How to Cut Down Bad Paper Rolls

It just takes a few minutes to save the good paper on a damaged roll.

There are many kinds of rolled paper, such as craft paper, gift wrapping paper and plotter printer paper. Rolls make it easy to store and use the paper, but sometimes they get damaged when there is still plenty of usable paper left on them, which would be a shame to throw away. Fortunately, you can usually salvage a portion of the roll to make use of that good remaining paper.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Large, flat work surface
• Marker
• T-square or quilting ruler
• Cutting mat
• Rotary cutter

Instructions

1. Unroll the paper until you reach the point where the damage ends, leaving only good paper on the roll.

2. Cut the damaged paper off the roll and spread it out on a flat work surface.

3. Draw lines on the paper separating the damaged portions from the usable portions, using a T-square or quilting ruler.

4. Place a cutting mat under the paper, positioning it under the lines where you will cut.

5. Position the T-square or quilting ruler along the lines you will cut to help make them straight. Roll the rotary cutter over the lines to cut the paper.

Tips & Warnings

• If the damage affects all the paper, but only one section of it -- for example, half the width -- unroll all of it, make a straight cut between the good and bad sections, throw away the damaged paper and wrap the salvaged paper back around the roll.