Product Review: Making Memories Precision Paper Trimmer

The product under review today is the "Precision Paper Trimmer, 12x12" by Making Memories. It is a rotary cutter and claims to be self sharpening.

I go through paper trimmers like some people go through...well, I can't think of anything. Point: I wear out paper trimmers!

I bought this at Michaels using my 40% off coupon. The original price was $49.99 USD.

I actually had the opportunity to try out two of these. The first one I bought had been used and paper was jammed up inside the entire length of the track where the blade runs, hindering the movement of the rotary blade. I returned it and got a new one.

The new one started acting up almost immediately. It made a few good cuts (I cut about 8 pieces of paper).

The next time I used it, the trimmer mangled my 80# text paper so, thinking perhaps the paper was too thin for it (which is silly because 80# paper is about 3 times the weight of regular office paper) I tried cutting two sheets at a time. It mangled both sheets.

I tried cutting card stock. It got grease on my paper and also mangled the card stock. It seemed as if the blade was dull. The paper started getting caught in the track...just like the one I returned. Hmmm, perhaps that's why the previous customer returned it!

The only thing I liked about this trimmer is the magnetic ruler that comes with it. The ruler is extremely stable and stays where you put it. A few times I didn't think I was going to get the ruler off!

My rating of this product is a huge thumbs down! I wouldn't buy this product at any price because it did not cut paper in an acceptable manner for me.

Broken Tools

I am not a happy artist today. In the middle of a project this Martha Stewart punch broke while attempting to punch through cardstock. I say attempting because it was doing more chewing than punching. You can see from the photo it's actually a metal piece that has broken.

This is the second Martha Stewart punch I've had that has broken. I also bought her Japanese drill punch and promptly took it back after using it once. I'm not impressed with the quality of her tools. I have no complaints about her bonefolder, but that's just a piece of plastic with no moving parts.

Needless to say, I will NOT be purchasing any more of her tools!

**UPDATE**
I contacted EK Success, the manufacturer of the Martha Stewart punches. EK Success (aka Wilton Industries) is standing behind their product and I am pleased to report they have offered to replace the broken punch since Michaels refused to accept it when I tried to return the punch.

It had been 2 weeks past Michaels 60 day return policy--though their receipt states they will give store credits after 60 days, Michaels did not honor that. I don't like Michaels either, but there is no other craft store in my market so I guess Michaels thinks they have the right to make up their own rules as they please.