The present invention relates to a method for cutting a log of paper or the like into rolls, comprising - providing a log of paper (1) having an essentially circular cross-section with an original radius (rcirk) extending to a centre axis (A) of said log, - at least temporarily deforming at least a portion (10) of said log, so as to obtain a cross-section having at least one radius being greater than the original radius (rcirk) - providing a cutting device (2) for cutting said log into rolls, - starting the cutting operation from a first contact position (P) between the log (1) and the cutting device (2), wherein - the first contact position (P) being positioned on the periphery of the deformed cross-section of the log (1) at a location where a first contact radius (r) extending to a centre axis (A) of said log (1) is greater than the original radius (rcirk). It further relates to a device for cutting a log of paper into rolls.