Artique 8-ply Mats

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Sister

Sister

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Apr 18, 2004
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945
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Alabama
Has anyone had a problem cutting Artique 8-plys on their Wizard? I had to call tech. support because the point of the blades were popping off or it was "chewing" the mat in the corners and not cutting through to drop out. Wizard (8000) support was great, and we finally got through it but I still wasn't happy with the corners. They looked overcut to me.

These mats seem to be more than 8-ply since the blade appeared to not come completely out of the mat when making the corner turns. I tried again today on a different color and had the same problem. I think I will avoid these in the future--back to Bainbridge and Crescent--never had a problem before.
 
The Valiani machines cut them like butter.

The Artique board is a firmer board than the others. That is one of the reasons I like Artique so much.

You can actually lean a 4 ply against the wall and it will stand. Bainbridge and Crescent will slump and fall. I have always feared that the softer boards could slump in the frame over time.

The 8000 machine I had would not cut anyones 8 ply.
 
I really like the A 8-plys also and have always cut C&B on 23. Something is just not right, and unless a Wizard tech. is seeing first hand, it is hard to explain and adjust. I saved a file with different configurations for cutting the mats (per tech. support), but now I am really thinking it must be some other adjustment needed. Thanks for the input.
 
I cut the Artique 8-ply on my 8000 no problem. But, it is one number deeper than the B&C Rag boards. I think it's 22 and 23 on my machine.

Remember, the numbers are relative. Means that a 22 on my machine might be a 23 on yours. If you're cutting B&C at 23 you probably need 24 for the Artique. They are just a bit thicker.
 
Thanks, Cliff. Actually, the new config. setup calls for changing the blade depth past 24. The tech had me turning around to 1 or 2. Tell me something else to try! I start with a new blade anytime I cut thick mats. It's like the blade doesn't come completely out of the board before making the corner turn and is still not going deep enough to cut all the way through the mat (on 23 or 24). Then going to 1 or 2 or the new config. the corners are overcut--acceptable when lightly burnished but I'm not happy with it. You know the saying, "When Mama's not happy, ain't nobody happy!"
 
When was the last time you replaced your blade holder?

Mine wears and the blade sits deeper. Could be yours is border line and the thicker harder Artique 8-ply are just pushing the blade back into the holder?

Also, as the holder wears, the blade "wiggles" potential causing the "hesitation before starting" I think you're describing?
 
We just got through cutting a bunch of the 8-ply Artique on the Wiz 8000. Started with a brand new blade cassette and wore that sucker out*. The configs are all slightly different in each machine, but we set the computer depth at 23 and the dial on the head to 24. The computer setting controls the cut start and stop while the dial controls the actual depth of cut. We too have set the dial past 24 on occasion.

*Really noticed it when we went back to 4-ply mats and the blade was wandering all over the place.
 
We use a lot of all brands of 8 ply and we like the new Artiques. We recently had a few problems with the 8500 and were actually resorting to hand cuting 8 ply mats because we could not guarantee near perfection with the CMC, but after an obvious need for some replacement parts, we are cutting them well again.
 
With the 8-ply there is only room for one slip mat (also per tech). Although I really like the Artique 8-ply, I think I will just go back to using a Crescent or Bainbridge. They cut to perfection every time.
 
I had some initial problems with the blade dragging through the rotation after retracting out of a cut. The thickness of the mat shouldn't make any difference since the foot registers off the surface.
Call tech support again. Perhaps the blade holder in combination with the foot isn't holding the blade firmly enough and it is being pulled out of position when the blade retracts. This would cause the blade to extend farther than it should from the foot resulting in the drag through the rotation.
 
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