Mat cutter question

I want to start cutting my own mats, and am looking at two mat cutting systems. I'm looking at the Alto's 4501 and the Logan 450. Both appear to be pretty nice for my needs, but I was wondering if anyone out there can offer opinions as to which might be the better system?

Logan 450

Alto's 4501

I know a professional artist (drawing and painting) who does his own matting. I know he has a Logan, I just wish I could remember which model. He was very happy with it.

Nathan

Hi Bill,

I used to work in / manage a frame shop and I can tell you that a mat cutter is not something to skimp on if you can help it. We had $1K + Fletcher mat cutters that were awesome, but obviously not practical for the typical artist who wishes to do this work themselves.

I personally have the Logan 650 and am very happy with it. It is more expensive, but the quality is worth it in my opinion. I have not used the 450, but from looking at the image I would be a little concerned about the guide rail and the cutting head on that unit. I would be curious to know what the results are like from someone's hands on experience...

Just my 2 cents...

Michael

If you are going to do any quantity of work, consider the Logan 650. I got mine from Blick very reasonably.

Paul

I use the Logan for everything I do, and I highly recommend it..

Which model do you use Ned?

- - I have both brands and would not trade them.

Paul - do you have preference between the brands? Also, do you know which model #'s you have?

Bill: I have the Logan and am very pleased with it. No experience with the other.

- - I have no preference as I use each for different jobs,
and I no longer remember the models. Sorry!

Actually I never pay much attention to model names.
I pick a product by what it does for me.

Figure out what you NEED, and then find out what will DO that.

We NEED a cutter that will stand up that is easy to use that will cut straight and clean -- AND -- that is not very, very expensive -- iow that is as cheap as can be while still donig the job.

Case in point -- the frame shop near me leases a $25,000 computer controled cutter that does everything I need but costs too much. Question is will a $150 cutter be ok or do I need to spend $400? Thats my question. Logan 450 or Logan 650 -- (I feel a little like a junior grade Hamlet).

Thanks,
Frank

I have a Logan 750. It is easy to use and does a great job. My daughter is taking art in college and has used this mat cutter. Her comment was that it is better than the cutters at school. It is a little more than the 650. A quick Google search found it for $229, but I believe that I paid less, more on the lines of $179.

My previous experience was with a hand held job that I had to supply a straight edge. Even at that, I had difficulty holding a straight cut.

Hi Fred,

I see the 650 selling for $399 and more while the 750 is $239 -- are you sure the 750 is an upgrade from the 650?

Thanks,
Frank

I just went onto Light Impressions web site -- they sell for list. They have the Logan 750 priced at $369.95, the 750 is priced at $639. Sounds like the 750 is cheaper but it might be a good compromise between the 650 and 450.

- - I always believe that you get what you pay for. If you want a quality matt cutter that has precision and heavy duty construction, then you pay what they cost. You want to pay a cheap price, you get nothing but a cheap cutter. Remember, when you save money on a cheap cutter that makes bad cuts, you loose money on wasted matt board, which will almost always be more than you saved.

The computer cutter Frank talked about is called a "Wizard" and they do not lease for that much. I have used them at a gallery I dealt with and they are leased on a per cut basis, that is counted and recorded in the computer and then downloaded to the company each month for billing. If there are companies that charge $25 grand then they are ripping off their customers big time. Of course you have to run a frame shop or gallery to make them pay, but they will make ANY kind of a matt cut NO MATTER what the design is, curves combined with angles and whatever you can come up with they will cut, and do it in a few minutes. They are amazing to watch doing cuts.

- If you are doing a LOT of frame work, I would get one of those dual cutter rigs that mount on a wall and will cut matt board, glass, foam core, and cardboard for other needs. They cost about $800, but are worth a lot more for the work they do. Cutting your own glass will pay for one of those the first year.

Paul you are experienced and have high standards. If its not too much trouble please look at the matt cutters you use and let us know the model numders -- particularly the Logan.

Thanks,
Frank

Frank - You caught me. You are right, the 650 is the more expensive and beefier cutter. I do not know what I was thinking. I find the 750 to be fine. I really like the arm to hold the mat at a true 90 degrees. This is what influenced me to go for the extra money and get the 750. I do not do enough work to justify the 650. When I get that point, I will follow Pauls advice. As I remember, I found floor mounted cutters priced between $1000 and $12,000 to go one step above the wall mounted cutters that he mentions.

I think the 650 is an upgrade to the 750. Here's a link to a comparison table:

http://www.logangraphic.com/products/boardmounted/

- - I do not do a lot of matting as most of my sales are to publishers. I rarely sell framed prints unless someone contacts me for one. Therefore, I never needed the best matt cutter. The few times I ever needed something fancy I can alwats go to the galleries I know and use theirs, which is rare. The one I have is about 12 years old it is way different than what is made now. When I got it it costs about $250 back then, so I'd say that todays price for it would be about the $350+ range.
I would also NOT buy from Light Impressions. They are overpriced on just about everything they sell. I checked with B&H photo and here is a link to a 750 cutter that is now even better than mine and under $300.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=147550&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

- - Here is a link to one wall cutter mfg.
http://www.fostermfg.com/products.cfm?step=4&path1=1&path2=37&path3=70
These range from $1,300 to $2,700 and will cut up to 73 inches.
They will even score plexaglass.

I have the Alto 4501 system and have used it a bit. It has done fine for my needs, but its time consuming to cut with it. I don't have any experience with the Logan models.

I used a cheap Logan for a while, but it's inaccuracy and frustration level was too much. Perhaps the top of the line logans are better now, but I think they are all mechanically cheap. I now use a C&H. Found it on ebay for a few hundred more than a logan, and life is GOOD now. Find one of those, and never look back.

Bill I use a Logan 650. I have my complaints about it, but it does the job...and I cut mat, a lot of mat with it. The top professional by hand mat cutters are made by Fletcher. All the frame shops I know that use had cuters use Fletchers. They will cut mat, bevel cut mat, and will also work to cut glass and acrylic. It is a multi-purpose cutter. It is also designed to be used while upright agains a wall. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks everyone for all the comments and opinions. Dizzying array of choices.

Jeffrey - do you know what model # the 'cheap' Logan is/was?
Youssef - thanks for mentioning Fletcher - I'm unfamiliar with them - I'll definitely check them out.

Thanks again all.

I use the Logan 401, which is the predecessor of the 450. It's done a great job for me. Definitely one of those "everything you need, nothing you don't" kind of device - no frills, just does the job.

Guy

Thanks again everyone - just thought I would let everybody know which one I decided on. I bought the Logan 450 - been using now for about 2 weeks and have been estactic with the results. Every bit as nice as professionally cut mats I have bought locally. The first few took me a while and I made a few mistakes (my fault, not the cutter), but now I can knock them out pretty darn quickly, and the price difference is astronomical. I figure it will pay for itself in less than 20 finished mats!!!!!!! Paid only $139 for it (new) - came with a DVD instruction disc, a book on framing from Logan, and 100 extra blades - bought it off ebay. Several sources there are selling them for that price.