Logan 650 Framer's Edge Mat Cutter - recommendations -

[Curt]

I'm in need a of new mat cutter, any recommendations? The Logan 650 Framer's Edge Mat Cutter looks very impressive, for those who have one can you give me some impressions good or bad.

Thanks,
Curt

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

Its an extremely nice system. I have the next step down, the 700 Simplex (now called the 750), and I have have had it 15 yrs and gotten nothing but perfect results from it. My mats are better than any frame shop has given, and when you have a good mat cutter you save a ton of money because mat board is cheap (even expensive museum board, which you should be using, is cheap compared to paying a frame shop to cut mats!). You won't regret it

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I have one and find it a bit flimsy. It works well, as long as you pre-compensate for the bowing etc.

A Fletcher would be a better choice, but at 3x the price it should be.

 

[Dan Dozer]

I can't believe how expensive mat cutters have gotten! I'm sure that the Logan unit you mention is a great system. Logan seems to be one of the leaders now, althought I have never used one.

I bought an Altos unit way back in about 1976 for $45 (price sticker is still on the box) and the only thing that has changed a little is the shape of the cutter unit. My $45 unit now lists at $159 although you can get their "Web special" for $119. I still use mine for all my mat cutting and I think that if all you are doing is simple square mats, it works just fine.

 

[Curt]

http://www.dickblick.com/products/fletcher-2200-professional-mat-cutting-system/

The Fletcher is definitely more, I'm not sure that I would have enough time in life to justify it, seriously though the Altos unit I saw on the Blick site is basic but for the money I can see it working just fine. They have, like so many other things, risen in price. I was thinking Sears Catalog and then I found that some are more like Platinum member.

Watching the video the Logan model seems like a good unit, as to the price it's just particle board, common screws, extruded aluminum and plastic knobs but it's a whole lot better than a Dexter. What a person is buying is a design that saves frustration and body-ware.

Ideally I'd want a CNC mat cutter but that's a far stretch. I've getting tired of my Kodak water mixer too and have been looking at the Hass manufacturing unit, that's another $550.00.

I can mix my water until after I get a new mat cutter.

Thanks for the interest I appreciate it.

Curt

 

[mitch brown]

try buying a used fletcher 2200. i just got one for $500 . if you cut more that just a feww mat's it will pay for itself .
great cutter
mitch

 

[bsdunek]

My Wife gave me a Logan 450 for Christmas, and I love it! As said above, cutting your own mats saves a lot of $, and you can cut them the way you like. Probably the Fletcher is better, but I can cut good mats with mine. I think careful use produces the quality as much as anything.

 

[resummerfield]

Check the Logan 850. I bought one about a year ago, mainly because of it's all aluminum construction. Not quite as good as the Fletcher 2200, but very close.

 

[snapshot2000]

I have the Logan 650 and like it, though I have had some issues with curves in my cuts. It took some work to adjust the blade depth bevel to get better cuts. Overall, I have been happy with it. I've cut about 100 mats with it and never needed the production stops.

Logan's product support, when I used it, was top notch. I have never looked at the Fletcher.

 

[jp498]

I've got a logan 450 and have had it for quite a while; probably ten years and it has always been an excellent tool. I put a scrap piece of mat underneath what I'm cutting to provide a clean cut with sufficient depth. If did lots of framing regularly I might even get two of them so I wouldn't have to adjust the stops between the mat window to side distance and the mat window to top distance. Having the ability to do >32" is handy so you can chop down bulk board to useful sizes. The logan should be stored and used on a flat surface, order some extra blades when you purchase it; a box of blades lasts a long time, as you have to replace or flip blades regularly for sharp clean cuts.

I get better cut mats than much of what I see in other people's framed photos in galleries and even museums. Many people way overcut the corners of windows, many other people use a dull blade which makes cuts need burnishing or smoothing; you can screw up like this on a logan as well, but if you don't rush your project as an all nighter or cut mats drunk, you'll be fine.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I have a 650 and overall I have been pleased, but as others here have mentioned, especially on 8-ply mat board, I notice bowing in my cuts. I'm tempted to get one of those 850s linked to earlier here, but no justification for it right now (no cash, no need... I haven't been shooting and showing as much lately). But it would be nice to be able to start matting in 8-ply again and not have to waste so much board to get a good window.

 

[Curt]

Check the Logan 850. I bought one about a year ago, mainly because of it's all aluminum construction. Not quite as good as the Fletcher 2200, but very close.

I just did, and it's very close to what I've been expecting, like others have said Fletcher is great for the day in day out framer in business and is a fine product line.

The Logan 850 is the one I would like get, I'll have to save a bit more for the budget but coming from a Dexter it's worth it.