Corners are just too dull, not to mention sharp. I don’t know what it is, but the simple process of rounding a corner can add a lot to a document. Take a business card for example. Sharp corners? Dull. Round corners? Cool.

Many people also like to round the corners on menus, playing cards, photographs, birthday cards and much more. So how can you round a lot of corners at once without sacrificing quality? It’s easy. Use a Lassco Wizer cornerounder. Cornerounders are often referred to as corner rounders and corner cutters.

Lassco has been making cornerounders for well over a decade and they have several time-tested models that get the job done well. I have personally used their entry-level CR-20 and can vouch for the fact that it is really easy to use. I never would have thought that cutting through a ½-inch stack of paper would be so easy. Lassco’s CR-60 cornerounder is even capable of cutting up to .080 aluminum.

So what are some of the most popular Lassco Wizer corner rounders our customers like to use? They are:

• CR-20 Corner Cutter - Great corner cutter for cutting documents that fall within a 5″ x 10-1/2″ size up to ½-inch thick.
• CR-50B Cornerounder – Very comparable to the CR-20 but with a larger 9″ x 18″ cutting base. Also capable of cutting a ½-inch stack of paper.
• CR-50P Corner Rounder – This machine has all the quality of the desktop models but in a floor design. This corner rounder has an electric motor, making it ideal for continuous use.
• CR-50XP Corner Cutter – This corenrounder is pneumatic, which means it is powered by an air compressor. This corner cutter is perfect for print shops, continuous and high-volume use.

These are just some of Lassco Wizer’s corner rounders. You can find our entire selection of cornerounders here. Have questions about our Lassco Wizer cornerounders? Post them here!

I’m a big fan of listening to podcasts, especially those covering history, technology and other topics of interest. I was listening to TechStuff from HowStuffWorks.com today and they were discussing some of the most important inventions ever created over the last 200 years. One of those inventions just happened to be a piece of office equipment.

Any guesses what it was? Drum roll please. It was the stapler. Surprised? I’m not. Staplers are one of the most common pieces of office equipment found today. They are literally in just about every home, desk, school and business. The very concept of binding pieces of paper together using a small piece of metal was pretty revolutionary.

Staplers are now available in dozens of formats. You have your desktop stapler, saddle staplers, heavy-duty staplers, box staplers and much more. Staples are even used in modern-day surgery.

While book binding, and binderies, have been around for centuries, staplers truly became the predecessor to the modern-day do-it-yourself binding machine.

Here is a brief history of the stapler:

Samuel Slocum of Poughkeepsie, NY is credited with having invented the stapler in 1841 according to the guys at TechsStuff. Samuel’s machine technically inserted pins into paper.

The first machine that actually inserted a staple into paper and clinched it shut was a machine made by Henry R. Heyl in 1877.  Just two years later, in 1879, George W. McGill won the patent for the first commercially successful stapler. You can read more about the history of staplers here.

Anyway, I found this all to be very interesting and hope you do as well.  Staplers sure have come a long way over the last 100+ years. At ABC Office we carry a huge selection of modern-day paper staplers found here.

Have questions or comments about staplers? Post them here!

I recently had an opportunity to play around with the Dahle 852 stack paper cutter. I did more than just play around with it. I got to pull it out of the box and assemble it. A few of my first thoughts as I put it together were, “safe, easy-to-use and stylish.” It is made from solid metal, not just slabbed together sheet metal.  This is my official review of the Dahle 852 premium stack paper cutter.

First off, Dahle has taken a different approach to this stack cutter versus previous designs. One of the most notable differences is the ambidextrous handle, able to be used by left or right-handed operators. The handle literally comes right out of the center of the table. Other manual stack cutters have the handle coming from the side, which is ideal for right-handed operators.

The Dahle 852 stack paper cutter is one of the most affordable stack cutters in its class. The optional stand has a shelf for storing paper and is especially nice if you don’t have a table or countertop for a cutter. The base is made from solid steel and is very solid. The stand isn’t required. You can save a little money and simply put it on a table or work bench. The cutter comes with rubber pads for use on a table or counter.

The backstop is a little simplistic, which is pretty common for Dahle stack cutters. The backstop is adjusted by loosening a dial, which then allows the operator to manually slide the backstop forward and backward. The backstop points to a measuring ruler on the side of the machine that gives the operator an idea on where the cut will be made.

One really cool feature about the Dahle 852 is the laser guide. A laser is built into the housing of the cutter that paints a line on the paper, letting you know exactly where the blade will cut. Along with this feature is a lighted control panel on the left side of the machine that lets you know at what stage you’re at in the cutting process.

Safety features are nice, including a safety Plexiglas shield that has to be brought down prior to making a cut. There is a shield on the front and the back of the machine.

Cutting sticks are sometimes tough to change on stack paper cutters, but the Dahle 852 makes it really easy. Simply push down on a button and the cutting stick pops out. It’s that easy.

The clamping mechanism on the Dahle 852 is very different from most manual stack cutters. Where most stack cutters have a separate lever and control for the clamp, the Dahle 852 engages the blade and the clamp at the same time.  Although the clamp is different, I never experienced a problem cutting paper with it.

My overall impressions are pretty high. The cutter is clearly made from high quality metal and the machine is well constructed. Using the optional stand is awesome and assembly is pretty simple. You will find this cutter in print shops, copy shops and other organizations where reams of paper are cut daily. You will find the Dahle 852 stack paper cutter here.

Have you used this cutter? Post your comments here!

There are a few things you should know about comb-binding supplies if you own a comb-binding machine. First of all, did you know that binding combs are still one of the most widely used binding supplies? Did you also know that comb-binding supplies are still one of the most economical and affordable binding supplies?

Here are a few additional comb binding supply facts that you may find interesting:

• Binding combs are available in diameters as small as 3/16-inch and as large as two inches.
• Binding combs can be re-used multiple times without any outward signs of wear.
• Binding combs are extremely durable, able to withstand a lot of wear and tear.
• Binding combs are available in more than 10 different colors.
• Comb binding supplies allow you to easily add or remove pages.
• Binding combs are referred to as combs because the fingers loosely resemble those found on a hair comb.

I personally really like the simplicity and affordability of comb binding machines and supplies. You will find our entire selection of comb binding supplies here.

I had a customer ask me the other day what the difference was between a rolling paper trimmer and a rotary paper trimmer. Rolling paper trimmer? I had to think about that one. I had previously never heard the term.

After doing a little research I discovered the answer. The biggest difference between a rolling paper trimmer and a rotary paper trimmer is this: NOTHING. They are synonymous terms for the same thing.

It ends up that Dahle is coining the term rolling paper trimmer for the type of cutter that most of us refer to as a rotary paper trimmer. Perhaps this change in terminology is warranted.

How does a rotary paper trimmer work? Typically, a round “rolling” blade is encased in a cutting head that slides along a bar. As the cutting head is pushed, the round blade rolls along and cuts the paper.

Regardless of what you call it, these types of paper trimmers are quickly becoming one of the most popular types of cutters used today, due in large part to the booming scrapbooking industry. If you ask a photographer what type of cutter they use to cut photographs, they will tell you that they use a rotary paper trimmer (usually a Rotatrim).

You can find our entire selection of rotary “rolling” paper trimmers here.

So you’re in need of a stack paper cutter, but don’t have the budget to buy a high-end Triumph cutter. So what do you do? Have you considered the Tamerica Guillomax stack cutter? If you’re on a limited budget, you may want to consider it. You will find our Tamerica Guillomax Stack Cutter here. We have one of these cutters in our showroom and I had a chance to play around with it.

To begin with, the Guillomax is much cheaper (in price) than most other manual stack paper cutters. This is due in part to the fact that it is made in China versus Germany (like Triumph and Dahle). Manufacturing costs are simply going to be lower when made in China.

The stability definitely isn’t there when compared to a Dahle or Triumph model. This isn’t to say it’s going to fall apart on you, but the handle has some play in it that I’m not used to. The blade itself, however, seems to be pretty stable and the cuts I have made so far seem to be accurate and reliable.

Setting up the backstop on the Tamerica Guillomax is pretty easy and straightforward. You first loosen the backstop knob, where you then manually slide it back and forth on a rail and then tighten it back up once adjustments are done.

The cutting process doesn’t require much manual effort. It isn’t as easy as a Triumph cutter, but you won’t be using the Guillomax as much as you would a Triumph cutter anyway.

Safety features in the Guillomax aren’t the same as in a Triumph cutter. There is no safety Plexiglas guard in place, so keep that in mind. The blades themselves are very sharp and seem to get the job done, but they cannot be re-sharpened like the Triumph blades. Once the blade is dull, it has to be replaced.

My biggest annoyance with the Tamerica Guillomax is the cutting stick. As with any stack cutter, the cutting stick has to be rotated every so often. Getting the cutting stick out and back in is a beast of its own. It can be done, but don’t be surprised if you’re at it for 5-10 minutes.

My overall feeling about the Tamerica Guillomax is that it’s a decent cutter for the price. You can’t expect a cutter of the quality found in Triumph for $500 or less. I wouldn’t use this cutter for high-volume jobs, but it is more than adequate for low to medium-volume jobs.

If you need to make more than a dozen cuts per day, you may want to consider going with the Dahle 842 or the Triumph 4205.

Have you used the Tamerica Guillomax? Post your thoughts.

Stack paper cutters are useful machines. They can be used to cut reams of copy paper, stacks of cardstock paper and much more. They are commonly found in printing presses and can even be used to cut down business cards. The MBM Triumph 4205 is one of the best examples of quality and precision in a manual stack paper cutter. You will find the MBM Triumph 4205 stack cutter here.

If I were to come up with a comparison, I would have to say Triumph is the Porsche of the stack paper cutter world. These things are nice. German engineered and German built, the Triumph 4205 is designed to last for years. The Triumph 4205 replaces the popular Triumph 3905 stack cutter.

Although the Triumph 4205 is a manual cutter, and does not have the bells and whistles of digital / programmable designs, I would consider this cutter to be capable of commercial and industrial cutting jobs with its only limitation being speed.

So I have personally used this cutter, in fact we have one out on our showroom floor right now. It is very similar to the 3905 with one significant change. The cutting sticks are now much easier to change because they now slide out from the side of the cutter. The older 3905 required that you fish the cutting stick out from within the machine.

The cutter itself has several safety features. The cutting blade won’t work until the Plexiglas cover is down, preventing bodily injury. There is also a lever that has to be pulled before the cutting arm can be brought down, requiring two hands.

The arm is geared in such a way that it requires very little effort to pull down. I have actually tried cutting a stack of paper using only my pinky finger, and it worked!

Adjustments are easy enough. The backstop is adjusted by using a handle located on the front of the machine. A ruler-style measuring device is positioned next to the backstop, making measurements easy.

The only weakness I feel this cutter has is the clamping mechanism. It is a manually set pressure-style clamp that is engaged by pulling down a handle. As long as the handle is pulled down properly, you won’t have any problems. If you haven’t pulled down the handle enough, there could be some play in the paper, causing crooked cuts. If this is a concern, we do sell the Triumph 4705 that uses a screw-style clamp that is more effective. You will find the MBM Triumph 4705 here.

I hope you have enjoyed this review. Please feel free to post any questions or comments you have about the Triumph 4205.

Paper folding machines are an investment and most businesses want to see that investment last for years. So how do you keep a paper folding machine up and running for years? Here are a few useful tips that will help you get the most out of your paper folding machine.

Clearing Jams – Paper folders can experience paper jams throughout their life. A few important things to remember when clearing a paper jam is:

1. Don’t force the paper folder to do something it doesn’t want to. What does this mean? If the roller wheels aren’t turning, don’t force them or they may break.
2. Don’t use scissors or a screw driver to fish out the paper. This can damage the rubber rollers, and they aren’t cheap to replace.

Paper Thickness - Make sure you don’t run paper through your paper folder that is thicker than the maximum specifications. The same can be said for paper that is too thin.

Paper Finish – The finish of the paper can play a huge roll in how the paper folding machine will operate. If you have a friction-feed paper folder (one that uses a wheel to pull paper into the machine), glossy paper may cause slips resulting in jams.

Staples - Do not run stapled paper through a paper folder. The metal from the staples will cause nicks in the delicate rubber rollers, resulting in a decreased lifespan.

Rubber Cleaner Rejuvenator – Rubber cleaner rejuvenator helps to moisturize rollers, cutting down on cracks. It also helps to remove jam-causing dust and ink buildup. Rubber cleaner rejuvinator can be found here.

Static Eliminator – Static electricity can cause sheets of paper to stick together. In a paper folding machine, this can result in misfeeds and multiple sheets being pulled into the folder. This ultimately leads to paper jams.  Static eliminator can be found here.

If you are experiencing problems with your paper folder, or if you need repairs, we have a talented Service Department that can help get you replacement parts or even fix your paper folding machine. Our Service Department can be reached by calling 1-800-658-8788 x129 or by filling out this form.

Are you in need of a replacement paper folding machine? We have a huge selection of paper folding machines from Dynafold, Duplo, Martin Yale, Dahle and much more. You will find our new paper folding machines here.

When most people think of perforators, they think of a machine that creates tiny hole in a straight line, much like the perforations found in your checkbook, making paper easy to tear. So what is a text perforator? Text perforators, like perforating machines, create tiny holes in paper, but that’s where the similarities end.

Text perforators are used much like a stamp. They punch tiny holes in paper in the form of text. That text may say PAID, VOID or CANCEL. This is often done for document control purposes. Some text perforators allow for custom text, thanks to an adjustable perforating dial.

At ABC Office we offer two different text-perforating machines made by Widmer. These are the Widmer P-400 series text perforators and the model ABE 800-1 date perforator.

I have personally handled text perforators and the models we carry are made from die cast metal and are extremely heavy duty. The text perforating process is very simple. Place the paper into the text perforator and pull the handle. The manual effort involved in pulling the handle is minimal. Most of our perforators are able to handle 15 sheets of standard paper at a time.

The Widemer P-400 is available in six different designs, depending on what you want the text to say. Text options are PAID, VOID, CANCEL, PAGADO, CANCELADO and customizable sixth model designed to perforate up to 5 or 6 characters. You can find the Widmer P400 text perforator here.

The Widmer ABE 800-1 is a date perforator designed to perforate the date into paper. The date is set up by adjusting a dial. You can find the Widmer ABE 800-1 date perforator here.

Text perforations are great for document control. These are especially good for voiding and canceling documents. Unlike ink stamps, perforated text is very easy to read and will not become smudged or unreadable.

Are you looking for some tips on how to use a binding machine? Perhaps you are in the market for a comb binding machine, or perhaps you just received your wire-binding machine but don’t know exactly how to use it. No worries! We have compiled a list of our most popular binding guides.

You will find our entire selection of binding guides here:

• Book Binding Guide
• How To Comb Bind
• How To Wire Bind
• How To Coil / Spiral Bind
• How To GBC VeloBind
• How To Use A Padding Press

These guides include step-by-step guides on how to bind, including vide demonstrations on how to use a binding machine.