Mat board trimmer suggestion?

[amellice]

I'm looking for mat board trimmer that is for home use (not super expensive - below $100 is recommended). Also it would be good if it can work on photo paper too. Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[jeffreyg]

I assume you want to cut windows in cover mats. They are usually cut on an angle. Dexter or Logan mat cutters will probably fit that price range. It will take practice, patience and some wasted boards to get professionally looking cuts but it can be done. Most professional framers have programmable driven cutters now so one may have a better manual one gathering dust that you can pick up at a good price.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[wildbill]

I cut my boards to size with a utility knife and straight edge. My paper trimmer can't handle 4ply/8ply matt board. I use a Dahle rotary cutter for paper. Get the largest one you can afford.

 

[Ron789]

I've been using a cutting ruler, utility knife and a simple plastic bevel cutter over the past 30 years. But I'm now considering treating myself with a Logan 550-1 40" cutter. That seems to me like a good piece of equipment for a decent price. I cut some 50 mats per year so I don't need something super fast and professional but this Logan would make a big difference compared to the all manual way I do it now.
Does anyone have any experience or comments on this Logan mat cutter?

For the OP: the 32" entry model Logan can be bought for some $100 at B&H.

 

[bsdunek]

My Wife got me this one for my birthday a few years ago. http://www.amazon.com/Logan-Compact...d=1454368203&sr=1-2&keywords=logan+mat+cutter
I really love it. With a little care my mats are virtually perfect. You can over run the corners, so that's where you have to be careful. Blades are reasonable, and it will cut heavy mat board easily if you keep a sharp blade in it. And, it's under $100!

 

[adelorenzo]

I've also been very happy with my Logan Compact Classic. It does a good job on straight and bevel cuts. I paid a few bucks for mine, used, but they seem to sell for under $100 new in the USA.

I wouldn't use it for trimming paper. I have a rotary paper trimmer for that and it wasn't terribly expensive either at my local Staples.

 

[MattKing]

I've been happy with my Alto's 4501: Dead Link Removed

 

[wildbill]

the op wants a mat board "trimmer" that will also cut paper, right?
I think that's different than a mat board cutter that we're all familiar with.

 

[Ron789]

Taking a second look at the Logan product range and a third look at my bank account...... I think I'll change my mind and go for the 32" Logan Compact Elite, selling at less than $100 at B&H. It is basically the same as the Classic but has some extra features.

 

[pschwart]

I'm looking for mat board trimmer that is for home use (not super expensive - below $100 is recommended). Also it would be good if it can work on photo paper too. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Cutting window mats and cutting photo paper require different tools. You want a good rotary cutter for photo paper, and a mat cutter for window mats.
If you cut mats only infrequently and in small numbers, you might be satisfied with an inexpensive cutter. If you want to consistently cut perfect mats (no obvious overcuts! No wavy cuts!) reasonably efficiently, a unit under $100 isn't going to cut it For that, you will want production stops (that work well -- many do not), an accurate blade depth adjustment that doesn't get lost when you change blades, mat clamps, and a rail-mounted cutting head. You can make do with an inexpensive mat cutter, but it's no fun and you will ruin a lot of expensive rag board. I currently use a Logan that cost a few hundred $$$, and I wish I had sprung for a pro unit -- but a Fletcher cost > $1500.

 

[wildbill]

Cutting window mats and cutting photo paper require different tools. You want a good rotary cutter for photo paper, and a mat cutter for window mats.
If you cut mats only infrequently and in small numbers, you might be satisfied with an inexpensive cutter. If you want to consistently cut perfect mats (no obvious overcuts! No wavy cuts!) reasonably efficiently, a unit under $100 isn't going to cut it For that, you will want production stops (that work well -- many do not), an accurate blade depth adjustment that doesn't get lost when you change blades, mat clamps, and a rail-mounted cutting head. You can make do with an inexpensive mat cutter, but it's no fun and you will ruin a lot of expensive rag board. I currently use a Logan that cost a few hundred $$$, and I wish I had sprung for a pro unit -- but a Fletcher cost > $1500.

Nonsense. I guess you haven't seen my mats. No waves, no overcuts. I've been using a $75 logan for almost 20 years and my cuts are perfect.

 

[Loren Sattler]

+1 on the Logan mat cutters. I have used one for years for window mats, works great. I use a knife style paper cutter for paper (like they had in the art dept when you went to school).

 

[plummerl]

I used a Dexter Mat Cutter ($30, http://www.dickblick.com/products/dexter-mat-cutter/) for decades, with perfect results. I now have a Logan 750, which is a touch more convenient for doing a bunch of mats, but not that much better.

 

[CropDusterMan]

I use the Logan kit, and it is awesome...makes it very easy. Mine was about 100$

Jason

 

[DWThomas]

I used one of those Dexter cutters for years. They can do a good job if you have a good cutting mat and really pay attention to details. But a few years back, after I sold several prints out of shows in one year, I sprung for a Logan 750 ("Simplex Elite"). It may not be way better than the best work from a Dexter and a T-square, but it's a lot easier, especially when doing double mats. It was however, even on a super sale at Blick's, nowhere near under $100.

 

[RobC]

Taking a second look at the Logan product range and a third look at my bank account...... I think I'll change my mind and go for the 32" Logan Compact Elite, selling at less than $100 at B&H. It is basically the same as the Classic but has some extra features.

Just be sure that a 32in cut is wide enough to cut down from a full size piece of board. Some boards are wider than 32 inches. You also need to consider what sizes you need to cut from full size board to minimise wastage and a max 32 inch cut may or may not be optimal depending on your requirements.

you will need a cut length of at least the width of biggest size piece of board you intend to buy (unless you are cutting down by hand with a straight edge.

 

[amellice]

Thanks all for your suggestions, I'll probably get the Logan for mats and Dahle rotary for paper

 

[Patrick Robert James]

If you have to cut a lot of smaller paper a guillotine cutter is great. I used to have one but it was too heavy to move. Miss that thing. You can chop a whole box of paper in one go. Cutting a box of 11x14 into 7x10s took me about a minute and two cuts! Otherwise, a rotary cutter is nice. The chop type cutters tend to pull paper offline FYI, and eventually you will get your finger...

 

[Ron789]

Just be sure that a 32in cut is wide enough to cut down from a full size piece of board. Some boards are wider than 32 inches. You also need to consider what sizes you need to cut from full size board to minimise wastage and a max 32 inch cut may or may not be optimal depending on your requirements.

you will need a cut length of at least the width of biggest size piece of board you intend to buy (unless you are cutting down by hand with a straight edge.

Good feedback, RobC. That was why I was considering the 40" version. But then I realised that:
- that passe-partout materials I buy here are typically 82cmx112cm, i.e. 32"x44" so they are too large even for a 40" cutter
- the art materials shop where I buy these allows me to use their gigantic guillotine cutter: I typically cut one large sheet into 4 sheets 40x50cm, with very little waste; that way it's also a lot easier to take the material home.
I use 40x50cm frames for my portfolio and occasionally larger formats for things that go on the wall, but no larger than 50x70cm.... so the 32" cutter should be fine.

Based on all the positive feedback on Logan here, I'll go for the Logan Compact Elite, for a little less than $100. Thank you all!

 

[MontanaJay]

I have an older 301 Logan and like it, but it does have a long learning curve and it's good to practice on paper before cutting mats. The instructional videos are good.
Beats the pants off the hand-held Logan cutter and straight-edge I had to use in college.
Buy extra blades (or learn to re-sharpen them).

 

[OzJohn]

I have an older 301 Logan and like it, but it does have a long learning curve and it's good to practice on paper before cutting mats. The instructional videos are good.
Beats the pants off the hand-held Logan cutter and straight-edge I had to use in college.
Buy extra blades (or learn to re-sharpen them).

Having cut thousands of them, I'm not sure how you could learn anything about mat cutting using paper instead of matboard. A single 32x40 sheet of economy board will be enough to get started. Mat board is a cut an come again product - cut progressively smaller mats from the fallouts and you will get heaps of practice out of one sheet. OzJohn