Cutting of Box Bottoms
TheThrill22
Posts: 976 ✭✭✭
I have some box bottoms from hockey boxes and OPC baseball that I want to cut. Some I want to keep with all four cards intact, others I'd like to cut the individual cards out. First off, use a paper cutter or another method? Secondly, what about the dash lines? Cut on them, outside of them, or inside of them?
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I use a standard paper cutter with some success. I try to leave some room outside the dotted line. If you cut inside the line, PSA will not grade.
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss
I've been most successful with a very sharp razor blade and a metal straight edge. I tried one of the cheaper Xacto guillotine cutters and found that the cards would always end up bowed in the middle. Perhaps a high grade heavy duty cutter would work better but I don't have access to one. For the panels where you want all 4 cards split the dashed line and add to the outside edge if need be to make it full size. For the individual cards give it most if not all off the line what ever it takes to center the card as perfectly as possible.
Most important. Practice first. I like to add an extra piece of the card stock at the end of the cut to stop the corner from tearing out or bowing slightly.
Good Luck,
Kevin
Kevin
Thank you for the guidance fellas.
Tom
If using a guillotine put a piece of chipboard on both sides of the card before cutting this will eliminate any bending of the cards.
as LOTSOS mentioned, it is important to have something cuttable underneath your stock to prevent a rough cut, even if minor. In woodworking, it's called tear-out. Even with a paper cutter and cardstock, you should still put another layer of cardstock or similar under the material you are cutting. Also practice 1st as mentioned- you will find that not all paper cutters cut at a 90 degree angle even if it appears that they are set up to.
Leftofdial, thank you. I have my own woodworking business and your description, and that of Lotsos, put it in terms that this old blockhead can relate too, haha!