Question dull mat blades!

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Kaylar

Grumbler in Training
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Feb 7, 2009
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Loc
New York, NY
Has anyone had the same problem with the Fletcher mat blades not holding their edge? I used to get sometimes 10/15 mats out of one side of a blade and now I often change the blade after 1 or 2. Bad batch??
 
wouldnt think its the blades as much as the materials withing the mats(opinion due to the most 'recent' spat of posts on the subject of mats/contents)
 
dull mat blades

I am positive it is not the board or within; and the blades used to be resilient to all sorts of different textures and materials as well; bonded with PVA, ATG, press tissue. I must have a bad box.
 
Blade life....varies

Kaylar said:
...I used to get sometimes 10/15 mats out of one side of a blade and now I often change the blade after 1 or 2. Bad batch??
Click to expand...

Kaylar,

Never do I recall going 10-15 mats (40-60 cuts) with an 05-012 blade on a Fletcher straightline mat cutter. Changing the blade after about 3-4 mats, and one can feel the difference, so it's time to change - the newer the blade the better the quality of the cut.

With CMC's, I've gone 40-100 openings with one blade (the nature of the thicker blade and how the equipment works dictates a longer life). A Dexter No.3 blade on the Fletcher F-1100 oval cutter = 10-40 openings. Again a different machine with different forces affecting the life of the blade.

A couple of things you should be aware of....

- Blade manufacturers make blades for the various mat cutting equipment companies - I'll check to see if there has been any source changes that I'm unaware.

- You are purchasing blades from a supplier - distributor. How long were they in their inventory? Did you check with them? The only reference is on a master case on their shelf.

- Check to make sure the blade is not rubbing against the clamp during the cutting process - this would prematurely dull a blade beyond what is expected cutting through matboard.

Regards,

John
 
Blade check....

Kaylar,

I would like you to contact Customer Service at The Fletcher-Terry Company. 1-800-THE-FTCO (1-800-843-3826) and register your conern. A customer service representative will ask for some of the blades to be returned for examination.

John
 
Kaylar, Did you check the head on the cutter to see that there wasn't any significant play - every so often you do have to adjust it. You are putting pressure on the cutting head when you are making the cut and if the head has too much play it may be sliding the blade along the cutting slot just enough to take the sharpness out of the blade. You can adjust the play out of the head with a very minor turn of a screw on the top. If you have a manual it will explain it or you can contact Fletcher tech and they will explain.
 
Thank you

Thanks all for very helpful tips and responses. Gives me some options to double check before contacting Fletcher - which I will do. Thanks John for the contact info.
I appreciate this site very much!
 
I thought it was just me, they just don't last as long anymore. Just trimming dust covers and they don't make it through three frames?
 
I used a Fletcher 2100 for years and usually changed the blade every 4 matts on singles and used a new one for every double matt. Now that I use a Wizard I start each day with a new blade and set my plunge count at 30 so that if I get prompted for a blade change in the middle of something I can click "continue" with a clear conscience and know I will still get a decent cut.

From an economics point of view why stress out about blades?

1 oversize rag matt costs me roughly AUD$32

I charge the customer roughly $80 to $100 for the matt

1 Wizard blade costs roughly $0.23

:shrug:

Just a couple of thoughts on the Fletcher:

Have you checked your blade cartridge for wear - that can give you a poor cut.

Also, have a close look at your slip sheet - if you are using something hard like Crescent Black Core that will blunt blades pretty quickly.
 
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