When cutting large stacks of paper

Intended for use on copy and print shops,
school and professional art departments, and custom frame shops, the
Dahle 580 is a large format paper trimmer meant for heavy duty use and
high capacity projects. In the review that follows, we take a peek
under the hood of the Dahle 580, and give you a list of what we see as
its strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths:

1. If you've been in the business long enough, you've
   found that there are always going to be certain projects that just
   can't be completed using a standard size paper trimmer. That is where
   this machine comes in. The 580 has many strengths but chief among them
   is its sheer size and capacity. This is a commercial grade, 30 sheet
   capacity trimmer that is designed for working in large format
   applications.
2. The 580 has some really nice safety
   features. First off, there is the acrylic fan guard that keeps fingers
   and hands well away from the cutting blade at all times. Then, there is
   a locking system on the lever arm so you can make sure that the machine
   will not be used by anyone who is not authorized to do so.
3. 
   When cutting larger stacks of paper, it can often be difficult to avoid
   the dreaded fanning effect. The 580 has a nice, foot operated manual
   clamp that exerts even pressure across the entire surface of the stack
   so you can be sure that your top sheet has exactly the same dimensions
   as your bottom sheet.
4. The blade of the 580 lives
   up to the Dahle name, and is made of solid German Solingen steel.
   Rather than getting dull over time, the blade on the 580 is designed to
   sharpen itself with every cut. It's hard to see why this blade wouldn't
   give you years and years of faithful and accurate trimming if used and
   cared for properly.
5. A nice, big, comfortable
   workspace is key when you are dealing with larger format projects. To
   that end, the 580 comes with an extendable table to contain "cut off,"
   and that also features a spindle controlled backstop (another boon to
   your accuracy). The table that the 580 permanently sits on is made of
   heavy duty, components and is extremely sturdy.
6. As
   if that backstop, the paper clamp, and razor sharp blades weren't
   enough to ensure you an accurate cut, Dahle makes available an optional
   laser guiding system that places a clear red line across the cutting
   surface. This will help you ensure a straight cut every time.

Weaknesses:

1. When cutting large stacks of paper, you may want to place
   a piece of mat board or something similar between the paper clamp and
   the actual pages of your document, as sometimes the pressure that is
   exerted can leave marks on the top sheet.
2. This is
   a sizable machine and can take up a lot of room. You will want to make
   sure that you have plenty of space for it, and that you won't need to
   move it around a great deal.
3. This machine is a
   great choice for lower volume cutting applications. However, high
   volume print production facilities may want to consider a large format
   stack cutter or an electric paper cutter with a wider format blade.