CHA tools - my prayers may have been answered...

[Susan]

with a new TRIMMER!!!!!

www.papercrafterscorner.com/papercrafters-corner/2011/01/cha-2011-w-sneak-american-crafts-trimmers-punches.html

Gail and I are going to beat feet Saturday morning over to American Crafts.

Right after we run to Lifestyle Crafts, Silhouette, Spellbinders, Sizzix, Ranger...oh no - Gail and I might have to divide and conquer! LOL

What is your feeling on trimmers??? I'm so dreaming of the perfect trimmer - and this might be it!!

[Basketlady]

Those punches interest me. I love border punches, but they take up a lot of storage space. This could be the answer.

I know you like your CM trimmer. And the AC trimmer looks pretty similar. I like that one that you can switch between blades. I think that could be handy, it if truly works. I like the handle on the big trimmer--that makes it more portable.

Let me find the thread from a few months ago about trimmers. I have a Fiskar's trimmer that I truly love. I think it cuts accurately and I like the 6" base. I seldom need to pull the arm out to make a cut.

[Basketlady]

Here is the thread. There are other trimmers reviewed there, but this is the trimmer that I like. It's been 8 months and I still love this trimmer. It's accurate, which was important to me.

The link to the original thread: scrapyland.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=6438

I got a new paper trimmer! And I so love it! This sounds like the same one Gail has. Thanks for the recommendation, Sweetie! I also saw it reviewed on another MB and I thought I would try it out. It was time for a replacement.

It cuts tiny slivers. It straightens a bad cut without complaint. It's small enough to move around, but big enough to cut a 6" strip without pulling out the guide arm. It cuts 2 pieces of kraft paper. Three pieces of thin CS.

It's Fiskar's Craft Premium Portable Paper Trimmer. I found it at Joann's Fabrics, but I think Mike's carries it, too. It was $30, but I got it on sale. I never looked at it before because I didn't realize that it was different from the one I have. (And it's accent colors are orange. I hate orange. With a passion.) It's slightly bigger than my old Fiskar's trimmer.

*I can cut a 6" strip without pulling out the guide arm.
*It uses regular triple track blades, but also has some higher profile blades that it came with. I like this--the little tab that you hold/push to cut is just a bit taller than the old triple track blades. When I was cutting the kraft paper, I liked that I had more area to grip.
*It has a 1/16" scale--so easy to align a cut!
*Best of all, it has a wire running down the middle of the thingy that flips up to cover the paper. You know exactly where it's going to cut. And that works! I was doing some really precise cuts last night and I got them perfect every time.

Now Fiskar's, if only it came in pink (or purple, or blue or ANY other color but orange!), I would have looked at it much sooner!

[Deleted]

Jan 24, 2011 13:53:48 GMT -5 Basketlady said:

...I have a Fiskar's trimmer that I truly love. I think it cuts accurately and I like the 6" base. I seldom need to pull the arm out to make a cut.

I was on a search for a decent trimmer, and I bought the Fiskars trimmer when Michelle first mentioned it. Actually, I bought a second one with an M's coupon. I've never been sorry...for all of the reasons listed above. I don't seem to have to replace the blade as often, although I've used the same blade type in other Fiskars trimmers (I have no explanation for this ).

There's also a smaller version (9 inches, I think), that I use a lot when I have smaller pieces of paper.

[MBstang]

I probably have a dozen trimmers (always thought I would be ready to host a crop for a group of girl scouts, etc. LOL) But my two very favorites are...

My Dad's paper trimmer from his office when he retired (it is very reliable, gives a good cut and I am a little sentimental about it!) However, it is big and I don't want to take up that much space on my scrap table and it is not realistic to travel with!

I LOVE my fiskars trimmer with the guide wire (like Michelle described) because it gives a very nice cut and I don't have to think about where it is going to cut--- the wire shows me! The orange was a plus for me though--- my favorite college color is orange! Go CLEMSON TIGERS!!! Another big plus is that it is small enough to keep on on the desk when needed or on a shelf under my scrap desk to keep handy, it is very sturdy and very portable!

HTH---MB

[Karen W]

I am always on the hunt for the next best trimmer! I will be interested in what you and Gail think of these.

I have the Fiskar trimmer that Michelle has, but I am not as thrilled with it. The wire is nice, but I had to learn it cut next to it. The wire doesn't seem to be straight, which is noticeable when cutting off the thin strip on the bottom of the paper. Either that or the guide the paper rests against isn't level. The paper show tear marks, even with a new blade.

My favorite blade has always been a rotary blade. Much cleaner cut, but you have to press so much harder. The MM large fold up cutter cuts the easiest of any cutter I've had.

So as I said, I will be waiting for you review

Karen

[northerncrafter9]

Jan 24, 2011 13:02:30 GMT -5 Susan said:

with a new TRIMMER!!!!!

www.papercrafterscorner.com/papercrafters-corner/2011/01/cha-2011-w-sneak-american-crafts-trimmers-punches.html

I really could use a new trimmer my Carl trimmer is not very accurate. The portable one with the handle looks great!

[Susan]

I used the Fiskers-with-the-wire cutter in MN last fall and loved it...but I wondered about how long the wire would stay accurate or intact. Wondered if it would "stretch"...But I really liked it while I used it for that weekend!

The crooked/straight thing is what drives me crazy - the grid lines on the cutters almost emphasize how crooked a cut can be...drives me crazy. Lots of times I use my xacto knife and a metal ruler...but that takes extra time.

So please know that we will definitely be checking out these new trimmers. It's an unusual product category for American Crafts to move into - I don't think they've ever done a big tool like this. So who knows - might be really awesome right out of the shoot!

Full opinions after CHA!

[AnnaMatrix]

You guys are probably sick of hearing this, but for accuracy I love my Tonic 12" bed guillotine trimmer. For portability, I have the same Fiskars trimmer Michelle has, and after nearly a year it still seems to cut pretty accurately. I can't wait to see both the trimmers and puches from AC though... always searchiing for something new and improved! Gail

[Deleted]

My Fiskars trimmers (both 12" and 9") with the wire guide still cut accurately, so hopefully that wire is attached so firmly that it won't stretch.

(And I've done a ton of cutting with both of them, lately!)

[Basketlady]

I think the trimmer is still accurate. My biggest peeve is trying to cut "square" cuts. I want that corner to be 90 degree! And this trimmer does that.

I had a big trimmer, but gave it to my Dad. I just never used it--I want the trimmer next to me. I'm too lazy to walk across the room.

But some day when space is unlimited, I want to get a big cutter again. I think they work better for making cuts on multiple sheets and big projects.