how do you guys get your paper the right size?

Jay2009 · Post by **Jay2009** » December 28th, 2009, 5:35 pm

I like to use my Rotatrim rotary paper cutter. It's kind of expensive, but worth it.

insaneorigami · Post by **insaneorigami** » December 28th, 2009, 10:59 pm

A lot of money to spend to get a square of paper :/. If you have one of those thingies that they use for construction that is like a ruler, but it has a 90 degree angle in it, they work miracles. Draw along the verticle edge, while lining up the horizontal edge with the paper, and you have a perfect straight line to cut across and get a square

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CinCin · Post by **CinCin** » December 29th, 2009, 9:58 am

I'm a crafter as well as a folder. The most economical and compact for a casual folder would be a Fiskars portable trimmer: http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_12 ... immer.aspx

Around $20USD or even less if you hunt around. You don't have to get this brand, there's cheaper ones. If you want squares larger than 30 cm you can fold a larger paper into quarters and trim the larger ends. I managed to make sheets up to 60cm this way

Didée · Post by **Didée** » December 29th, 2009, 10:53 am

Most times I just use the waterbomb method: have a roughly square sheet. Fold waterbomb base, cut two corners with a tiny cut, flip the flaps over, then do one cut from corner to corner.

Quick, simple, and cheap. 5€ for a steel ruler, 1€ for a cutter knife, precision usually within ~0.25 mm (even for 75cm squares) -- priceless.
(For big squares, paper's self-deformation due to changing humidity often is much more than that.)

topsu · Post by **topsu** » December 29th, 2009, 9:18 pm

The method I've been using a lot is very very simple: I just fold a straight line, cut it, (with a knife or a pair of scissors) fold 90 degree angles on both sides using the straight edge, cut along those lines, and then just fold the diagonal and cut along the edge.
Good if you don't have a nice ruler/straight edge. the accuracy depends on the folding though, if I had some better stuff for cutting I'd use it.

sunfromhere · Post by **sunfromhere** » January 7th, 2010, 10:13 pm

I use a ruler and a triangle to draw a square, and then a scalpel to cut it.

However, being in the box origami, I find more and more diagrams that use rectangle paper.

Tymalous · Post by **Tymalous** » January 23rd, 2010, 8:13 pm

I just do a diagonal fold and cut alnog the edge=D

pandaraoke · Post by **pandaraoke** » January 25th, 2010, 12:31 pm

It depends on where I am.

If waiting for an appointment, I'll ask the front desk for a sheet or two of paper and fold a square out of it with a really sharp back and forth crease, then tear off the extra using a sharp edge of a table. A little barbaric but it works and keeps me from going stir crazy from waiting.

I started out using scissors and any straight edge I could find. Then went to the technique of waterbomb to get a square out of something that wasn't exact if I didn't have a ruler.

The guillotine is ok for one sheet maybe two at a time but I never really liked it. Fiskars is great brand. I take the small portable one with me in a pinch. It's little blades wear out WAY too quick though. They had me figured out. They must have seen me coming with my wallet open to charge what they do for the blade replacements.

The rotary blade is my favorite though. Especially for thicker mulberry type paper that would rip with other cutters. I was lucky and found one barely used at a garage sale for only ten dollars. I was SO happy because I couldn't normally afford to get one. It's lasted a really long time too.

I guess I use everything except an exacto. I get scared easily! lol