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The Best Cutters I can find. (XiKar Xi2 01/28/11)
BlueRings
Posts: 367
Hello all,
This post will begin my exploration into cutters and which ones make the grade and which ones dont. I purchased three of the most popular cutters from Cuban Crafters and Xikar. I searched for the best prices. Cuban Crafters under $20 and Xikar under $35
I purchased the following:
Cuban Crafters Double Blade 24 Perfecto (On the left)
Cuban Crafters 3 Blade Scissors (Center)
Xikar Xi2 Granite Cutter (Right)
All have a lifetime guarantee if they ever go dull or you have any problems with them. I have read on several sites each of the manufacturers are reputable and stand behind their product which was reassuring. I will be reviewing each over the next few weeks and giving an unbiased opinion on each.
I will begin with the Cuban Crafters Double Blade 24 Perfecto this week. I will post my results to this post.
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I purchased the following:
Cuban Crafters Double Blade 24 Perfecto (On the left)
Cuban Crafters 3 Blade Scissors (Center)
Xikar Xi2 Granite Cutter (Right)
All have a lifetime guarantee if they ever go dull or you have any problems with them. I have read on several sites each of the manufacturers are reputable and stand behind their product which was reassuring. I will be reviewing each over the next few weeks and giving an unbiased opinion on each.
I will begin with the Cuban Crafters Double Blade 24 Perfecto this week. I will post my results to this post.
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Comments
I just picked up a Palio from Ccom, I love it!
I have the MOW cutter from Ccom and i don't really like it.
I will wait for a final review and go on you recommendation, don't screw it up.
FYI - The Palio is double bladed, the design team was very clever.
If there are better products out there, somebody's gonna have to prove it to me. Good luck with the reviews bro, cant wait to read em!
Starting with the Cuban Crafters Perfecto 24.
Price: $ 14.99 USD
Material: Stainless steel
Fit: Not a lot of play seems to close up tightly with an almost scissor like quality. However it does not lock into place.
Follow though: It is sharp enough to cut a 54 ring gauge cigar with some effort. I would not go any further. I do not feel as engaged as I do with the Xikar Xi2 which locks into place on the follow through. I dont get the closed/locked feeling like I get with the Xi2. This is however the better of guillotines I have used to date. If you are an assertive cutter you can achieve a clean sharp cut and the backplate keeps the cut out of your lap, just open the cutter and dispose when ready. This is awesome when your are driving as to keep the process quick and clean.
Finish: The stainless is nice; however the finish on the body of the cutter is sharp. The finish is clean but far from perfect. The edges are sharp and can cut your hand. I feel like I am juggling a multiple bladed knife with no stock, ouch. A bit slippery too, so no John Wayne draws out of your pockets or you wont be able to count to ten.
Weight: Pretty hefty, much heavier than it looks, extended it fully open, it is as long as an iphone 4 and almost as thick. It is half as wide as the phone and half the weight. You can feel it in your pocket. Its like carrying a small rock.
Size: Index finger to thumb feels right, although if you have larger than a 12 in ring size or you have wide fingers I would not recommend. I have a size 12 index finger and can slide the opening to the second knuckle comfortably. I can slide it to my first knuckle on my thumb but no further. Perfect for my hand size, but no cave man clubs can use this cutter.
Cut style: Straight clean cut, Cutter has a back stop which is fool proof. Just place the cigar in the cutter and follow though surely and swiftly in one cut. The cigar will line up with the back stop. This is the same with torpedoes where the tip is accommodated in a small hole in the back. On a triple cap I tend to cut down to the second cap. I tend to stay at or before the second line so the cigar does not unravel. It was an acceptable depth and will vary with the cap size, and thickness. The smaller the cigar the deeper the cut will seem. It is 1/8 of an inch deep. If the head of the cigar is flat it will cut higher on the collar. If the head of the cigar is cone shape it will cut less. All of the magic for me at least is staying between the first two lines.
Warrantee: Although I have not tested this, the box has a business card that states they will replace in a week (Lifetime Guarantee).
Final thoughts: This is a rock solid cutter with an iron clad guarantee. It is not perfect by any means and is not one size fits all, but it will guide you to make a better cut and not go too far. This is a great tool for the beginner and aficionado alike. All this plus a good price and you have a recipe for a great cutter, not perfecto as the name implies.
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Following this review will be the Xikar Xi2
Price $35.99 USD
Material: Stainless steel with injected plastic housing
Fit: Very close tolerances, opening springs open the cut like a switchblade and close like a switchblade. It closes to a lock on the follow though which assures me that I have completed the cut with no second guessing. Cuts effectively up to 54 ring gauge, I would not exceed that size.
Finish: clean edges, very nice cutter no quality issues on the finish. The edge is touch cut sharp. Do not attempt to test this as you will draw blood.
Weight: The plastic housing is high quality injection style housing which is light weight. This is the lightest of the cutters that I have and I do not notice it in the pocket.
Size: Small and compact as tall and wide as a pack of cigarettes and very thin ¼ thick.
Cut Style: Scissor style guillotine. A little awkward in the hands but easily getting use to it, user should grab the center of the cutter with the thumb on the release and middle finger on the backside. Then using the index finger to hold the apex and release with the thumb. None of your fingers should be in the way of the opening action of the blade or it will cause it not to open all the way. When ready to cut drop it down into the cup of your thumb and index finger. Your thumb and index fingers should be on either side of the opened body. Apply constant pressure and follow through until the blades click back into place. It should be a quick action for a clean cut.
Warrantee: Lifetime on sharpening or replacing (I will be testing this, more on final thoughts)
Final thoughts: I really like this cutter although I do not love it. I attempted to cut some rolled up paper to test and it actually damaged the blade. Yes, paper damaged the blade, enclosed is the photo of the edge of the blade. Never would I have thought that paper would damage the blade to such degree. Lucky for me it did not affect the cutting process on any of the cigars I tested. I will be testing the Warrantee out on this one and see how easy or difficult this manufacture is in sharpening or replacing the blades. I would consider this a pocket carrier when heading down to the B&M, golf game, or any other event you want to smoke a cigar at due to the size and weight.
This is no way intended to say that this is a poor product. It was my fault for using it in a different manner than intended. I was looking to test the cut on a piece of paper instead of a $4-5 cigar that I was not going to smoke at the time. I find I can learn things are possible after I research it. The internet is a beautiful thing. I want to discourage others not to use a piece of paper or post-a-note in order to test the cutting ability of this cutter.
I've had one like this for almost a decade, and it's by far the best cutter I've ever used. I was never good at getting an even cut with a regular cutter, but I get it done perfectly every time with this, and it's still extremely sharp. The knife comes in handy too, so it's not just used for cigars.