A paper cutter consists of the frame, the motorized part, and a blade which strikes a cutting stick. The stick is inserted into the table of the cutting machine, and is a length of non-abrasive plastic, soft metal, or wood. This helps the knife to cut the paper cleanly and precisely. This stick can be round or square, although it is usually square. It can have two, three or four sides and can be rotated as sides become worn down.

In many machines, the cutting stick can be rotated by power automatically, with the press of a button. Other machines can rotate by turning a handle, but some machines need to have rotation done by hand. To rotate or replace a worn stick by hand, one should follow the instructions that originally came with the cutting machine. Usually a worn stick is replaced by removing the stick retaining pieces on each side of the cutting machine frame and sliding the stick out of the frame. A replacement stick can be obtained from The Cutting Edge Grinding and Supply Company at www.nowthatssharp.com.

We carry Kanefusa cutting sticks that are designed to work with the Kanefusa knife blades. A Kanefusa cutting stick is made from thermoplastic compounds that match the knives. It is just as important to use a quality stick as it is to use a quality blade. The proper balance of hardness and elasticity in a good stick will cause it to be self-healing, which will prevent premature grooving that causes dust to get trapped. The proper choice of cutting sticks will improve cut quality, and help maximize the lifetime if the blade. Kanefusa plastic cutting surfaces are available for a wide range of paper cutting machines, including:

• CHALLENGE
• ITOH
• MARTIN-YALE
• DEXTER
• SCHNEIDER
• IMPERIAL
• SEYBOLD
• WOHLENBERG

as well as many others. These come in several grades for different applications, including:

• Standard
• Premium
• Original Red
• White Nylon
• Clear Choice

The Standard grade is polyethylene, the Premium is polypropylene while the Original Red is polyvinylchloride, or PVC. The Clear Choice is a blend of various polymers. Each grade is well suited for different applications. Contact us today to find out which grade is suitable for your needs. You can visit us online at www.nowthatssharp.com to see a full list of the products we carry.