Thanks, MB. That sounds cheap enough. But with the size I am getting I would need to have two cuts. Wonder if it really goes up in price for oddball sizes? Guess its worth checking out tom...Monday.
Thanks.
OD

After 18 pages, I quit, got to thinking how long I was going to be sitting here fiddling with my Fiskar cutter and am thinking now of taking them to Office Depot. 160 pages worth it?

My solution was halfway in between. Yeah, the Fiskar cutter is a PITA for lots of cutting, especially since it doesn't have a paper stop so you have to carefully align each page before slicing. So I went to Staples and purchased a new paper cutter, the type with the big swing arm that looks like it'll take your fingers right off. The one I got is made by X-Acto, and it's all plastic with stainless steel cutting edges. It claims it'll cut ten sheets at once, and it will. Best of all, it has a paper stop; you just set it for the width pages you want, and from then on it's just zip, zip, zip, you go right through a whole pile in a minute. It was more expensive than the Fiskar, about $25 IIRC.

I did have one complaint about the X-Acto: The spring that's supposed to hold the arm up while you're positioning paper was too weak, it'd drop a few degrees when you let go of it -- just enough to keep you from positioning the paper properly without lifting it back up. I was able to fix that problem, though, by removing the arm from the base (requires a wrench) and relocating the spring to the next notch over and reassembling. Worked fine.

The biggest downside to the big cutter: It's big, takes up a lot of storage space. SWMBO makes me keep it in the garage.

With alot of paper it can be worth it to have someone else do it. Cookie Cutter and I have started using our local printer to cut paper for us when we have alot to do. I had an entire ream of paper cut into LTC size for $12.00. She's had paper cut for logbooks for about the same.

I've never checked with a chain type store before for prices. You might check local small business also - see if they are any cheaper.

Best of luck!

Thanks, Kirbert. And I suppose you sharpen your own blade? ha ha. So, can you get blades for those easily? Or have you come to that point yet? What you are describing reminds me of school days, the cutters the teachers had for use. Those things were enormous and scary looking. Scary thought that the handle slips down without your knowledge until its too late. Good to know there is a remedy. I need to go to an office supply place anyway, may check that out. Why I need to, at the moment now, I can't remember. hmmm...oh! Elmer's has this glue called Extra Strength Glue stick, want to see if I can find some more. That stuff works great!
Thanks,
OD

Do it yourself? Pages. People who make logbooks by the dozens, do you usually opt to have the pages cut at Office Depot or similar. Or do you tediously cut them all yourself?

I've always considered cutting the paper to be part of the hand-making process. Tedious as it may be at times, especially when making a batch of books, I actually enjoy it as part of the creative whole. I suppose one could back up a step and say, well then shouldn't I make my own paper? Then question then becomes -- how much of the "making" does a person need to do to consider it handmade? If you buy a little journal and slap some pictures or stickers on the cover, is it now handmade? I guess everyone draws the line in a place that works for them and their purpose.

SpringChick

Hmm, GLB, you just got me to thinking. I have a new acquaintance that works at a printing place, big outfit, books, and stuff. He is my neighbor's brother. Just found this out, recently. I may ask him if they do small orders, or hint if he would do it for me. ha ha. I suppose it won't hurt to ask. Probably get shot down, but what the heck. Maybe I will ask his brother first. ;-) That way he can ask him for me. Or not.

Just remembered the big reason I need to go to the office supply place. I spilled pop on my mouse the other day, this thing is driving me crazy now, it is sticking. Duh. Can't copy, can't pick a letter to erase, it flips two pages instead of one when looking at Google. ackkkkkkkkkk! Need a new mouse. Bet I can't find one like this any more. It has a pretty red light that lights up on the bottom. ;-) Another night light for my bedroom. Along with the DSL light that keeps flashing, even when the computer is off, suspiciously, might add, and the power button on my power strip, and the light on the printer. All kinds of night lights. T Hee.

Thanks Gypsy for your suggestion. It may come to that. Will check office Depot prices on all the previous suggestions as well.
Rambling OD

Then question then becomes -- how much of the "making" does a person need to do to consider it handmade?

Your right, SC
Do you then only bind your own books by hand stitching them? Is the BIA not considered hand made, by your standards?

It is a matter of choice. Along the same lines of stamps, handmade, purchased, custom. shrug. All a matter of choice. Are those on the trail going to snub their collective noses at a logbook that is made with a BIA? Need to draw a picture of that one. ha. A collection of noses, turned up......light bulb moment for stinky. That's a no, tho, I won't be carving that

I've thought about making my own paper.....too much trouble. Want it over and done with quickly. That's a laugh in itself. I never do things quickly. Especially when it comes to placing out boxes. I'm going to give it a shot, tho. I'm on my way.....

I spilled pop on my mouse

I thought only PA people said "pop?" maybe only NJ people call it soda?????? LOL

Do you then only bind your own books by hand stitching them?

I do hand stitch the binding on the majority of my books -- mostly double needle coptic, but not because that is the only way they qualify as handmade, rather because I enjoy the entire creative process of bookmaking.

Is the BIA not considered hand made, by your standards?

I think anything that a person puts effort into creating qualifies as hand made.

Are those on the trail going to snub their collective noses at a logbook that is made with a BIA?

Wouldn't matter to me if they did. I don't make my boxes, its contents, or my clues based on what I think other people will approve of, rather what is an enjoyable experience for me. Hopefully there are enough letterboxers out there that also enjoy the finished product.

I've thought about making my own paper

I too have thought about it, especially as I love handmade fiber papers and often have a hard time finding them locally (need to order them online and I never seem to think far enough ahead). But thus far I have resisted the temptation to take on yet another artsy endeavor.

SpringChick

So I went to Staples and purchased a new paper cutter, the type with the big swing arm that looks like it'll take your fingers right off.

I did the exact same thing. I was cutting everything myself with my rinky dink Fiskars cutter. I really did get my money's worth out of that thing. But was just as Kirbert said, complete PITA. Then I got an Xacto cutter as a gift. Although it was better than the Fiskars, it just wasn't good for getting the exact same size every time and didn't cut many pages at one time either even though it came with magnets to hole the paper in place. So I went and bought a big heavy duty Guillotine cutter at Staples (had to order it) and I've had no complaints ever since.

Its pop in Neb and soda in Fl. I am currently on a mission to switch Neb to soda. Not going so well I might add.

How many pages can you cut at one time, Missy? With the Guillotine cutter. That's the type the schools had, what I thought Kirbert was using.

I hand cut all my paper and I don't use a BIA. So I'm also hand punching holes and tying or stitching.

I don't make a ton of LTC's and logbooks, though. Perhaps I'd make more if I didn't do it that way.

And perhaps if I had the money for a quality cutter and a BIA I'd get one. After all, it's not like you can really tell who cut the paper. It looks identical either way.

I Use a guillotine cutter myself. I am happy to cut pages as I need them--that is just the way I work best. But I am a dabbler compared to some of you!

My only complaint is that my paper guide disappeared. I am thinking it might be time to either try and buy a replacement guide or spend the $25 on a new cutter.

Thanks, Kirbert. And I suppose you sharpen your own blade? ha ha.

No ha ha about it, of course I do.

So, can you get blades for those easily?

I suspect we'll all be dead and in the ground before you need one. The blades on the Fiskar get dull in just a few uses, since they are a microscopic little thing and the paper hits the exact same spot for the full length of the cut. With the swingarm type, though, the blades are 12" long and work like a big pair of scissors. They can be sharpened, and fairly easily at that, by removing a few screws and taking the blades off and redressing the edges. Gonna be a long time before it's needed, though, unless you go cutting steel wool or something.

What you are describing reminds me of school days, the cutters the teachers had for use. Those things were enormous and scary looking.

Same thing, except plastic instead of wood base. And I bought one of the smaller ones, only 12". You can pay more and get bigger, and the bigger ones will cut more pages with each slice.

They look like a guillotine for fingers, that's a fact. There's a little plastic railing on this X-Acto that's evidently intended to keep your fingers out of it, but I just pulled that thing off, it was in the way when trimming small images.

Scary thought that the handle slips down without your knowledge until its too late.

''\
Nuthin' scary about that. It just kinda creeps down just a couple of degrees, you'd hardly notice -- unless you're trying to line paper up. The blades start to mesh right up there where you're lining up the paper, so it grabs the paper and won't let you move it. You must take one hand off the paper and raise the arm back to full height to finish positioning the paper, which is a PITA.

Another fix, BTW, would be to add a counterweight so the spring didn't have to lift so much. I considered doing that, but then found that relocating the spring was easy.

I think anything that a person puts effort into creating qualifies as hand made.

"Hand made" is not as important to me as "unique".

With the Guillotine cutter. That's the type the schools had, what I thought Kirbert was using.

It is the type I'm using. I believe X-Acto also makes a sliding cutter, though, and perhaps a rolling cutter as well. To me, the big advantages of the sliding cutters is they don't take up much room in a kitchen drawer.

My guillotine cutter doesn't have any magnets. Dunno why not, I think they'd work as well here as on a sliding cutter. It is very helpful to use a wooden ruler when slicing paper to hold the paper flat so it doesn't start to squirm while you're cutting, especially if it's longer than your hand.

I cut everything here myself, and I have been making tons of books-both for personal use, for gifts, and to sell. Right now I'm stocking up inventory because I'm about to send things to a 2nd shop and I'm prepping for a craft show in November. For covers I use a utility knife and a metal ruler and for pages I use a guillotine style paper cutter. Well, except for pages for larger books that won't fit in the cutter. Then I have to cut a few at a time with the knife and ruler. Definitely a pain, but I think it's worth doing it myself.
songwriter

How many pages can you cut at one time, Missy?

I believe 15 regular everyday sheets of paper, but I've cut up to 6 sheets of card stock at one time just to keep the cuts clean.

In the south it's Coke no matter what brand

" you want a coke? "
"sure"
"what kind ya want? we got Coke, Diet Coke, Dr Pepper, Sprite....."

You get the picture.

GG

Now that I own and love a Zutter BIA, I wonder about the Zutter dreamcutter. I like that it's not electric. Has anybody tried it?

In the south it's Coke no matter what brand

What south are you talking about. I live in the south, I call North Carolina home and in my neck of the woods we mostly call Pop a Drink.

Would you like a cold Drink? I got Pepsi and Mt. Dew. I'm going to the store to get a drink, you want me to bring you back a Diet Pepsi?

southern midwest i guess

After reading all the posts, I've concluded that I'm lucky. When I retired from teaching, my principal gave me my brand new paper cutter that I had just purchased for my room. It's
24" X 24" and will cut a finger off in an instant. Between that and the other 5 smaller ones that I have from scrapbooking... I'm okay. I didn't even know that you could take paper somewhere to have it cut... Learn something everyday! Thanks for sharing

I take in stacks of cardstock to Kinkos. They'll cut stuff for you at $1.50 a cut, and up to like 3 inches thick of paper/cardstock.

GJ

That's probably a good deal. I haven't got it done yet, ha. I did put together the one logbook that I had cut manually the pages for it, though.

Another thing I found out, the little cards the wires come on for the BIA can make up little bitty logbooks too. Saves some of the waste from cutting those pages, too.

Thanks, GJ for the info. Will have to check that out, too. 'Round to it, seems to be the motto around here. snaggle tooth grin
OD

You can get a LOT of pages cut with 3 inches thick of cardstock or paper. :)

I usually have mine cut into double the size of the logbook pages I want, and then fold them in half. I sew mine together, so that's why I do it like that. I think if you're using a BIA, you may want to just have them cut to size.

And the $1.50 a cut is by cutting length-- so if you want your paper cut into fourths, it's just the 2 cuts for payment purposes (even though they're really making 3 separate cuts).

GJ

Wow! Three inches is a lot of cardstock! I must look into this.....

MW

We have this cutter at work, good luck locating a replacement blade if that one ever gets dull (it says it self sharpens, HA!)

We have this cutter at work, good luck locating a replacement blade if that one ever gets dull (it says it self sharpens, HA!)

It won't self-sharpen any more than a pair of scissors will -- it cuts the same way. However, I expect it would last a good long time before it gets dull -- thousands of times longer than those sliding cutters. And I suspect I could sharpen the blade if I decided it needed it.

There are all those shape punches that are made and lots of little scissors with all sorts of intricate designs. You can't use any sharpener for those.

What we were told to do was to cut (or punch) aluminum foil a bunch of times when they got dull. That sharpened them up after cutting all that paper.

I would suggest cutting foil in your cutter to sharpen the blade if it starts to get dull.

KuKu