CMCs Any tips on using the 12" straight trimmer?

[caseylouandtyler2]

I got the 12" straight trimmer today. I'm having difficulty cutting a straight line. Any tips? I'm guessing its user error.

Also, does anyone have any ideas on making those grid lines visible? Is there something I can put in the grooves to make them pop out?

TIA,

 

[Lisa]

Hi Caseylouandtyler2! I see you are from CT, dblwright, a fellow scrapper, and I are too.

I have the CM 12" trimmer and love it. Very easy to use to make frames with and to cut with in general. I haven't had a problem with making straight lines, but I do hold down the cutting arm with my left hand while moving the cutting blade with my right. The cutting arm has gripping material under it designed to keep the paper in place. I also use the top and bottom edge to line up the paper before I cut.

I do have to warn be careful of that cutting blade though, I did press it down on my finger, hurt like the dickens.

Not sure if there is a way to make the measurement grid stand out more.

Good luck with your trimmer.

 

[Limmer]

There is a scrapper at my LSS who used a white out pen on her Fiskars cutter because she said she could not see them to line it up. I have never seen the CM one so I don't know if that would work but it is an idea. She used the pen NOT a bottle because she said the brush was too thick and the lines would not be straight.

 

[wtpclc]

I haven't had any problems with teh 12" trimmer, but I do hold down the arm while cutting. I would try using teh Precious Elements pens in the grooves to help them show up better if you are having troubles seeing them. (I don't think regular pens would show up.)

Here are the basic instructions:

For best results, the 12-inch Straight Trimmer should be positioned lengthwise directly in front of the user (the retractable ruler should open toward you, and the Creative Memories logo should be located on your right-hand side). This position provides the best control and the most consistent cutting pressure.


Apply just enough pressure on the blade cartridge to pierce the paper, then use a slow motion to make your cut. Avoid sliding the blade cartridge too far to the right or it may slip past the locking bumps and release from the translucent cutting arm.


I'll take a closer look at mine and see it there are any other tips I can come up with.

 

[WDWMom]

I have a Fiskers trimmer and forgot it at home when I went to a CM crop on Friday. The CMC let me use hers and I hated it. JMO. I'll never forget my trimmer again.

 

[scrapperjill]

How funny...I was just going to post a comment and question on the new CM 12" cutter. I'm not liking it to well. It's not that I cant' get a straight cut...the cuts are straight...just at an angle ...I think their positon of the blade is bad....it has to much side to side play....The way they have the blade itself with the two nubs...to stick in the "gutter" ....like their other cutting systems...if your not careful...and give it even pressure....the blade can tilt....causing a angled cut. And....with the placment of the blade...it really sticks out...making it REAL easy to cut your finger (I'm speaking from experience...I've cut my fingers on the blades more times than I can count...) AND...the blade keeps poping out of the track altogether. So in all I'm not to impressed with the new trimmer. And now they announced the "new" swoop/swell 12" trimmer.

 

[Allabtprincesses]

bump!

 

[caseylouandtyler2]

Thanks for all the tips.

Scrapperjill, That's exactly what I mean. It's straight just at an angle. So not straight. Also I'm getting a little lip at the beginning of the cut.

Wtpclc, Thanks. That's how I'm using it. Maybe I just can't see the grid well enough to line it up properly. I don't have the precious element pens. I wonder if paint pens would work.

Lisa, Hi fellow CT scrapper.

I'm going to add more light to my scrap area hopefully that will help. And keep practicing.

 

[cobbler]

Me personally I love the straight trimmer. I could NEVER get a straight cut with that 12" pattern. It always moved around and I had one end narrow and the other wide.

I like it because I can actually get a straight line now.

 

[scrapperjill]

It's not that I don't like the CM 12" straight cutter...I just think they need to do some work on it to fix a few things.. IMO the blade is to wobbly...and has too much room to sway from side to side. Not to mention the location of the blade...makes it stick out and a hazzard if your cutting and moving quickly. I'm just saying they have a little work to make it cut as good as a regular fiskers 12" cutter....but that's JMO