A rotary cutter looks like a small power tool, but the idea is simple: a round blade that turns as it moves along the line. Ours is cordless, so there is nothing to plug in while you work.
How it cuts
You rest the flat metal foot on the surface and guide the cutter along your line. The round blade turns as it goes, a half-moon guard covers the top of it, and the black grip is shaped to sit in one hand.
Where it helps
It is at its best on cardboard: slitting the tape on a parcel, cutting a big box down to size, trimming a straight edge along a pencil line. Those are the jobs where scissors make you squeeze through the whole cut, and where a knife has you worrying about how deep the blade goes.
Using it, in four steps
- Charge it over USB. The cable is in the box.
- Mark your line with a pencil, against a ruler or a fold.
- Rest the foot plate flat on the board.
- Guide the cutter along the line and let the blade turn.
What it isn't for
It is made for cardboard and similar material. It isn't for metal, wood or thick plastic.
Looking after it
The blade is sharp. Keep it away from children, cut away from your body, and switch it off before you touch the blade. Swap the blade when it starts to snag. A single replacement blade is sold separately.
You can find it here: Cordless Rotary Scissors for Boxes & Cardboard.