MyBinding Knowledge Base
Comparing the Swingline SmartCut EasyBlade and EasyBlade Plus Rotary Trimmers
At first glance, Swingline’s SmartCut EasyBlade and EasyBlade Plus may look very similar, except for the price. (Well, that, and the fact that one of them has the word “Plus” in its name.) It’s true that these two rotary trimmers are very similar, but there are significant differences between them. This article will help you understand what’s similar and different about the EasyBlade and EasyBlade Plus trimmers. After reading this article you should be able to determine which one would be a better choice if you are looking for a rotary trimmer.
The EasyBlade rotary trimmer is the cheaper of Swingline’s two EasyBlade models, retailing for approximately $70.00. It’s good for trimming items such as photographs and can be used for both office and creative work, including crafts. The EasyBlade contains a blade cartridge that’s easy to change, so when the blade gets dull, you’ll be able to replace it without risking cutting yourself. (It’s a nice feature to have, especially if you’ll be using the unit around children.) The blade is capable of cutting up to 10 sheets of 20 lb. paper at once, so this isn’t an ideal product to get if you need to trim a lot of paper in one go. The unit is made of light gray plastic with an aluminum alignment grid, and there are rubber feet on the bottom so the trimmer will stay in place as you work. The alignment grid contains both standard and metric measurements so you’ll be able to cut in the right places.
Now on to the EasyBlade Plus. As mentioned before, both of these units are very similar (for instance, both trimmers have self-healing cutting mats), but for only a few extra dollars, the EasyBlade Plus offers a lot more. For one, this unit is much more attractive than the EasyBlade and features a black aluminum alignment grid (with both metric and standard units) and a gray base. The base is made of metal, so it will undoubtedly hold up a lot better than the EasyBlade’s plastic housing. Another advantage the EasyBlade Plus has over its lesser cousin is the inclusion of a paper clamp. This clamp helps hold your work in place as you cut, which will definitely reduce the risk of your document moving during the cutting process. The EasyBlade Plus can also cut more paper at once: it can slice 15 sheets of 20 lb. paper at the same time, whereas the EasyBlade’s only has a 10-sheet capacity. Finally, the EasyBlade Plus also has a blade cartridge, so it’s safe to use, and there’s a blade wear indicator so you know when it’s time for a new blade. (The EasyBlade lacks this particular feature.)
After looking at both the EasyBlade and the EasyBlade Plus, it’s easy to see that the Plus definitely comes out the winner. There’s only a five-dollar price difference between these two rotary trimmers, but it may as well be a 50-dollar one. The EasyBlade Plus offers great looks, safety features, a larger cutting capacity, and a manual clamp to help make your work go more smoothly. It’s very clear: the EasyBlade Plus has the edge over its competition!
< Over the years, a number of customers have asked me whether they can use twin loop wire with their plastic comb binding machine. These customers often don’t want to have to buy a brand new machine but like the look and feel of twin loop wire binding. However, the answer to their question isn’t as simple as it seems. You see, they actually do make twin loop wire that is designed to work with the plastic comb binding hole pattern. With that said, if you want to use these wires you are going to need a way to close the wires. What is Spiral-O Wire? Let me explain a little bit more…There is a product that we carry called Spiral-O Wire. This wire has 19 loops and is designed to work with the hole pattern from a plastic comb binding machine. Spiral-O Wire is sometimes called Wire Combs or Ibico Wire and was originally designed for use with some of the older Ibico binding machines. A number of the older Ibico plastic comb binding machines also included a twin loop wire closer on the front of them to allow users to use both plastic combs and wire. This 19 loop wire was designed for this purpose. What Equipment is Needed? As the Ibico brand has been phased out by GBC and all of the older Ibico plastic binding machines have been replaced with new models, they no longer have the twin loop wire closer on the front of them. This presents a problem in trying to use these spiral-o wires since you can’t use the wires without a way to close them. One of the only options left is to purchase a Twin Loop wire closer. However, since twin loop wire closers are not incredibly cheap this option usually only appeals to users who have larger electric plastic comb binding machines. Otherwise, it is often advisable to simply buy a low end 3:1 pitch twin loop wire binding machine (the supplies are cheaper). This being said, if you have one of the older Ibico binding machines that has a wire closer included you are in luck. The Spiral-O binding supplies that we carry will work perfectly with your machine and you will be able to use both plastic combs and wire depending on your needs. These Spiral-O binding supplies are available in Black, Silver, White, Blue and Red and in sizes up to 1″ in diameter. If you aren’t sure what type of wire binding supplies that you need to work with your machine simply give us a call. Our trained sales representatives will be glad to help you find the correct supplies for use with your machine.(Read More)
