I broke my Fiskars paper trimmer...

knock on wood i have never had any problems with the different Fiskars paper trimmers i've owned. i just hated buying new blades for them. that was resolved with the i got the Procision with the self sharpening blade. it's a pretty sturdy trimmer that folds so that eliminated the need for a swing arm. the paper guide is probably the least sturdy element but i slide the paper through it instead of lifting the guide. once i got the Procision, i got rid of the other Fiskars trimmers. this is the keeper.

I get it, I balked at the price too, but it is such a high quality you won’t need to replace it like the fiskars!   

Can someone link the cm cutter? I want to get one as my fisker cutter isn’t cutting straight and I want to make sure I get the right one!

I have one and agree it’s well made, and it has some unique features that I love—especially the little movable pointers (triangle shaped) that show exactly where the blade is going to cut. It’s genius for being able to slide them onto the paper/cardstock and adjust the paper depending on what you want to keep or leave.

I also like that there are ruler marks to the right of the blade, which isn’t often the case for rotary trimmers. 

But for card makers—are you a one too?—it’s a pain in the petunia sometimes because 5.5” is smack dab in the opening where the arm folds out. IOW there’s no 5.5” mark, and for A2 cards in the U.S., 5.5 is a standard cut. I don’t just make A2 cards, but many are. I’ve tried marking where the 5.5 should be but it’s not ideal.

I also have to press down fairly hard to cut. That may not be an issue for most people but even before I broke my arm, it was a little bothersome.

Mostly I use a Carl cutter that can cut a lot of cardstock at once, but use a couple other trimmers sometimes. So mostly I’ve used the CM for cutting small pieces off of already small pieces. 

I still like my Fiskars too, but the Carl is the workhorse. And it’s bigger and bulkier, which isn’t what you’re looking for. 

I just purchased a "Bira Craft paper trimmer from Amazon for around $23.00. It has a score blade (and a cutting blade) that appears to be far enough out of the way to cut the full 12". This is an addition to the warranty claim on a different Fiskars trimmer. I haven't had a poor luck as you but they have replaced trimmers for me, under the warranty, twice. It isn't fast - but it is convenient to be able to make the claim on line.

Is it self sharpening for the blades or do you need to replace them?

You do. The trimmer does have storage underneath for extra parts though which is really nice. They don't have to be replaced all that often I don't think. I just make sure I order a bunch at the same time to save on shipping

I have heard that Fiskars stands behind their products so it might be worth contacting them.

I could never deal with a trimmer that doesn’t have markings in the 5.5” area (as a cardmaker) and I don’t think I could go back to something with blades that need replacing. I use a Tonic 6x12” guillotine.

I use the CM trimmer also. The little mat has to be replaced more than the blade in my experience. The 5.5 inch mark is no biggie because I know it’s right where the main platform stops and the arm extends. Now, the CM personal trimmer grinds my gears because it doesn’t measure out to 6 inches. Hellooo photos are 4x6, what’s that about?!?

I have this one, too! As well as a Tonic 12x12 guillotine and a 12x12 Fiskars bypass trimmer (also a guillotine), plus several smaller guillotine cutters. Can you tell which style I prefer?

I've tried numerous trimmers and had issues with all of them. Probably user error. ha


CutterPillar Pro - you need the hand strength to hold the cutting mechanism very firmly against the platform/blade. Sadly, I don't. The weight of the cutter, the light and the large platform size is great if you have the room. The measurement numbers are molded on the platform and hard to see. I used Testors Model paint and filled in the numbers. However, I have such a hard time getting a straight cut that I rarely use it.

Cricut 12" portable trimmer. The blades seem to dull so very quickly. I have to replace the blade frequently. Like the portable size of it.  Good for light weight paper.

Creative Memories 12" Trimmer. I've had this a few years and need to start using it more. It lives upstairs in an office we both use and needs a new blade. I use it mostly for cutting small pieces of card. I have discovered that aligning the card stock at the far left edge of the cutting platform is 5-1/2" on my trimmer.

Fiskars Precision Pro. I've owned this trimmer for almost 7 years. It's my workhorse trimmer. Love it. Except - during recent use, I'm having a lot of trouble beginning the push or pull of the blade. My DH spent a lot of time thoroughly cleaning the platform and blade, but it did not help at all. I don't have enough strength in my hand to pull the blade through a piece of cardstock anymore.

I'm trying to decide if I should buy another Procision Pro or move on to something else. I love the Procision Pro because it cuts straight and will cut through thick media, something none of the other trimmers I have will do. The Westcott and Dahle Rotary Trimmers seem to have good reviews. I'm also researching guillotine cutters, but I'm not a big fan of guillotine cutters in general.

One thing that may help that I learned from someone on Youtube is to "sink" your blade into the paper first. Like, in the middle of the paper you are trimming. Then run your blade up and then back down. Or, run it down and then back up. -Whichever you prefer. 
This should help with that "catch" on the edge of the paper. 

One thing I prefer with the CM trimmer is the variety of blades that you can get. I have the straight, scallop, deckle, score and perforating. They pop in and out easily and store on the underside of the trimmer. Win!