When was the last time you thought about how important your paper cutter is? The process of cutting paper is not considered a ‘profit center’, but it will definitely affect your bottom-line if a mistake is made at this stage. Proper maintenance is a vital requirement in its overall performance and longevity. If your paper cutter has a dull blade or worn cutting stick, it can lead to inaccurate cuts and rejected work. It is essential to change and replace the cutting sticks and cutting knives when necessary. This extends your cutter’s life by helping it run as efficiently and properly as possible.

When it comes to replacement cutting blades, we get a lot of questions on which style a customer should order. Here is a short explanation of the most popular styles CFS Binding Supplies offers:

INLAID CARBON STEEL blades are the most economical option. These are made by brazing a hardened steel alloy to a softer steel body. This type of knife is suitable for lower production cutting applications.

INLAID TUNGSTEN CARBIDE blades are a premium quality of paper knife that will improve blade life by as much as ten times over a carbon steel blade, while maintaining cut quality. These replacement blades are suitable for companies with high production cutting applications needing uniform quality cuts

INLAID HIGH-SPEED STEEL blades will improve blade life while maintaining a desired cut for a longer production time. Most popular paper cutter manufacturers supply this grade of paper knife with their machines. Inlaid high-speed steel also makes a perfect upgrade over Inlaid Carbon Steel when frequent blade changes (resulting in additional downtime) become too costly.

Most companies using paper cutters are overusing their cutting knives so for that reason it is recommended to use a blade quality that will hold a sharp edge for an extended time. It also is important to note that overusing a blade adds additional stress to the knife which may increase additional bow (both horizontally and vertically). Change or re-sharpen your blades frequently to avoid costly equipment repairs!

Every time you replace or re-sharpen your cutting blade, you should either rotate or replace your cutting stick. This, along with a properly-adjusted paper cutter, will get you clean, accurate cuts.

There are a variety of colors and material choices for cutting sticks, but the two most popular styles are our white and red. CFS Binding Supplies stocks these options for many popular paper cutters. If you don’t see your specific model, or you have a special request for material choice, we can help!