Are you looking for a good alternative to a Rotatrim Professional rotary trimmer? This may be to save money or simply because you want to try something different. One model you should seriously consider is the Foster Keencut Classic rotary paper trimmer. I have used this rotary trimmer and this is my review.

To begin with, have you noticed the similarities between the Keencut Classic and the Rotatrim Professional? The design looks very similar. Probably the biggest similarity, and the biggest plus, is the cutting rail. The Keencut Classic has two rails for the cutting head, which makes cuts straight and accurate every time.

The Keencut Classic features an aluminum metal base that is lightweight and sturdy, measuring in at 15-inches deep. You can get the Keencut Classic in a variety of different lengths starting at 12 inches and going up to 48 inches.

The length you use depends entirely on what you will be cutting. Be sure you get a cutter that not only handles what you’re cutting now, but will also handle future jobs.

The Keencut Classic is commonly used by photographers, scrapbookers, graphic arts departments and many more. It can be used to cut up to 10 sheets of 20# paper, thin tissue paper, plastics and can even be used to cut 0.08-inch aluminum printing plate.

I have personally used this cutter to cut laminated paper without any issues. The cuts are clean and are absent of burs. The effort needed to push the cutting head is minimal.

The Keencut Classic also includes an adjustable guide that is attached to a ruler. This makes it easy to align paper and ensures the cut is where it’s supposed to be.

Overall I am impressed with this cutter. I definitely consider it to be a great alternative to Rotatrim and Dahle rotary trimmers.

You can find the Foster Keencut Classic rotary paper trimmer here. You can find our entire selection of rotary paper trimmers here.

Symptoms of a failing or broken paper folding machine are sometimes subtle and other times dramatic. Issues can result from worn-out rollers, severe paper jams, misaligned folding plates and much more. Don’t give up on your folding machine. You may be able to fix it.

To begin with, we have a Service Department here at ABC Office that specializes in fixing and repairing folding machines. They can often help you diagnose issues over the phone and help you get the parts you need to get the folding machine up and running. You can contact our Service Department by calling 1-800-658-8788 x129 or by filling out this form.

In cases where you are unable to replace the parts yourself, our Service Department offers a couple of options. Your first option is to send the machine in to our service department for repair. Your second option is to have our Service Department find someone in your local area.

Here are a few preventative maintenance tips you may want to consider using:

Roller Cleaner Rejuvenator (found here) – This is a type of cleaner that you can use to clean off paper dust and ink from the folding machine’s rollers. It also helps moisturize them, preventing cracks that tend to occur over time. Paper dust and leftover ink are two of the biggest causes of folding issues.

Static Eliminator (found here) – Static eliminator can be used on a folding machine to help cut down on static electricity. Static electricity also causes a lot of paper jams by causing misfeeds.

Unfortunately sometimes repairs are either cost prohibitive or repairs are simply not an option. We carry a great selection of both air and friction-feed folding machines found here.

Whether you are stapling multiple sheets of paper together or are stapling chipboard for retail sales purposes, a versatile stapler can save a lot of time and frustration. One stapler you should seriously consider is the Lassco Wizer W-115 Skrebba heavy duty stapler. We have one of these staplers in our showroom and I have had a chance to use it. This is my review.

To begin with, the W-115 Skrebba is a manually operated stapler. This isn’t a bad thing. The W-115 Skrebba has a handle that is angled and designed in such a way that it is very easy to operate. The stapler includes a clamping mechanism that allows it to be mounted to the side of a table or workbench. This model has been around for well over a decade and is time proven to be a reliable stapler.

Some of the biggest benefits of the W-115 Skrebba is its ability to do both saddle and flat stapling. This eliminates the need for two separate machines and is a big money saver. The W-115 has a knob that can be loosened that allows the stapling plate to be adjusted for one or the other. This probably only takes a few seconds.

The stapler head is capable of stapling through 55 sheets of standard copy paper. This is far more than a standard stapler and is perfect for bindery jobs or daily jobs that require continuous use.

You will notice when you remove the stapler from the box that it really doesn’t weigh much. It weighs in at about six pounds. This means the W-115 is extremely easy to manage and move around. The build quality, however, is exceptional. We sell a lot of these W-115 Skrebba staplers and I never hear complaints.

The W-115 includes side guides that are very easy to adjust. This is especially nice for booklet jobs that require two staples along the spine. This guide can be used for saddle and flat stapling.

The W-115 uses 1/4″ (W118-D), 5/16″ (W118-A), and 3/8″ (W118-E) heavy-duty staples. You can find our W-115 Skrebba staples here.

Overall I really like this stapler. While it isn’t electric, it is still pretty fast and can easily be used throughout the day without any issues. This stapler is well put together, time tested and you should be very happy with it.

You can find the Lassco Wizer W-115 Skrebba heavy duty stapler here. You can find our entire selection of staplers here.

Is your shredder on its last leg? Does it sound a sawmill? Paper shredders can suffer from a wide variety of issues and ailments. This ranges from broken gears, chipped shredder blades, blown fuses and much more. So is it possible to get your paper shredder back up and running?

While not all paper shredders can be brought back from the dead, many can experience a second life. We have a Service Department that can get replacement shredder heads, gears, control panels, switches and much more. It certainly can’t hurt to ask and won’t cost you to present a question.

You can contact our Service Department by calling 1-800-658-8788 x129 or by filling out this form.

If for any reason your shredder can’t be revived, or costs to much to repair, we have a great selection of new paper shredders found here. This includes home, office, deskside, departmental and industrial paper shredders.

So you want to bind a custom-size book using wire, but can’t seem to track down wire available in the right length. The only double loop wire that seems to be available is 11-inches long. Are there any custom wire options? Here are a few ideas you may want to consider.

I completely understand the need and the desire to wire bind books in custom sizes. Not everyone wants to use, read or bind books that are 11-inches long. You may want to bind a photo album that is only 6-inches long, or perhaps a cookbook that is only 8-inches long. So what are your options with wire?

Unfortunately double loop wire is not sold in custom lengths, but don’t worry. Our customers are very creative and have come up with easy ways to bind custom books using standard 11-inch wire.

What’s the magic tool they use? They use a pair of wire snips. Really. It’s that simple. Wire binding supplies are made from a very thing gauge of wire, which is simple to snip shorter to the length you need.

Customers tell me they will put the 11-inch wire in the punched holes and then slip the excess wire prior to closing. You can’t tell the wire is snipped and it still looks professional.

This method of custom wire binding can be applied to 2:1, 3:1 and 19-ring Spiral-O wire. Custom-length binding supplies usually cost more than the standard 11-inch supplies anyway.

You can find our wire binding supplies here. You can find our wire binding machines here.

Still have questions about custom wire binding? Give us a call and speak with one of our binding experts at 1-800-658-8788. You can also post your questions in a comment.

Do you need a reliable stack paper cutter that can cut down print jobs, card stock and other paper-based material? One machine you should seriously consider is the MBM Triumph 4215 electric stack paper cutter by Ideal. I have had an opportunity to use this cutter and this is my review.

In case you aren’t familiar with the Triumph line of cutters from MBM, most people consider them to be the most reliable and dependable stack paper cutters around. MBM, the parent company, makes paper cutters (Triumph, Kutrimmer), Destroyit shredders and other fishing equipment. This equipment is German engineered and German Made.

The Triumph 4215 stack cutter is the big brother to the manual Triumph 4205. The biggest difference is that the Triumph 4215 has an electric blade that does all the cutting and a digital display rather than an analog ruler for measurements. The clamping mechanism is still manual, but takes just seconds to apply. It is considered to be a semi-automatic paper cutter.

The 4215 is extremely easy to use. You can adjust the backstop in just seconds. Simply wind the guide handle, located on the front of the machine, either clockwise or counter clockwise. A digital display located on the front of the machine will let you know exactly what the measurements are in inches or centimeters.

Once measurements have been set, simply put your paper in the cutter, pull down the protective plexiglass cover and push the buttons to bring down the blade. A couple of buttons are required to be pressed simultaneously. This is done for safety, ensuring no hands are in or near the blade during the cutting process. The cutter won’t operate while the protective guard is up.

The Triumph 4215 can cut paper up to 16-inches wide and can cut as stack as thick as 1 ½-inches. This can be paper, card stock and other material. For the size of the machine, this is very impressive. It can be used on a durable work bench or solid table, but is available with an optional stand as well. The cutter’s shipping weight is 191 pounds.

One really nice feature I have found with the Triumph 4215 is that the Solingen steel blade seems to stay sharp for an extra long time. When the blade becomes dull, it can be removed and be re-sharpened. Many stack cutter manufacturers use blades that dull quickly and cannot be re-sharpened. This is definitely something you should take into consideration when buying your machine.

Overall I really like this machine. I have enjoyed every Triumph cutter I have used. They are some of the most solid cutters I have ever used and the build quality is unsurpassed.

You can find the MBM Triumph 4215 electric stack cutter here. You can find our entire selection of stack paper cutters here.

I had someone recently ask me if it is possible to laminate a sheet of card stock or paper that has already been folded. This was in relation to restaurant menus, but can be applied to many other projects. The answer is fairly short and simple.

You can laminate paper that has already been folded, but you probably won’t be happy with the results. This is because the crease in folded paper creates an uneven surface. While this surface can be laminated, air will often get trapped under the lamination film and the end result will be pretty ugly.

Standard copy paper may come out just fine, but card stock is where you run into the biggest problems. This isn’t to say it will always turn out bad, but I can’t make any promises. The uneven ridge created by the fold is hard for the laminator to flatten out.

If you need to fold something that is laminated, I recommend using a paper scoring machine. These machines, sometimes called creasers, will crease the paper down the middle, making it easy to fold. The end result looks great.

So in relation to menus, I highly recommend laminating them first and then scoring them. You will be happy with the results.

You can find our laminators here and our paper scoring machines here. Still have questions about laminating and folding paper? Contact one of our specialists at 1-800-658-8788 or post your question in a comment.

Have a great day!

Finding a good rotary paper trimmer can be tough and finding one that is affordable can be even more difficult. One model you may want to consider is Dahle’s 550 series of professional rotary paper trimmers. This includes the Dahle 550, 552 and 554 trimmers. We have some of these cutters on our showroom floor and I have had a chance to use them. This is my review.

The Dahle 550 series of rotary trimmers, sometimes called rolling paper trimmers, are often brought up as alternatives to Rotatrim paper trimmers. This is because the Dahle 550 series trimmers bring a similar level of quality and productivity at a lower price.

The Dahle 550, 552 and 554 are pretty much the same cutters, but are in different lengths. Each trimmer uses a round rolling blade to cut material. The blade looks a lot like a pizza cutter wheel and even rotates as it is being used.

These trimmers can be used to cut paper, photographs, card stock, laminated documents and more. They are rated to be able to cut up to 20 sheets of standard 20# paper at a time. This number will decrease if you are cutting thicker material or card stock.

Capacity isn’t the selling point for a rotary trimmer though. What most people consider to be most important is precision and the ability to cut a straight line. The Dahle 550 series trimmers can do this well. The cutting head is easy to use and slides easily along the bar. The clamping mechanism seems to hold the paper well, preventing crooked cuts.

One feature I would like to see in the Dahle 550 line of trimmers is two sliding rails instead of just one for the cutting head. Multiple rails, as found in the Rotatrim Professional Series, make the trimmer more stable when cutting multiple sheets of paper. The single rail used does still seem to be stable and should still provide accuracy when cutting photographs and other material.

The Dahle 550, 552 and 554 have a printed grid patterns on the base of the trimmer. This grid can be used to align pictures, paper and helps to ensure a straight cut. Be aware, however, that the grid is in metric measurements. Even the common paper sizes printed on the base are metric paper sizes (A4, A5, etc.). I would like to see grid patterns in inches for those of us in the United States.  It does, however, include a side ruler in inches.

Overall I consider the Dahle 550 series of trimmers to be good machines, especially for the price. Are they as good as Rotatrim? No, but that is like comparing a Ford to a Porsche. The Porsche is great, but the Ford is probably just fine for most people.

You can find the Dahle 550, 552 and 554 professional rotary trimmers here. You can find our entire selection of rotary paper cutters here.

Are you looking for a fast, affordable and convenient way to package meat, fruits, vegetables, liquids and powders? One machine you may want to consider using is the Minipack MVS 31 vacuum food sealer. I have used this machine and this is my review.

In case you aren’t familiar with them, Minipack is one of the most reputable and well-known manufacturers of industrial / commercial shrink wrap machines and vacuum sealers in the United States. Minipack is an Italian company and their line of products are designed and made in Italy. They are known for their high build quality and reliability.

The Minipack MVS 31 is what’s commonly referred to as a chamber sealer. You essentially place your product in a vacuum sealer bag and place in the machine. Once the lid is pulled down, the MVS 31 will remove 99.9% of the air inside the chamber, seal the bag shut and return the atmosphere in the chamber back to normal.

The result is an air-tight seal that helps protect and preserve food. Vacuum sealed food is perfect for sometimes tripling or more the life expectancy of food. You will commonly find vacuum-sealed food in the grocery store such as fish, chicken breasts, vegetables and more. It can also be used to package non-food items without any problems. The MVS 31 can do all this in its 12.75″ X 11.75″ X 6″ chamber.

Unlike many comparable vacuum sealers, the MVS 31 uses a seamless design which is perfect for food. This means if you do experience a spill, the basin of the vacuum sealer can easily be wiped down. The MVS 31 is not made from sharp and cheap sheet metal, it is made from high quality stainless steel (AISI 304 according to CE standards). Even the sealing bar is designed to be clean and sanitary.

Another nice feature of the MVS 31 is the lid. The lid can be completely opened up, which means you don’t have to deal with an annoying gas piston that keeps failing.

The operation of the MVS 31 is pretty automated. There are no complex dials or fine-tuned adjustments to be made. There is a simple-to-use digital panel that allows the operator to adjust the amount of air removed and the sealing time. The machine does the rest.

The MVS 31 does have the ability to be used with an inert gas kit (optional) for added food preservation. This means you can remove the air and replace it with another cuts down or eliminates bacteria.

Overall I am very impressed with the MVS 31. This machine is tough and is designed for commercial and industrial use without hesitation. The build quality is excellent, and for the price, is well worth it. It is designed to last you for years of reliable use.

You can find the Minipack MVS 31 vacuum food sealer here. You can find our entire selection of vacuum food sealers here.

Whether you are working with wedding invitations, printing certificates or need a unique look on your business cards, you may be able to benefit from foil fusing technology. One model that has a great reputation and years of trouble-free use is the Banner American Model 1200 foil fuser. I have used this model for years and this is my review.

Many people confuse foil fusing with foil stamping. I can understand. The end results look very similar, but the process is completely different. Foil fusers (aka color foilers) take metallic foil, of multiple colors, and fuse it to toner. This is the same toner that is used in laser printers and toner-based copy machines.

This means you can print text, a logo or an intricate design and completely fuse it with foil. The end result is foil covered text, logo or design. The foil fuses in a professional way with nice clean edges.

I have personally used the Model 1200 foil fuser to fuse certificates, CD labels and business cards. The Model 1200 can use foil rolls up to11-inches wide, however, eight-inch rolls are more commonly used because they can cover most of an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper.

Some people have asked me, “What if I don’t want the entire paper foil fused?” This isn’t a problem and there is an easy solution. What you need to do is print what you need foil fused, then fuse the paper and later run it through the printer or copy machine again to add the rest of the text.

The Model 1200 foil fuser can easily be used throughout the day without breaking down or suffering any damage. I have used the foil fuser for eight-hours straight, foil fusing CD labels, and didn’t have any problems.

There are two adjustments that are important for making sure the Model 1200 runs properly. These adjustments are the speed and the temperature, both of which are completely adjustable. If the foil doesn’t seem to be sticking properly, this may indicate the machine is either running too cool or too fast. After a few minor adjustments, the machine is up and ready to go.

The Model 1200 foil fuser is a must-have item if you run a copy shop, a print shop or operate a business making invitations, certificates or cards. I personally really like the machine and am confident that it will provide you with years of trouble-free use.

You can find the Banner American Model 1200 foil fuser here. You can find our entire selection of foil stamping and printing machines here.