

<h2>A finger guard</h2>
<p>Finger guards should go along the trimmer's base. It's a safety feature that prevents your fingers from being chopped.</p>
<h2>A Tension Spring</h2>
<p>This prevents a guillotine paper cutter from acting like an actual guillotine. The tension spring is attached to the blade so it won't move by itself.</p>
<h2>A Blade Latch</h2>
<p>It holds the blade in place when you aren't using the paper guillotine. It's usually a wire that hooks over the handle. Sometimes, it's a piece of metal attached at the bottom of the handle. Now, you may ask: Why do I need this? This prevents the blade from popping up.</p>
<h2>Watch out for the size</h2>
<p>Consider the thickness of the paper you'll be using. Bigger ones can usually cut through a 3-inch stack of paper.</p>
<h2>Portability</h2>
<p>Consider whether you're going to take it to other locations; if so, make sure it's appropriate for traveling.</p>
<h2>One tool that does both paper and mat board vs. two different cutters?</h2>
<p> I think that's opinion based, because it will cost more to buy two separate tools, but putting that aside:
- Economically [option 2 wins]
- The sharpness of the blade shouldn't be affected by cutting a mat board (maybe over time)</p>
<p><strong> I would recommend</strong> (if you're going to use it often) <strong>to buy only one that does the cutting you're looking for... it has to be a high-quality cutter</strong> (because I suppose you probably won't want to replace it every time something happens to it).</p>


<p><a href="https://www.triumphcutter.com/blogs/news/what-to-look-for-when-shopping-for-a-paper-cutter" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Source</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-13T03:46:47.183Z
Does a guillotine-style paper cutter/trimmer handle paper sizes up to 24" x 36"?
agarza
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-13T03:53:03.513Z
How thick? It's all about thickness basically, I'm not a person that uses this tool, but I can assure you that depending on thickness, size ( of the guillotine), and sharpness will be dominant for this.
Isaac750
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-13T04:34:27.470Z
@Joachim yes! (I just saw your comment)
Isaac750
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-13T04:47:19.413Z
@agarza you can hit the checkmark if this answered your question
Isaac750
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-13T14:15:36.487Z
It's not the thickness I am concerned about. I am wondering if the cutter/trimmer will be able to cut a 30" x 44" sheet of paper down to 24" x 36"?
agarza
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-13T18:40:42.010Z
oh,  ...so you didn't like the "Watch out for the size section"... ok, so, I'm not talking about how to think the cutter is, I'm talking about the thickness of the paper. Not the cutter. which is unnecessary to talk about because.. it's supposed to be a high-quality cutter. So, the answer is **yes**, it can cut that size, and bigger if you need to :)
Isaac750
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-13T01:58:38.867Z
2021-05-13T14:07:32.680Z
2021-05-13T14:07:32.680Z
Isaac750
<p>I have been drawing and painting for a while now on smaller paper sizes, i.e. up to 11&quot; x 14&quot;. I am looking to &quot;go bigger&quot; upwards to 18&quot; x 24&quot; possibly even 24&quot; x 36&quot;.</p>
<p>I am looking at purchasing a paper cutter/trimmer with the possibility of cutting matboard as well. I have seen some of the mat cutters by Logan on <a href="https://www.dickblick.com/brands/logan/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">dickblick.com</a>. I have used both rotary and guillotine cutters and I prefer the rotary type.</p>
<p>Would it be better to get one tool that does both paper and matboard? Or would it be better to get two different cutters? Also, what kinds of features would I need to look for in the cutter/trimmer?</p>

<tool-selection><paper-cutter>
Guidance on what to look for in a paper cutter/trimmer
agarza
# Guidance on what to look for in a paper cutter/trimmer

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-11-06)

I have been drawing and painting for a while now on smaller paper sizes, i.e. up to 11" x 14". I am looking to "go bigger" upwards to 18" x 24" possibly even 24" x 36".

I am looking at purchasing a paper cutter/trimmer with the possibility of cutting matboard as well. I have seen some of the mat cutters by Logan on [dickblick.com](https://www.dickblick.com/brands/logan/). I have used both rotary and guillotine cutters and I prefer the rotary type.

Would it be better to get one tool that does both paper and matboard? Or would it be better to get two different cutters? Also, what kinds of features would I need to look for in the cutter/trimmer?

**Tags:** tool-selection, paper-cutter


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-05-13. Score: 1

## A finger guard

Finger guards should go along the trimmer's base. It's a safety feature that prevents your fingers from being chopped.

## A Tension Spring

This prevents a guillotine paper cutter from acting like an actual guillotine. The tension spring is attached to the blade so it won't move by itself.

## A Blade Latch

It holds the blade in place when you aren't using the paper guillotine. It's usually a wire that hooks over the handle. Sometimes, it's a piece of metal attached at the bottom of the handle. Now, you may ask: Why do I need this? This prevents the blade from popping up.

## Watch out for the size

Consider the thickness of the paper you'll be using. Bigger ones can usually cut through a 3-inch stack of paper.

## Portability

Consider whether you're going to take it to other locations; if so, make sure it's appropriate for traveling.

## One tool that does both paper and mat board vs. two different cutters?

I think that's opinion based, because it will cost more to buy two separate tools, but putting that aside:
- Economically [option 2 wins]
- The sharpness of the blade shouldn't be affected by cutting a mat board (maybe over time)

**I would recommend** (if you're going to use it often) **to buy only one that does the cutting you're looking for... it has to be a high-quality cutter** (because I suppose you probably won't want to replace it every time something happens to it).

[Source](https://www.triumphcutter.com/blogs/news/what-to-look-for-when-shopping-for-a-paper-cutter)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Does a guillotine-style paper cutter/trimmer handle paper sizes up to 24" x 36"?  
> **username_1**: How thick? It's all about thickness basically, I'm not a person that uses this tool, but I can assure you that depending on thickness, size ( of the guillotine), and sharpness will be dominant for this.  
> **username_1**: @Joachim yes! (I just saw your comment)  
> **username_1**: @username_0 you can hit the checkmark if this answered your question  
> **username_0**: It's not the thickness I am concerned about. I am wondering if the cutter/trimmer will be able to cut a 30" x 44" sheet of paper down to 24" x 36"?  
> **username_1**: oh,  ...so you didn't like the "Watch out for the size section"... ok, so, I'm not talking about how to think the cutter is, I'm talking about the thickness of the paper. Not the cutter. which is unnecessary to talk about because.. it's supposed to be a high-quality cutter. So, the answer is **yes**, it can cut that size, and bigger if you need to :)  

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