cutting 8-ply mats

[wildbill]

I've got the Logan compact matcutter with the model 302 bevel cutter and i'm wondering if it will handle 8-ply board. I'm asking because i can't find it in LA and i'll have to order some. I don't want to make the investment if i can't cut it myself. Anyone tried it?

 

[lee]

mine wont

lee\c

 

[wildbill]

Is it because the blade doesn't come out far enough, or are they not sharp enough? I think i could make the hole in the blade longer so that it could be slid down to reach through the thicker material.

 

[Ryuji]

My Logan matt cutter won't go through the 8-ply. Also, for 8-ply, you should get a cutter that cuts the board by multiple strokes/travels, not by one straight cut, which works well for thinner ones but not for thick ones. I strongly recommend to get an Olfa matt cutter, whose details I posted on photo.net. It'll only cost you $20 but gives you better results.

 

[Pastiche]

Hate to say it.. but if you are ready to lay down the $$$ for 8 ply, it's probably worth invensint 3-500 $$ in a professional matt cutter... I think it would be the only way to ensure that you arent spending top $$ on matts, then turning around and giving them less than the perfect cuts those call for... THAT would devalue your product...

 

[Ryuji]

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00DdEh

This is the post I referred to previously. FYI.

 

[Joe Symchyshyn]

My fletcher mat cutter will cut 8ply boards, but it is also a professional model... Click Here

I'd have to agree that going to 8ply may very well dictate using the proper equipment to handle it.

joe

 

[Robert Hall]

8 ply is hard enough, but if it's 8 ply rag, it's even harder. I've taken my 8 ply rag board to proshops with very expensive automated cutter that cut in multiple passes and they still can't cut the 8 ply.

I have a logan 650 ( I think ) and with most careful cutting, I can do 8 ply, but I still have issues from time to time.

8 ply, is just difficult.

Best of luck,

 

[Tom Stanworth]

I would not go near 8 ply rag with hand cutters. I have not heard of anyone who can do a truly professional job with anything other than a computer controlled auto gizmo...and that is after time spent setting up etc.

I have a Keencut ultimat and the blade would not protrude far enough for such board . In any case there would be a lot of bend in the blade and the quality of the cut would be dire. I cannot stand poorly cut mounts and cutting 4 ply to the highest standards requires care, even with good kit.

 

[Aggie]

I have a C&H mat cutter and have no problem cutting 8 ply in one pass.

 

[User Removed]

Why are you using 8ply board? Are you doing very large prints? (22x28 or larger).

Personally, I dont think 8ply mat is needed, unless you feel your work is not that good and you need to go overkill with matting/framing.

8ply board is very expensive, hard to store (takes up twice the amount of space and weight) and is VERY difficult to cut with a low quality cutter.

I use a higher end Logan cutter (BRAND NEW!) and to cut 8ply mat, you have to pass over at least 5 times. After doing that, your window is not very clean anymore.

I suggest staying with 4ply board. If you can afford to use 8ply, then just have a framer cut it for you.

 

[Jorge]

The Logan 665 will cut 8 ply, you just have to go slow and make sure the blade is lightly scoring the support mat. It is what I use for museum shows and it looks great! I have an upcoming show at the museum of art in my home town and for this I use the 2 ply for mounting and the 8 ply for the mat.

Setting your work apart and mounting it and matting it professionally does not mean your work is weak.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

8-ply is becoming more the mode in high-end galleries in New York, and it looks good if it's done neatly. I don't use it myself, but at the same time, I don't see it as dressing up work that is otherwise weak.

 

[ann]

8 ply matts are very elegant and to think they are only needed to improve weak work is a strange comment.

the price one wants to pay for to present their work is their business.
The question was how to cut them, not should i use them.

We have been using them for years with great success, and frankly it is worth the cost.

 

[donbga]

8 ply matts are very elegant and to think they are only needed to improve weak work is a strange comment.

the price one wants to pay for to present their work is their business.
The question was how to cut them, not should i use them.

We have been using them for years with great success, and frankly it is worth the cost.

Ann,

How are you cutting your 8 ply boards?

Thanks,

Don Bryant

 

[ann]

don,

I have them cut at the company noted below.

We buy in large amounts when ever possible as the price drops, especially after 25 of a size.

They have been very good to deal with and will continue to do business with them
let me know if you would like some , if you are using standard sizes, bottom weighted you can add them to my order. We could combine and the price will drop drastically.

For my personal work, i have them cut at lightimpressions.

We tried cutting some 8ply board just for fun, and it just isn't worth the problems.

http://www.redimat.com/museum_8_ply.html

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Ann--How about letting us know what sizes you're ordering before you put in the order, and seeing if some of us might want to tag along. If we all get a better price that way, it sounds like a win-win situation.

 

[ann]

David,

these are the sizes i keep on hand for my students.
16x20 matts with windows both landscape and portrait for 8x10 prints; which are really a bit smaller with the 1/4 inch wide border from the easel. and 6x9 windows , both landscape and portrait. All are bottom weighted.

Rather than using the standard window for 8x10 and 6x9, i have them cut just a bit smaller so the students have a bit more wiggle room.

I will not be ordering any until next year,(which is almost here) but will get back to you David, sometime in Jan.

without double checking when orderning more than 24 of one size the price is about 7.20 , this does not include the back board nor of course the s&h, which has always been reasonable.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Thanks, Ann. Maybe post a general announcement, and I bet you'll have a few other takers.

 

[Shane Knight]

I use to cut 8 ply mat boards with two logan cutting heads along with the logan straight edge. On the bottom of the cutting head you will find a blade depth screw. The first head should be set for 4 ply and the second at 8ply.

After the the measurements have been marked. I score lightly with the 4 ply head once and then again all the way down.

I then use the 8ply head and score lightly and then all the way down.

I was usually cutting rag mats and I would switch both blades after each cut which would be a total of 8 blades.

Blades are cheap and 8 ply rag mats are very expensive, so I find that the cost of 8 blades to do a clean job is cheap.

Just plan on sacrificing at least two boards for the learning curve, but once you have it down, it's pretty simple.

Art work that has been matted with 8ply board looks very elegant and I highly recommend it.

Good luck,
Shane Knight
www.shaneknight.com