Buying a paper cutter can be confusing. There are literally hundreds of models and a bunch of different types of cutters that are available on the market. One type of paper cutter is the rotary trimmer. These trimmers use a sharp wheel to cut documents in a straight line and are popular for producing craft projects, trimming lamination and scrapbooking. However, understanding which rotary trimmer might best fit your needs can be difficult. This article will provide you with five things to consider when choosing a rotary trimmer.

1. Cutting Length: One of the main features to consider when buying a rotary trimmer is the length of the cutting surface. Depending on the length of the items that you are going to need to trim you will want to make sure that you choose a trimmer that is long enough for your cutting needs. Some rotary trimmers are as small as just a few inches long. However, most trimmers are 11-12 inches long and can be used for standard letter sized documents. However, if you are going to be trimming 12? x 12? scrapbooking paper or 11? x 17? sheets you will need to make sure that you choose a larger trimmer.

2. Cutting Capacity: Choosing a rotary paper trimmer based on cutting capacity can be a little bit tricky. Although some trimmers say that they can cut as many as 15-30 sheets of paper at a time, most rotary trimmers are designed for trimming not cutting. This means that you will probably not be happy with the quality of the cut if you need to cut stacks of paper. For that type of application you probably need to find a guillotine cutter. Instead, the cutting capacity is usually a good indication of the quality of the blade and the strength of the machine. If you are going to be doing a lot of trimming with your rotary cutter you are going to want to choose one that will hold up and give you a superior quality cut.

3. Construction: One of the things to look for when choosing a rotary cutter is the construction of the unit. The best rotary trimmers will have solid metal bars and ball bearings for the cutting head to slide along. Some cutters even use two bars instead of one for added stability. It is very common for the base of the unit to be plastic. However, if the cutting assembly is not solid you will never be happy with the cut quality. Additionally, you should look to make sure that the unit has markings to help align your documents and if possible some sort of clamping mechanism to help hold your documents in place during the trimming process.

4. Consumables Cost: One thing that can be a little bit tougher to determine when buying a cutter is the cost of replacement blades and cutting mats. However, if you use your cutter very much you are going to end up needing replacement blades. For cheaper cutters it is sometimes just as expensive to buy a new blade as it cost for the cutter (or close). This is something to keep in mind when shopping for blades. Higher quality cutters will sometimes use slightly more expensive blades but the blades will often last longer.

5. Multifunction Abilities: Some rotary paper trimmers have the ability to accept specialty blades. These cutters can be converted into scoring devices, wave cutters and even perforators. In many cases, this is the cheapest way to accomplish these tasks. Some rotary cutters are available with a dial-a-blade setup that allows users to have three different types of blades installed at once. Others have specialty blades available as separate accessories for the cutter. Separate blades are usually a better option if they are available since they don't require you to replace the whole blade assembly when one type of blade becomes worn.

These are five things to consider when choosing a rotary paper trimmer. Look at the different models that are available and be sure not to settle for the cheapest model especially if you are going to do a lot of cutting. Good luck, and happy cutting.