Mat Cutter - DPChallenge Forums

03/16/2004 02:56:07 PM · #1

Hi All,

Looking to buy a mat cutter and I'm pretty set on the Logan 450, but I also see the Logan 750 which looks to be heftier and possibly more professional.

Does anyone have either of these mat cutters and what do you think of:
How easy it is to use;
How well it cuts;
How much efffort goes into each cut;
Does it cut on one run through;
Do you wish sometimes you had a little more?
Etc....

Thanks!

03/16/2004 03:20:59 PM · #2

I have the 450.

I can't really say that I would rather have the 750. I don't really know what it offers me that I don't have so I'm not missing much :)

The 450 will handle a full sheet of mat board or foam core. It comes with a straight cutter and a bevel cutter. It does not come with a glass cutter. If you are going to be into framing, you may want to spend a few extra bux to get the glass cutter. Glass in 24x30 sheets at my local Home Depot is about $9.

It's easy to use and it cuts very nicely. Each cut is a single pass cut.. I'm not sure I understand your question completely on that one.

03/16/2004 03:30:29 PM · #3

Hi John, Thanks for the input.

Single pass cut is what I was looking for. For example: I have a paper cutter that I have to pass through usually twice to get it all the way through some papers. It was this way when the blade was new also. Just wanted to make sure the mat cutter didn't do this also.

Without knowing how well the glass cutter works on it, I don't know if I want to go that route. We bought sheets of glass already and had a heck of a time with it (using a hand held glass cutter from Home Depot) and figured the time it took, plus the waste wasn't worth it. I can get 12x16 acrylic pre-cut for $4.61 each and 11x14 for $3.79 each. Then all I have to do is grab a piece and drop it in when I need it.

It seems the biggest difference (according to Logan's chart) is that the 750 can handle 40" or 60" matboard, it has a laminate surface vs. a vinyl surface and the max. border on the 450 is 4.25 where the 750 is 5.5.

03/16/2004 03:33:37 PM · #4

The max border is what you can use the guide bar to measure/cut. You can cut whatever you want without the guide installed.

03/16/2004 03:47:14 PM · #5

Cool... well, it seems I have no reason to spend the extra cash on the 750 then.

Thanks for the input!

Tokina AF 28-70mm f/2.8 ATX Pro-SV for Canon EOS

03/16/2004 03:48:22 PM · #6

how much is the 750? I got my 450 for $120.

MWitt

Canon EOS-5D

03/16/2004 03:53:08 PM · #7

I just bought the 750 for $349 US

03/16/2004 04:04:42 PM · #8

B&H has the 750 for $250 and the 450 is $190

Message edited by author 2004-03-16 16:04:53.

03/16/2004 04:05:14 PM · #9

Originally posted by Olympian:

I just bought the 750 for $349 US

How do you like it?

03/16/2004 04:07:10 PM · #10

Originally posted by tfaust:

B&H has the 750 for $250 and the 450 is $190

Shop around for the 450.. u can get it cheaper.

03/16/2004 04:08:38 PM · #11

I'll do that... did you get yours locally or online?

03/16/2004 04:22:57 PM · #12

Originally posted by tfaust:

I'll do that... did you get yours locally or online?

I got mine at AC Moore locally with a 40% off coupon. I saw one online somewhere for $125 tho.. i'll look...

Tokina AF 28-70mm f/2.8 ATX Pro-SV for Canon EOS

03/16/2004 04:27:40 PM · #13

//aswexpress.com/art-supply/catalogs/0048550000000

$129 if u buy before the end of the month.

MWitt

Canon EOS-5D

03/16/2004 04:42:39 PM · #14

I haven't tried the new one yet, (back in Denver with my wife) but when I worked for Frame it Yourself, it was excellent. Well made, kept square for years. I looked at the 450 when I was ready to purchase a mat cutter for myself, but I didn't like the way the cutter sat on the guide. It didn't look like it was attached, just sitting on top of the guide. I have run into situations when cutting mats, where the thickness changes, that forces the blade up away from the mat cutter. It seemed that if the cutter wasn't attached securely, you would run into this problem and it would be difficult to control.
Does anyone know if the cutter just sits on the guide as opposed to secured to it?

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/16/2004 05:24:00 PM · #15

The cutter on the 450 attaches to the guide via a groove. So it just basically is held on there by pressure. You have to keep a constant pressure on the bevel cutter while cutting because if you don't the blade will come back up out of the mat.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

03/16/2004 05:47:13 PM · #16

from what i have seen - most matte cutters are set up that way - which i dont understand...

i've gotten some feedback from camera club members - who tell me - that's just the way it is. there also seems to be no easy way to cut a full sheet down to smaller sizes effectively...

i've got some ideas to rework my current cutter in a verticle way, attached to a guide. come warmer weather... will try to build it.

MWitt

Canon EOS-5D

Tokina AF 28-70mm f/2.8 ATX Pro-SV for Canon EOS

03/16/2004 06:17:15 PM · #17

The 750 has a bar guide with a nylon glide that keeps the cutter head in place which eliminates a lot of the pressure needed. I'm happy with my decision, then. I think it will be more accurate and with possibly smoother action.

03/16/2004 06:48:18 PM · #18

I definitely don't have any trouble cutting down a 32x40 sheet to whatever smaller sizes I want with the 450...

Nikon AF DC Nikkor 135mm f/2.0D

03/16/2004 07:27:04 PM · #19

So, dumb question...

I can take a 32x40 mat board and cut double mats for an 8x10 picture to go in an 11x14 frame, and still be able to use the leftover on different sizes?

Essentially, I can cut any size mat board with the mat cutter, up to the maximum size?

DJLuba

Nikon D2Xs

03/16/2004 07:52:24 PM · #20

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by tfaust:
I'll do that... did you get yours locally or online?

I got mine at AC Moore locally with a 40% off coupon.

Awesome tip. I didn't know AC carried these. I'll be checking the papers for this one.

Thanks!

03/16/2004 07:53:10 PM · #21

Anyone familiar with Dick Blick art supplies? They seem to be a local chain in the midwest?

Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 200-400mm f/4.0G IF-ED

03/16/2004 08:45:01 PM · #22

Originally posted by DJLuba:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by tfaust:
I'll do that... did you get yours locally or online?

I got mine at AC Moore locally with a 40% off coupon.

Awesome tip. I didn't know AC carried these. I'll be checking the papers for this one.

Thanks!

They usually run a 40 or 50% off coupon (any single item) in their sale papers. Keep your eyes open for it. It can save you a bundle on a higher priced item.

spydr

Nikon D850

04/05/2004 06:02:51 PM · #23

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

I got mine at AC Moore locally with a 40% off coupon. I saw one online somewhere for $125 tho.. i'll look...

Great tip John!! I didn't know they carried them. As it turns out I know someone who works at AC Moore. So using their discount and the 40% off coupon, I got a 750 for $180.

It works great.

04/05/2004 06:04:49 PM · #24

Originally posted by spydr:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
I got mine at AC Moore locally with a 40% off coupon. I saw one online somewhere for $125 tho.. i'll look...

Great tip John!! I didn't know they carried them. As it turns out I know someone who works at AC Moore. So using their discount and the 40% off coupon, I got a 750 for $180.

It works great.

That is a great deal. The 750 is a beast :)