Knife Care Tips; Knife Blade Life - Challenge CHAMPION 305 Instructions And Parts Manual

8.0 Knife Installation/Changing
15. Tighten all the bolts and release the paper deflector.
16. Restore power to the machine and turn in ON. Send the knife to the "UP" position as
previously instructed.
17. Make a test cut through a full lift of stock. Make minor adjustments by loosening the bolts
and repeating steps 9 through 11.
NOTE: If the knife ends cut but the middle does not, you could have dips or uneven spots in either
the knife or the cutting stick. These can be eliminated to some extent by laying 1/2" (13mm) strips of
paper beneath the cutting stick to shim it up.

8.3 Knife Care Tips

very sharp, even after use. Keep the edge away from your body and keep the area clear of
others when handling knives. Never touch the cutting edge! To prevent personal injury and
damage to the knife, always keep knives in their holders with screws tightened. You are
aware of the dangers, but others may not be. Never attempt to hone, polish, or service the
knife in any way. Failure to follow safety procedures may result in severe lacerations or
dismemberment.

8.3.1 Knife Blade Life

Knife blade life, or the time between sharpenings, can be affected by many factors. One important
factor is the type of paper being cut. Abrasive paper, such as recycled paper, soft paper such as
newsprint paper, and bound books can all significantly shorten knife blade life. Also, if the knife depth
is set too deep, the knife will cut too deep into the cutting stick and can dull the knife blade.
A knife can last between 2,000 and 5,000 cuts before it needs to be sharpened. Cutting soft paper
(such as newsprint paper) or paper with high post-consumer recycled content can cause the knife to
need sharpening after only 2,000 to 3,000 cuts. Cutting pure paper, such as bond paper with no
recycled content, or hard paper can allow the knife to be used for as many as 5,000 cuts before it
needs to be sharpened. In all cases, the operator should continually check the quality of the cut to
determine when the knife blade needs to be sharpened. Some characteristics that indicate a blade
needs sharpening are:

The knife hesitates or stalls while making a cut.

The sheets are not all cut to the same length (usually the top few sheets are longer than the
rest of the sheets - this is sometimes called "draw").

Cut marks appear on the cut face of the paper.

The profile of the cut (side view) is not perpendicular to the table.

The cut does not appear straight when viewed from the top.

The knife makes a "rougher" sound as it passes through paper.

Nicks are visible on the cutting edge of the knife.
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! KNIFE SAFETY ! Knives are DANGEROUS!!! They are heavy and