The best and safest affordable 12" guillotine
After becoming disenchanted with my Fiskars trimmer, I switched to a CM trimmer which was much more accurate. However, at the same time I bought CM's little 6" guillotine and loved it so much I started looking for a 12". CM didn't make one (they should consider doing so) and the prices of the office equipment type were startling. Then I saw an ad for the 2-in-1 in a magazine. Finding one I could actually look at, however, was a problem. While on vacation I ran into a lady who was closing her store and while I was looking around at the bargains my hubby spotted the Purple Cow I had been looking for. The store did not carry them but had one for use in their classes and crops. After examining the trimmer and talking to the owner, I ordered one upon my return home and started using it immediately upon receipt.
Several months later I noticed that the plastic housing that covers the screw and nut that hold the arm to the body was cracked. I called the phone number on the brochure that had come with the trimmer. I was treated very nicely by the young woman who answered the phone. After explaining the problem, she said they would send me a new one the very next day. I had it in less than a week and then boxed up the old one and mailed it back. I was never without the use of the trimmer and the company was very good about the exchange. No one could ask for better customer service.
Please note that this is not an ordinary guillotine type paper cutter. There is no cutting blade on the arm. In order for the cutter to cleanly shear off the edge of your paper, you MUST press down on the "lever" (for lack of a better term) right next to the arm and hold it firmly when you bring the arm down. There is NO blade to get dull. The paper is cut cleanly and accurately by virtue of the shearing action of the arm against the body. This will prevent you or your kids from cutting fingers, although it is possible to get a painful pinch if you don't use it properly. I have found the measurements to be accurate and my cuts are straight.
I had never used a rotary trimmer before but have found this very useful for making attractive embellishment strips for borders and such. I am thinking seriously about getting some of the new blades they are now making for it.