I use this to cut the edges off journals to give them straight edges... It works well for that purpose. The blade is square with the grid but not the back stop, but that's okay because the back stop is adjustable. The measurements on the grid are off by about 1/32 so I have to account for that when I set the paper alignment thing. The model I received is slightly different from the pictures, namely the plastic dinner guard and the knob to fasten the plastic alignment thing.