Cutting large documents or large amounts of paper can be
difficult. Traditional guillotine cutters are only capable of cutting a few
sheets at a time (up to 30 at the most). Rotary trimmers have the same problem.
They can only cut ten or less pages at a time. If you need to cut a whole stack
of sheets, face trim a perfect bound book or even slice a whole ream of paper in
half you will need a stack cutter (also called a ream cutter). Here are a few
things to consider when choosing a stack cutter.
1. Cutting Capacity: Although sometimes called ream cutters, not all stack
cutters are capable of cutting a full ream. Depending on the model that you are
looking at, the cutting capacity might be rated based on a specific number of
pages or a thickness in inches. Some models are able to cut 500 sheets (a ream)
while others can cut slightly more or less. For most people cutting an entire
ream of paper is not essential. However, the higher the cutting capacity the
better the productivity that is offered.
2. Blade Width: Different models offer different cutting widths. Some blade
widths are as small as 12" for letter sized paper. Others offer blades that are
seventeen inches wide for 11" x 17" paper, eighteen inches wide for 12" x 18"
press sheets. Some cutters even have the ability to cut master sheets of paper
that are between twenty-three and twenty-six inches wide.
3. Paper Stop: One of the most important things to consider when choosing a
stack cutter is the paper stop. If the paper stop is not perfectly square and
solid the quality of the cut will suffer. One of the thing that sets high
quality cutters apart from cheaper ones is the quality of the paper stop. The
best ream cutters have perfectly square steel paper stops that are always square
and do not flex or move during cutting. This type of paper stop will also have a
handle that will allow it to be adjusted precisely to the correct size.
4. Cutting Table: In addition to the width of the blade there are two other
measurements that are important to consider when looking at a stack cutter. The
first is the maximum distance in front of the blade on the cutting table. The
second is the maximum distance behind the blade. These two measurements help to
determine the maximum length of paper that can be cut.
5. Safety Features: When looking for a ream cutter, it is essential for it to
have a number of safety features. With the ability to cut through hundreds of
sheets of paper, a ream cutter can easily slice off a finger or hand. With this
in mind, it is essential to find a cutter that requires two handed operation and
that has guards to prevent anyone from getting near the blade during the cutting
process. Any cutter that does not have these features should be avoided.
These are five things to look for when choosing a stack cutter. For the
purpose of this article we have only been talking about manual cutters. However,
the same list applies to electric cutters too.
Jeff McRitchie is the designer and Director of Marketing for MyBinding.com. He has written
over 100 articles on binding machines, binding covers, paper
cutters,binding supplies,laminators,laminating supplies,paper handling
equipments,binders,index tabs, and shredders.
