Are you in need of a versatile, multi-purpose paper cutter that can be used to cut photographs, paper, laminated material and more? Guillotine paper trimmers are great multip-purpose cutters and the Kutrimmer 1038 may be a model you should consider using. I have used this paper cutter and this is my review.

You may remember the good ol’ days of the wooden base guillotine trimmers. They were rickety, often dull and seemed to always cut paper crooked. Gone are those days. The MBM Kutrimmer 1038 uses a similar method for cutting paper, but is improved 10 fold.

The MBM Kutrimmer 1038 by Ideal is made entirely of metal. The base is metal, the arm is metal and the cutting blade is made from a high quality alloy. The build quality is top notch and it is extremely stable. Gone are the days of crooked arm cutters.

The MBM Kutrimmer 1038 is capable of cutting up to 50 sheets of paper. This isn’t difficult to do. Many “dull” cutters require a lot of force to cut the paper. The 1038 requires little effort and the razor-sharp blade easily cuts through the paper.

Don’t be concerned about the razor-sharp blade. The Kutrimmer 1038 features a plexiglass guard that prevents bodily injury. You can see this guard in the photograph.

One of the biggest improvements in the Kutrimmer 1038 versus other cutters is the clamping mechanism. One of the reasons cuts on this machine are so straight and accurate (other than the sharp blade) is that the clamping mechanism keeps the paper still and in place.

The Kutrimmer 1038 also includes an easy-to-use sliding guide that makes it easy to adjust the cutter for measured cutting. The base includes a lined guide for common paper sizes. A catch tray on the side of the cutter keeps cut pieces of trimmed paper in place for easy cleanup.

Mobility with the Kutrimmer 1038 is pretty easy. It weighs in at 29 pounds, which means it’s very easy to move around and can be used on almost any surface.

Overall I consider this to be a pretty nice cutter and highly recommend it. You can find the MBM Kutrimmer 1038 here. You can find our entire selection of guillotine paper trimmers here.

Guillotine paper trimmers have changed a lot over the past few years. They are no longer the wooden board with a knife attached to the side. Newer guillotine trimmers are made from metal, feature clamping mechanisms and are much safer. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of guillotine paper trimmers?

This article will detail the benefits and disadvantages guillotine trimmers. While the term “guillotine” is used for both pull arm operated and stack / ream paper cutters, we will be using guillotine to describe pull arm trimmers in this article.

Guillotine Paper Trimmer Advantages / Disadvantages:

Advantages: Guillotine trimmers usually have a decent cutting capacity, with many able to cut 10 plus sheets of paper without a problem. Guillotine trimmers are fast and easy to use. Thanks to the leverage of the arm lever, cutting is relatively seamless.

Disadvantages: Older guillotine trimmers had a habit of cutting the paper crooked, especially when cutting large amounts of paper. Guillotine trimmers have also had a bad reputation for safety. Paper clamps have addressed the crooked cutting issue and most guillotine trimmers now have safety shields to prevent injury.

Things To Look For: Keep an eye open for a paper clamp. Not all guillotine trimmers have a clamping mechanism. Clamps will make cutting easier and cleaner. Keep an eye open for a safety cutting guard, especially if the trimmer will be used in the presence of children.

You can find our entire selection of guillotine arm trimmers here. Have a question? Post it in a comment.