MyBinding Knowledge Base
How do I choose the right Rotary Trimmer?
If you want a rotary trimmer so you can do crafts, work on your scrapbook, and trim laminated documents, you’ll find that there are a lot of these devices available. It can be hard to figure out which one to get, so here’s what you need to consider so you can get the right rotary trimmer for your needs:
- Cutting length. You definitely need to pay attention to the trimmer’s cutting length. You need to choose one that’s large enough to trim your paper. Most rotary trimmers can cut letter-sized paper (8.5” x 11”) although there are smaller and larger cutters available. You might want to measure your paper before purchasing a trimmer just to be sure you get the right one.
- Cutting capacity. Rotary trimmers offer various cutting capacities ranging from just a couple of sheets to more than 10. You should know that these devices aren’t capable of cutting large stacks of paper. If you need to cut large amounts of paper, you should consider a guillotine trimmer or a stack cutter. These devices will give you a clean cut and allow you to cut larger quantities of paper at once.
- Construction. If you want to get a lot of use out of your rotary trimmer, you need to make sure it’s durably constructed. A high-quality trimmer will feature metal bars and will even have ball bearings so the cutting head can move smoothly. There are a lot of trimmers that are made almost completely out of plastic. While they may be affordable, they won’t last very long, so try to avoid them. Also, make sure you get a trimmer that has a paper clamp and measuring grid. These features make it easier to get the cut you need.
- Consumables. At some point, you’re going to need to replace your trimmer’s blade and you might even need a new cutting mat. Obviously, this will cost you some money and if you choose a cheaper trimmer, you’ll be buying supplies on a consistent basis. Therefore, you might want to get a more expensive trimmer because it uses higher quality blades.
- Multifunction abilities. There are some rotary trimmers on the market that can use different kinds of blades. These special blades can score and perforate your documents, as well do wavy cuts. Trimmers that can use these blades are really helpful when you’re doing crafts or working on an art project. If you want to get one of these trimmers, choose one that uses interchangeable blades so you can easily replace them, if necessary.
< 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)
