Paper cutting preferences

[esearing]

Time to buy a new paper cutter for the darkroom. Guillotine or rotary? Brands?

None of them have great reviews until you get into the $400+ models which handle 40 + sheets. I only need to cut 1-5 sheets at a time. And I need it to be straight, square, and not jagged or trailing off at the ends. Budget ~ $100.

[Fred L]

Rotatrims have never failed me.

[neil poulsen]

To trim photographs as part of mounting, I found a used, earlier (yellow)16x20 Rototrim model that works great. I paid $150 for it.

For cutting test sheets, I found a used, 11x14 rotary paper cutter that cost about $60 on EBay.

I was lucky to find my paper trimmer for $150 used.

[Michael R]

Most of the pros I know use guillotine cutters. I assume good ones are expensive unless you can find something used in good condition. I have a Rotatrim. They are not the cheapest but I don’t make large prints so my relatively small model was affordable - at least it was at the time. I don’t think you can get a new one for $100.


Time to buy a new paper cutter for the darkroom. Guillotine or rotary? Brands?

None of them have great reviews until you get into the $400+ models which handle 40 + sheets. I only need to cut 1-5 sheets at a time. And I need it to be straight, square, and not jagged or trailing off at the ends. Budget ~ $100.

[Oren Grad]

I've always had more trouble keeping cuts straight with a guillotine than with a rotary cutter. YMMV.

There are inexpensive rotary cutters that might serve for light to moderate use. How large do you need?

[Dave Wooten]

I'd like to find a good one for cutting sheet film

[Doremus Scudder]

Rototrim for me too. I have two other trimmers sitting in storage and just use my 24" Rototrim for everything now. Once squared well, it is reliable, accurate and robust.


I'd like to find a good one for cutting sheet film

Dave, I imagine a 24" Rototrim would be suitable for your film-cutting purposes too. You may have to add stops (thicknesses of tape, etc.) to position the film in the dark, but I can't think of anything else offhand that would give you as clean a cut.

Best,

Doremus

[Drew Wiley]

Dual-rail Rototrims. I have both the 24 and 42 inch versions. They've been dependable for decades. But top end Dahle guillotine trimmers aren't much cheaper, and certainly aren't as safe in the dark. Only a hundred dollar budget? What does it cost to get a finger reattached? You might want to put that in perspective. But given your budget parameters, the less than ideal cut of a cheaper linear cutter would still make a lot more sense than a cheapo guillotine version - their sheer sloppiness tempts one to use them too aggressively.

That being said, cutting sheet film down to correct size is a more demanding application than just cutting printing paper in the dark. If the film is just a little off, it won't fit in the holder properly. Not an application where you want to pinch pennies. Another hundred dollars is just another box of 8X10 film these day, and just how much of it do you want to gamble with and waste trying to get the film squarely sized to begin with, before you even shoot it?

[Alan9940]

Rototrim here, too. I've had it for 40+ years and never an issue.

[fotopfw]

From a safety aspect I dislike guillotine cutters. I use Rotatrim, double rail and the Dahle. Both used them for 30 years, both never let me down.

[CreationBear]

Seeing a lot of love for Rototrims--how much difference would I find between the dual-rail versus monorail models, considering I aspire to be a low-volume, sporadic printer at best.

[Michael R]

Seeing a lot of love for Rototrims--how much difference would I find between the dual-rail versus monorail models, considering I aspire to be a low-volume, sporadic printer at best.

My guess is it wouldn't really matter. Mine is an 18" with the two rails (actually they are cylindrical). I bought it a long time ago so I don't remember if there was a lower priced option for one rail. I'm not a high volume user, and also I only use it for cutting prints one at a time (as opposed to thicker materials) so it could definitely be considered "overbuilt" for my purposes.

[esearing]

Looked at the single rail rototrim at staples and it has a ton of play from instore abuse. Even the guillotine models are bent. The craft paper cutters are too plastic and not durable but do have a nice track and hold system for clean cuts.
Rototrim dual rail seems the way to go for the long term as it can not twist unless the slider holes get worn but will have to order it. 18" is max I think I will ever need. Gonna set me back $260-ish unless it goes on sale soon.

[arthur berger]

For cutting 8x10 film down to 4x10 I use a dedicated Dahle Cut Cat 12 inch rotary cutters with a bar fixed to it for a 4 inch cut. For cutting paper
In the work room for mounting or trimming I use the Rotatrim 24 inch model.

[CreationBear]

Excellent, thanks Michael and Eric.:)

[Dave Wooten]

Thanks Doremus

[Drew Wiley]

I once had a very nice Dahle for cutting film down in the dark. I fitted it with threaded inserts for precise alignment of a stainless drafting triangle on it, for exact cut sizing, along with a special finger guard. But I no longer have need of it.

[Pieter]

Another vote for the dual rail rotatrim. I have two, a 17" in the darkroom and a 24" in the studio/work area. I have had them for well over 15 years and there's nothing else I would use beyond an Xacto and a still straightedge.