Trims and guillotines, which one to choose?

The great question! Let's review the main characteristics and differences of most scrapbooking trims and guillotines.

If you like scrapbooking, at some point of your journey have thought that it feels a bit annoying to cut the paper with scissors (or a cutter or knife) -especially when you need the cut to be very straight.

To make it easier to cut the paper "neatly", the best thing is to get a professional cutting tool: a trim or a guillotine. Which one is the best? What are the differences between them? In our mission to solve doubts, we let's talk about their characteristics and give you some references.

Guillotine or trimmer?

But let's get to the important thing, what are the differences between a trimmer and a guillotine? Both tools are cutting tools, but their main difference is that guillotines exert more force and can cut more sheets at a time. In fact, this tool is often used in printing shops because of its cutting capacity. And for, when can you use a guillotine in scrapbooking? Well, they're great for large albums as you can cut many sheets quicker.

Another difference lies in the way they cut. The guillotine cut is made by moving an arm with a blade that cuts perpendicularly. However, the trimmer has a small metal blade that moves along a rail parallel to the paper and, therefore, it cuts by sliding through the paper.

Once we know what the main differences are, let's get down to the details!

▶ Why are Fiskars trimmers so famous?

Fiskars is the ultimate cutting brand with decades of experience in manufacturing all kinds of scissors and Fiskars is the ultimate cutting brand with decades of experience in manufacturing all kinds of scissors and cutting tools for all sectors. So, in terms of quality, we can firmly say they're the best.

Among all their models, the ProCision Rotary Bypass Trimmer stands out because is one of the most complete you can find.

One of the main features is its rotatory blade, which does not tear the paper, it cuts it cleanly. Moreover, there's no need to replace the blade, as it's self-sharpening.

It's also important to mention that you can cut thick materials (from several layers of cardboard to even 3 mm cardboard) in A4 and A3 sizes.

It has a double rail system that improves the stability and precision of the cut. It's also foldable for easy transport and storage.
In short, it's a shear that will last a lifetime and is worth investing in for its great performance and quality.

From Fiskars, you can also find the Bypass Guillotine, capable of cutting up to 15 sheets of 80 grames at a time. However, the most interesting thing about this option is that the base is made of bamboo, ensuring a long lifetime. Also, it has measurements in both centimeters and inches.
It has several systems such as the automatic locking system, the safety system on the cutting arm, and the anti-slip rubber that gives more stability.

The blade is of titanium, which is 3% more resistant than steel. It is also self-sharpening, so you can forget about blade maintenance, which is great for those who use it all the time.

The other Fiskars trimmers differ, above all, in the cutting base size. The larger the size, the easier to measure your project.

▶ We R Memory Keepers

Another must when talking about trimmers and guillotines is We R Memory Keepers. One of its biggest products is the Trim&Score.

It's a great tool because you can cut with precision with the blade and also blend your pages. In its base, there are some indentations, some slits, and guides that will help you to make the marks you need to fold your paper.

Also, you can measure your pages in both centimetres and inches, making the work much easier.

▶ Craftelier Basics

Well, we have to mention our trimmer, the Craftelier Pro Paper Trimmer. We've made it in white with turquoise measurements, in both centimeters and inches. It has a rotating arm to extend the working surface, which can reach up to 43 centimeters. And just like the We R trimmer, you can use this trimmer to cut and fold thanks to its blade and folding tool.

Choosing one or another depends on your personal taste and necessities. Some guillotines suit some of us while some others will prefer to use a trimmer.

For those of you who prefer to see how these tools work, we've made a video where we compare different guillotine and trimmer models:

Now tell us your experience using guillotines and trimmers, there is one model you're in love with and can't live without?