Foster 49" Econocut Rotary Trimmer

Staff Review

Foster 49″ Econocut Rotary Trimmer Review

From Foster Manufacturing Company comes an economical line of rotary trimmers that still deliver the same precision trimming as pricier deluxe models. This affordable, high quality cutter offers exact cuts and is excellent for offices and studios with low to medium volumes of cutting needs. With features to guide you to accuracy and available options, this large trimmer has much to offer. It is available in a selection of cutting widths but here we are going to take a look at the 49″ model.

As already stated, this device has a wide cutting range of 49 inches. That’s wide enough to easily handle large banners, posters, window displays, and more. It has a total width of 56 inches, so you may want a wide table to complete your projects. Or you can invest in the optional stand and waste catcher. Using this stand, you can easily line up your cutter with a printer or laminator for immediate trimmer. But when we say invest, that’s what we mean; the stand isn’t priced that much lower than the trimmer itself. However, it is handy and the waste container easily catches trimmed pieces as they fall from the blade.

Speaking of the blade, it is constructed from solid Tungsten steel. Hand-finished, this razor-sharp edge performs precision cuts in either direction. A self-sharpening mechanism keeps the cutter in top working condition. If it were to dull, a replacement cartridge is available at a relatively low cost, much more economical than purchasing an entirely new trimmer. Using this Tungsten blade, you can slice through paper, foils, films, laminates, and other thin, flexible materials up to 0.8mm thick.

A sturdy base is the foundation for this durable trimmer. The base is made from solid steel and coated with a baked enamel finish. The coating provides a strong surface that is resistant to wear. A dual scale grid offers measurements in both US and metric to help you precisely line up your materials for cutting. Markings for standard sizes are also printed onto the base as a guide. Additionally, a clear plastic clamp secures your items in place during trimming to prevent slipping. As a result, the entire cutting process is designed to perform clean, straight cuts every time.

Of course, as with anything, there are a few things to consider before purchasing this device. For one thing, 49″ is a very wide cutting with and this model has a total length of 56 inches. If you regularly trim extra wide documents, this won’t be a problem. But we urge you to seriously consider the width you need; the next model down offers 37″ and may be more appropriate for many applications. Another thing is that using this device you can only slice through a few items at once, less if you’re using thick materials. A focus on precision rather than quantity seems to be the reason. However, if you have heavy cutting needs, you will want a trimmer capable of handling more at once.

As you can see, the Econocut Rotary Trimmer is well suited to the lower end needs of offices, schools, and studios. The sharp Tungsten blade offers efficient trimming of a variety of materials. While it is extremely wide, organizations looking for a broad cutter will be please with the addition of this device to their office.

About the Author :

Jeff McRitchie is the Vice-President of Marketing for MyBinding.com. He regularly writes articles, reviews, and blog posts on topics related to bookbinding, laminating, paper shredding, and office equipment. More than 2,500 of his articles have been published in thousands of locations on the Internet. If you’re looking for information about paper handling equipment his articles are a great place to start.