Book Board Cutting Information
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Because of the consistency in board thickness and size, our board cutting charges are standardized and based primarily on the number of sheets required. We do all our board cutting on a large guillotine cutter and usually cut up to 10 sheets at one time. All dimensions must be rounded to 1/8". Example: Submitting measurements of 5 1/2" or 5 7/8" are acceptable. Submitting measurements of 5 1/16" or 5.2" are not acceptable.
Please note that although we attempt to be very accurate, because measurements are calibrated by using a hand operated dial, occasionally there may be a slight variance of 1/32” to a maximum of 1/16”. For this reason it is suggested that you do not use our board cutting service for making boxes or pieces that require a precise measurement.
A standard set-up charge of $10 applies to all board-cutting services. This fee is waived on all orders over $50. The minimum charge for board cutting services is $20.
Our board cutting is done on a large, electric guillotine cutter. The parent size of most of our board is 26" x 38" with grain running long. Note: We are in the process of changing over to heet sizes of 30" x 41" and will calculate accordingly as we make this change. For some cutting orders, we may use a board shear, which is operated by ahnd and only one sheet at a time is cut.
Our custom cutting quotes do not include shipping and cutting orders do not qualify for a shipping credit. However, if a custom cutting order includes additional merchandise totaling over $100, a shipping credit of $10 will be applied to the total order.
Cutting Services are generally not eligible for Expedited Shipping services. Please contact us if this is a requirement, however, to see if we can meet your needs.
Estimate Your Own Cutting Charges
Follow these steps to estimate your own cutting cost for cutting a single size of board.
1. Determine size of the piece you want us to cut and round up by 1/2” to the nearest 1/2" for each dimensions. For example 5 3/8" x 7" becomes 6" x 7 1/2". The extra 1/2" is allowed so that we can back-cut each piece on the guillotine, which assures each piece is square. Please Note: The measurement you submit to us should be the EXACT measurement you want us to cut. DO NOT use the rounded up measurement when you submit your measurements for a quote.
2. Determine the grain direction of the board to be cut. It will run either long or short. Most often the grain runs long. If you are doing a book that is vertical, the grain run should the same direction as the spine and is the longer direction. If the book is horizontal, such as a guest book or a landscape oriented photo album, the grain direction of the spine will run long, however, the cover boards will often run short. (In our example, we will say that the 7" length is grain long.)
3. The parent sheet of .087 Standard Book Board that we will cut your order from is 26" x 38" with grain running long or along the 38" length. (Davey Board is 31" x 41" Grain Long)
4. To calculate how many pieces can be obtained from a full sheet, divide the short direction (6") into the 26" width. This will equal 4. Next, divide the long direction (7 1/2") length into 38" length. This will equal 5. This means we can get 20 pieces out of a single sheet. (4 x 5) = 20.
5. Cutting small pieces and/or many different sizes may add to the cost of cutting.
6. Cutting set up charge of $10 is waived on all cutting orders over $50.
7. The following are the costs per sheet for various board thicknesses:
.059 Standard Board:
- $7 per sheet for up to the use of 10 parent sheets
- $6.50 per sheet for over 10 parent sheets
.087 Standard Bookboard:
- $8 per sheet for up to the use of 10 parent sheets
- $7.50 per sheet for over 10 parent sheets
.030 Conservation Board:
- $8 per sheet for up to the use of 10 parent sheets
- $7.50 per sheet for over 10 parent sheets
.080 Davey Board:
- $12 per sheet for up to the use of 10 parent sheets
- $11 per sheet for over 10 parent sheets
.098 Davey Board:
- $14 per sheet for up to the use of 10 parent sheets
- $13 per sheet for over 10 parent sheets
Note: After calculating the number of pieces we can get from the parent sheet, there is an additional charge of $10 (to the entire order) if the number of pieces is over 20, but less than 40. If the number is over 40 per sheet, there is an additional charge of $20 (to the entire order).