which mat cutter? logan 750, CMC, C&H?

[eddie gunks]

hi all,

i have a logan mat cutter now. it is smaller and will not do 40" boards. i want to get a bigger unit that can take full 40 inch boards. i find myself cutting 24x30 and 30x40 boards with windows.

i have several available used here locally. my choices are

Carithers Signature Model #CMC 32

C&H Advantage M48

logan 750

the logan is about half the cost of the other two. the other 2 are about the same price. are any one of them significantly better than the others? anything specific i should look for in each? accessories for example...

i have done a lot of cutting in the past. i do slightly less now....but when i do it is no on bigger stuff.

thanks for all the insights.

eddie

 

[BWGirl]

I have a Logan 750, Eddie, and I find it does everything I need it to do. I just whipped out a bunch of mats this weekend with it!
This mat cutter comes with a straight cutter and a bevel cutter. It also comes with an adjustable stop that can really help speed up cutting the mat opening.

The biggest difference you will find between this Logan and yours...besides the right-angle guide... is that while the smaller cutters are "push" cutters, the 750 is a "pull" cutter. Personally I think it gives me a lot more control.

The blades are the same for the 750 as for your smaller Logan cutter, so you can use the blades in all the cutters.

I do not know anything about the other cutters, but I love my Logan & highly recommend it!

 

[mrtoml]

I recently got a 750 too - I thought about the more expensive 650 - but am glad I got the 750 now. It has speeded up my productivity no end compared with my previous smaller cutter (a Longbridge). I agree with Jeanette that the pull system is easy to use and I can cut big boards down to manageable sizes very quickly. The right angle guide is useful and essential I think, and the stops included make cutting a whole series of identical mats a breeze. It is easy to set measurements on the sliding mount bar for windows or the right angle bar for cutting bigger mats down to size. I cut a set of 20x24s with 5" borders last weekend in no time at all. Didn't even need a ruler.

 

[Dan Henderson]

I have the 450 model, which cuts 40" boards, straight and bevels. It does not have the 90 degree guide (which the 750 might?). Anyway, I wished it did so I recessed my cutter into a table and added a metal ruler/straight edge to solve that problem. I do recommend Logan.

 

[mrtoml]

The 750 has the guide. I don't know how I managed without this before.

 

[eddie gunks]

thanks so far. so no one has tried the other models.....i may just have to get the 750 and save my $$$ for film!

e

 

[jovo]

I have the 750 and am quite happy with it. One limitation I've encountered though is that you can only make the window sides about 5" or a bit less...it's very convenient up to that point though. There are workarounds for larger borders, but they are up to you to invent (or inquire about).

 

[Ben Hopson]

If you can find a good used C+H or Fletcher 2100, they are both excellent mat cutters. I have the Fletcher 48" 2100 and love the quality and ease of use it offers.

Good luck,

Ben

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I have a large Logan, and wish I had bought a Fletcher instead. As noted, though, Fletchers and C&H cutters are twice the price. If you are doing casual work the Logan will work out fine. If you are going to be doing production work I would get one of the others.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I'd also caution that if you want to cut 8-ply mats, while the Logan CAN handle 8-ply, it doesn't cut very straight. I'd get the Fletcher or C&H instead if you think you're going to cut 8-ply. Otherwise, be prepared to waste 2-3 sheets per finished mat in 8-ply that you want.

 

[jpeets]

I'd also caution that if you want to cut 8-ply mats, while the Logan CAN handle 8-ply, it doesn't cut very straight. I'd get the Fletcher or C&H instead if you think you're going to cut 8-ply. Otherwise, be prepared to waste 2-3 sheets per finished mat in 8-ply that you want.

Good to know. I have the Logan, and it has been fine for 4 ply - but I would like to do some 8 ply in the future.

Do the Fletcher or C&H handle wider (5+") better than the Logan?

 

[steckmeyer]

I have the 750 and only use 8 ply board mostly for 11 X 14 & 16 X 20 prints. It works fine as long as you have a sharp blade. I usually use a new side for each new window. Other than that with a little practice and a mark on each end of the cutter so you don't over cut the widow and you are in business.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

There's a workaround with the Logan - you can order an extension baseboard that has support and markings for more than 5" borders. The other simpler solution is to mark the back (!!!!!!) of the mat board with a pencil to indicate the window corners.

I've had precious little luck with the Logan, rotating/changing blades every side, or using the same blade for one window at a time. I also suspect the Logan is easier to knock out of alignment than the Fletcher/ C&H. I'm going to go around mine again and tighten everything down, but the hold-down arm that raises/ lowers the cutting head has a little bit of slop in it, which I think contributes to the problem with my 8-ply cutting.

 

[jpeets]

There's a workaround with the Logan - you can order an extension baseboard that has support and markings for more than 5" borders. The other simpler solution is to mark the back (!!!!!!) of the mat board with a pencil to indicate the window corners.

Hmmm, I wonder if I could cobble together a baseboard in ye olden woodworking shop? A piece of MDF, a bit of routing .........

 

[eddie gunks]

i was wondering about the max 5" thing.....i have been using my small logan to do many mattes with a larger than 5" boarder....then i realized i always have to draw lines on mine....and you guys do not for 5" and less.

thanks so far. i will go negotiate with the C&H guy....if i can.

eddie

 

[Curt]

As a resurrection of the this thread I'm going to get a new mat cutter, the Dexter will cut borders of any width but it's too hard on the body to use any longer. I'm considering the Logan 750 for 4ply mats which would be better than a special order for custom cut mats. Any suggestions? I can get a new one for $200.00 shipped free, what can I do better?

Thanks,
Curt

 

[nsurit]

I have a Logan 650 which is supposed to cut 8 ply and I've been disappointed with the results. If you waste a bunch of 8 ply, why not just pay someone to cut it for you? That is one choice and I'd love to have a cutter that really does cut 8 ply. Bill Barber

 

[Curt]

I guess Bill a cutter for 8 ply is going to be a fairly heavy duty machine, I've cut a fair about of 4 ply and to go through two layers would be a lot of pressure and to do it with control would be hard so I can imagine the 650 would not be able to do it easily. It's just the way that once I buy a 4 ply I'll want to start doing 8 ply mats. And yes with the price of board in 8 ply you can't afford to be be doing three to get one good mat.

 

[Curt]

Looks like the 750 is what I'm getting.

 

[Colin Graham]

The new Logan 850 is really very nice. More commercial duty like a Fletcher or Keencut with an extruded aluminum base instead of the particle board, built in magnetic stops and a quickly detachable squaring arm. It's rated to cut 8ply but I haven't tried it yet. Only around $600 from Jerry's Artarama for the 40" model but the 48" and 60" versions aren't much more.