What's a good Print Trimmer?

[Rob-F]

I'm still using a 15" guillotine print trimmer. A few years ago, I was about to buy one of those linear jobs where the blade runs down a rail. The salesman said this model is for amateurs, wait until the sale in over and we will get a good one. That was ten years ago. The good one hasn't come in yet.

So: what's a good one? I need at least a 16" length. Twenty would be better. I want to get back into mounting and matting! I have a Dry Mount Press and a Logan mat cutter, I just need a good trimmer!

 

[jbrianfoto]

Rotatrim trimmer - the kind with two support rails. Industry standard for print trimming.

 

[rybolt]

Dahle makes good trimmers, too.

 

[sepiareverb]

The Saunders M3 series is pretty good as well.

 

[Dwig]

All three brands mentioned so far are good choices.

Dalhe make some less expensive, light weight trimmers as well have their heavier, more "pro", models. These won't hold up to as heavy a work load, but if handled well, will still do a very good job.

At work we use two of the more expensive Dahle trimmers for cutting prints on 310 gr/sm water color paper. We trim som 100-150 prints per month and have done for years. One trimmer is around 10 years old and the other about three. Both still work as good as new.

One of my personal trimmers is a ~17" Dahle from their light weight series (they used to be called "Cut Cat" models, but the name has changed). Mine's a good 25 years old and still works fine, though it's not have very heavy use.

 

[Ronald M]

Rotatrim trimmer - the kind with two support rails. Industry standard for print trimming.

Yes and Besslar one of same design.

 

[Rob-F]

This is really helpful! And Dwig answered a question I had about the inexpensive Dahle line, before I even asked it!

 

[Calzone]

All three brands mentioned so far are good choices.

Dalhe make some less expensive, light weight trimmers as well have their heavier, more "pro", models. These won't hold up to as heavy a work load, but if handled well, will still do a very good job.

At work we use two of the more expensive Dahle trimmers for cutting prints on 310 gr/sm water color paper. We trim som 100-150 prints per month and have done for years. One trimmer is around 10 years old and the other about three. Both still work as good as new.

One of my personal trimmers is a ~17" Dahle from their light weight series (they used to be called "Cut Cat" models, but the name has changed). Mine's a good 25 years old and still works fine, though it's not have very heavy use.

I have a 17 inch Dahle that serves me well. For a larger biger cutter I would upgrade.

I secured mine from the dealer near the close of PhotoPlusExpo. The price was a no brainer because he did not want to load it up at the end of the show. BTW it was boxed and unused and not the demo model.

Cal

 

[hlockwood]

Rotatrim trimmer - the kind with two support rails. Industry standard for print trimming.

I second this, without reservation.

HFL

 

[______]

The Rotatrim cuts paper fine. However, I tried to cut down my 8.5x11 Pictorico transparency film to 8x10 and made a mess of it. I had to resort to a straight edge and exacto knife.

 

[Calzone]

The Rotatrim cuts paper fine. However, I tried to cut down my 8.5x11 Pictorico transparency film to 8x10 and made a mess of it. I had to resort to a straight edge and exacto knife.

F,

Good to know for digital negatives.

Cal

 

[Rob-F]

F,

Good to know for digital negatives.

Cal

Say, WHAT? Digital negatives? With a print trimmer?

 

[Pablito]

Rotatrim trimmer - the kind with two support rails. Industry standard for print trimming.

End of story.

 

[Rob-F]

Looks like the Rotatrim and the Saunders M3 are very similar. And it looks like Rotatrim is made by Saunders. Is there any important difference?

 

[tonal1]

Rotatrim...

...is the only one I would buy.

 

[Pablito]

Looks like the Rotatrim and the Saunders M3 are very similar. And it looks like Rotatrim is made by Saunders. Is there any important difference?

I bought Saunders an returned it. Rotatrim is much better built. I now have three Rotatrim, small, medium and huge.

The Saunders have a cheap metal base that warps, bends does not lie flat. the Rotatrim is a heavy very stiff composite base. Far better and more stable.

 

[Rob-F]

OK that does it. Rotatrim it is. Thanks, all!

 

[aizan]

c&h mat cutters are great, too.

 

[Desmocrat]

I have a Dahle 552 mounted on the wall next to my enlarger so that I can quickly cut, say, 8x10 into (2) 5x8s, (4) 4x5s or into (4) 10" long test strips. It works just fine for my needs.

 

[LarsAC]

I have a Dahle 552 mounted on the wall next to my enlarger so that I can quickly cut, say, 8x10 into (2) 5x8s, (4) 4x5s or into (4) 10" long test strips. It works just fine for my needs.

How did you mount it to the wall ? Can you share a photo ? I looked up the Dahle website, but there does not seem to be a mount accessory. Thanks in advance!

I have a Dahle 554 and I am satisfied as well.

Lars