Opinions Wanted equipment dilemma

[cmsimonton]

PREFACE:
For many years now, my wife and I have done custom framing (and a host of other crafts) for friends and family. All said and done, the framing amounts to less than $5000 a year of our total income and we have no plans to do more framing than we currently do. It is strictly a hobby that produces a little bit of "mad money" and will never be a full time job for us.

HISTORY:
For the past 10 or so years, we have used a very old C&H wall mounted matt cutter (Model CHN-210-48) to do our matt and glass cutting. (we use a hand held cutting wheel and use the metal bar as a straightedge to cut the glass) While not ideal for a production shop, it has worked just fine for what we do for many years.

Several years ago I purchased what I believed to be a fletcher 3000 as part of an auction lot containing lots of other framing equipment. Since we already had the C&H cutter on the wall, the Fletcher has been in my garage gathering dust and spider webs for at least 5 years. We have recently moved our craft room and today I was finally going to finally clean up and hang the fletcher 3000.

THE PROBLEM:
What I thought was a fletcher 3000 is actually a fletcher 8460. Since we don't frame professionally, I dont want to spend any more money and time than I have to. Is the 8460 worth cleaning up and trying to find blades/parts for, or should we just keep using the old C&H that has worked just fine for our purposes for so many years?

 

[Artrageous]

I believe the 8460 is the unit with the green handle. It's an older unit and parts are almost impossible to get. The blades are about the only parts still available since they are also used on the 3000.

There are units out there and some are sold for parts machines, but I wouldn't trust being able to get something if you need it.

 

[cmsimonton]

Yes, the 8460 is the one with the green handle. I was kind of wondring if the cutting head assembly from a 3000 would fit on the 8460. I can buy 3000 head assemblys all day long. That would solve the problem if they fit.

 

[DVieau2]

For many years I used a Fletcher 8460, though it was old, it did a very fine job of cutting glass. Much more efficient than a hand held glass tool.

Cutting mats on the wall? .... If your going to spend money I would buy a table top mat cutter.

Doug

 

[tedh]

8460

I bought mine used in '94, not knowing or caring what it was, and I use it daily. Absolutely no complaints. But if you're happy with your C&H, keep on truckin' with it.

 

[cmsimonton]

Cutting mats on the wall? .... If your going to spend money I would buy a table top mat cutter.

Doug

We have a very nice table top cutter that we use to cut the openings in mats. We found it easier to cut mats to size using the wall cutter.