Fiskars paper trimmer, but I also have the Xacto Laser Paper Trimmer and that thing is great. I can see where I am cutting, it cuts straight and cuts up to 12, 12 x 12 pieces of paper at once.

I also have the large base 12 inch Tonic guillotine trimmer. I really like it, but it is quite large!
Charmaine

• scrappershelley Said:

Lovelovelove my 12" base Tonic trimmer as well. I actually bought one, and wasn't happy with it..didnt seem to cut straight. I wrote the compandy, and they sent me a brand new one, no questions asked. It is GREAT!! Love that thing!

it does have a large base though, but for my scraproom, it is perfect. I use the abse itself as my work surface, and I have had no issues. I have the smaller old Fiskars standby to take to crops, which I only do a few times a year.

I have the Purple Cow 2 in 1 and love it.

I bought a Tonic 602 a couple of weeks ago, thought I loved it, and now I hate it. It had what I wanted, light weight, 1/4" grid, extension arm, and not a rotary. Well the bloom is off the rose, why..

In 2 weeks I've had to replace the blade 3 times from using it just on cardstock (it shreds the paper after a few cuts).

The extension arm keeps falling off.

It has an "easy lever" to lift the ruler but it has a little piece that stops you from lifting the ruler to its full position. You have to lift if off the table if you want to fully lift the ruler.

I would stay away from this one unless you have a chance to try it - may it you'll like it, but for me its back to my old Fiskars until I can buy a Tonic guillotine.

• luv2scrap:) Said:

I have the Tonic guillotine trimmer!!! I've had it for a while, and I think it works pretty well. I recently went through my stash of 12 x 12 papers and I had over 300 sheets that I knew I wouldn't use as a whole sheet. I cut them all down to 8 X 8 for storage purposes and the trimmer saved me a lot of time! HTH

I'm not sure how big of cutter that you are looking for, but both Dahle and Martin Yale (Premier/Intimus) make very high quality cutters.

I have 3 old wood-based heavy-duty guillotine cutters which I bought at garage sales years ago. They never need sharpening. The smallest one is 12", the one I use most is 16", and the largest one is 20". I store them upright behind some furniture.

I use them for cutting up magnet sheets and cardboard. For paper and cardstock, I use my regular Martha Stewart cutter (not a guillotine).

If you check ebay, I've seen several of those "vintage" guillotine cutters at reasonable prices. They also have several commercial and industrial-strength cutters you can check out. The prices vary.