anyone tried the cutterpede trimmer or new fiskars trimmer?

I see nobody has answered your question, and I'm afraid I can't give you a review of the specific products you mention, either.

I can say, though, that having tried various plastic trimmers, the only really satisfactory paper cutter I've found is a heavy, old-fashioned cutter with a big swing-down blade and a solid wooden base - the kind you might find in an old schoolroom (in fact, mine was acquired, cheap, at a school surplus auction.) It's substantial enough to cut book board or a sizeable stack of cardstock in one slice, and - more important - the cutter stays square to the board and measuring grid. Inexpensive plastic trimmers invariably seem to go slightly off square.

(Besides, I can take off the blade and have it sharpened at a local knife/axe/saw sharpening place for pennies, so it stays good and sharp).

-- Pat Kight snipped-for-privacy@peak.org

Last time I looked, Staples had a standard wood-and-steel one. Yes, it was more expensive than the plastic models stocked right next to it, but I think this is a "you get what you pay for" thing - "real" paper cutters last a lifetime.

Dick Blick, one of my all-time favorite art-supply houses, also sells the classic model:

Pat Kight snipped-for-privacy@peak.org

I have the new Fiskars trimmer and love it. I also love using my Carl paper trimmer. I've heard good reports about the Cutterpede but haven't purchased it (yet).

Mary

I have a Boston 2612 paper cutter. Its 12 inches square and gridded. I have had it about 5 years and haven't had to sharpen it yet but I dont typically cut more than 2 sheets at a time with it. It was a gift so I dont know where it came from or how much it was but I like it alot and its sturdy and made of wood with the school type guillotine blade.

Cathy

*grin* So do I!

(BTW, if your local Staples doesn't have an item that the chain sells, they should be able to order it for you at no additional charge. Go to

to look for the products, get the inventory number and take that to the local store and they can have it for you pretty quickly.)

-- Pat Kight snipped-for-privacy@peak.org

I use a Fiskars flatbed rotary trimmer since I am not able to use scissors (I am impaired). I use it a *lot* and change blades between the straight, regular one and other specialty edges a lot. I've never noticed any problem with getting a straight cut so long as I line up the paper along the raised bottom guide and push the blade bar down to hold the paper in place before cutting. Only one stroke should be used (or necessary).

I use an L-shaped clear plastic ruler to help align smaller pieces of paper.

I have used guillotine-style cutters in the past, and find that small cuts are very hard to make --plus they're scary. :-) I like my fingers!

Gina

I don't know if you'd have much luck finding one of those old guillotine cutters anywhere other than an antique store or maybe an auction site (try eBay)...even the newer models that you might find these days can't compare to the older style models. Good luck finding a decent cutting tool...I know it's not easy! =)

Anna