Paper cutter questions

To set the stage for my questions: I recently got a C&P 19 1/2” bench model paper cutter. There are 3 blades with it but only one has enough metal left to reach down to the cutting stick, and that one is dull. As well as getting the dull blade sharpened, I want to get one new blade.

According to the C&P serial number list, my cutter should take a 7/16 thick blade, but all my blades are 3/8 thick (which is what the later 19 1/2” cutters take), so I am assuming that my cutter was modified to take 3/8 blades at some point.

Question 1: The online blade suppliers list a blade style 1927A for this size cutter, but my cutter has 1917A cast into the handle. I am guessing that 1917A is for the 7 /16 blade and 1927A is for the 3/8 blade. Can anyone confirm this or shed further light on the difference between the 1917A and 1927A blade styles?

Question 2: I am located an hour west of Toronto, Canada. For people in that area, where do you buy your blades and get your blades sharpened?

Thanks, Geoff

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Hi Geoff,

I hope all is well. Congratulations on the new cutter. As luck would have it, I am asking myself similar questions (well, with respect to the source for new blades and blade sharpening). I just purchased a Donald Homs Model 15 (any information on this one anyone? Nice little cutter…solid castings, Japanese blade) and a 26.5” C&P Craftsmen guillotine.

I’ve taken the smaller blade to Sonny’s Sharpening in Waterloo (Weber and King area). I’m expecting to get it back this week and will let you know if I’m satisfied. The price seemed reasonable (~16” blade for $16). Not sure what they’ll charge if/when I get the larger 30” blade sharpened.

I’m also interested to hear about recommendations for Canadian suppliers of new cutting sticks. I’ve found one (Innovation out of Quebec) which explicitly lists the C&P sticks.

Thanks,
Matthew

Hi Matthew,

That is quite a coincidence because before I got the C&P cutter, I got a used Douglas Homs Model 11 (in fact I got two Model 11s, and made one good one out of the best of the parts). I got both blades sharpened, but both of the blades were worn to the point that they were too short to reach the cutting stick, so I could only cut with extra paper or masonite underneath the paper to be cut.

My model 11 is a little small, even for me and my occasional use. I imagine your model 15 is larger.

Regards, Geoff

Modern blade makers don’t seem to have any information about older cutters, and your blade will probably be custom rather than out of stock.
The replacement blade I got for a Challenge 265 (and you’d think that was common enough) required a full-size drawing of the blade and its holes in order to get it right. And that did get me a perfect blade (unlike the blade off eBay which had an incompatible hole arrangement).
My older blade is too short to reach the adjusting screws, but I took two pieces of 10x2 metal furniture, ground a recess into them for the screw, and fit them between blade and screw. It isn’t easy to position and adjust, but it works.

That’s good to know, Parallel_imp, thanks. Making a drawing certainly sounds like the best way to avoid getting an unusable blade. As far as putting some metal furniture (or maybe bar stock since I don’t have any metal furniture) above the blade, I’ll have to look into that as well.

Regards, Geoff

Hi Geoff,

I’m curious about your Model 11 — what is the cutting size? The Model 15 (oddly enough, a $15 barn find) has a maximum size of about 15” (maybe the reason for the model number?).

I’ve got a backup blade for my C&P cutter which appears to be custom made (and too long…but better too long than too short). If you find a place local to SW Ontario that can manufacture blades, please send me an email.

Thanks and good luck,
Matthew

For a shallow blade, another fix was to braze a bar to the back. This kind of repair was once common, but not part of current practice. I had a blade for my first cutter, a 23” C&P, that not only had a back addition but also old holes plugged and new holes that overlapped. Nobody working with cutters will put in that kind of work today.