No matter what kind of mat cutter you purchase, there will definitely be a learning curve, even if it's a CNC. If you want easy, CNC is the way to go. Do not expect to be cutting perfect mats right off the bat, but once you have it down, and have become familiar with your cutter, any of them will seem easy. That is of course, assuming that you cut mats pretty much every day. The further apart your mat cutting sessions, the greater the frustration levels.
From the earliest days of frame shops, mat cutting has always been the most stressful task out of the entire operation. CNC machines have all but erased that little problem about being a picture framer, but even those machines can have their moments.
When you do find your cutter, keep it clean and use it often lest you find yourself swearing and lobbing hammers and such across your studio.
Look at the Fletcher line of mat cutters, I've only used them a few times over the years, but they seem to be one of the easier cutters to get to know.
The all time greatest professional hand cutter was the old Keaton Cutter, they cut fantastic mats but had to be kept spotlessly clean. Cleaning the Keaton was part of our opening procedure each morning, if we didn't clean it, it would not cut.
Another option would be to try and work out some sort of a deal with a frame shop that has a CNC if you only cut mats sporadically.
If you come across a good Keaton Cutter and the price is right, the head is not worn out, and no rust or corrosion, especially on the rail, bag that sucker. But remember, parts might be hard, if not impossible to find.
-John
Rick
