Question Foster Ultimat Gold

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pan-fry

Grumbler in Training
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Apr 8, 2011
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Hi. I'm in the process of upgrading my mat cutter. I curently have a Logan 650. I knew when I bought it 5 years ago that it might not be a happiest of marriages. It hasn't been. Mostly due to the wonky physics of the 270º(ish) circular guide the head rides on as well as the plastic bearing that I've had to replace a couple of tmes. Considering the good price though and the fact that I was just starting to frame, I still think it was a good decision. But it's time to move on to bigger and better things. so…

I was going to go with a Fletcher mat cutter but someone has recommended the Foster Ultimat Gold. I'm not having much luck finding reviews online that I would consider 100% genuine for this cutter. Has anyone had any experience with this machine?

I don't mind paying this much for a mat cutter but am a bit leery that there's not much info available.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Russell



http://www.fostermfg.com/store.asp?pid=31307
 
Looks like you are trying to reinvent the wheel. Buy a Fletcher and enjoy decades of trouble free service.
 
Jeff Rodier said:
Looks like you are trying to reinvent the wheel. Buy a Fletcher and enjoy decades of trouble free service.
Click to expand...

Great. Thanks.

Still would like to know if anyone has experience with this cutter. Fletcher reviews are fairly easy to come by... I know they're good. I had asked a friend who mats his own photos and he is swearing by this Foster machine though. He owned a Fletcher before the Foster and has been building matts for his work since we were in college 400 years ago. If we lived in the same state, I'd just go try it out... but as it is, we do not.

Not trying to reinvint any wheels here. Just reaching out for information.

Thanks again. R
 
I would say it would depend on how many mats you plan on cutting a day or week. That would help if more than 5 a day or 20 a week I would go with the fletcher before a unknown. Just because there are a lot of frame shops out there using them. If need be the parts are readily available and you know they cut well & will last.

When reviews are hard to come by it means they they are brand new, they don't sell well to the people who use them a lot. If it has been around awhile then it would be the latter reason.
If few people in the industry are using them it may not be a good sign.
So if you have the urge to go with something different go for it. Let us all know. Worse that can happen is you are in same boat with your friend.

Good luck making up your mind.

College 400 years ago ... that makes you what 40 something...... LOL
 
The 'Foster' bit threw me, I have the (Foster) Keencut Ultimat Gold plus a complete spare cutter bar & cutting head I use solely for making my own 'bevelled accents'. It's a great machine. (I also have a CMC but the first 'C' could always crash and there's plenty to go wrong with the second 'C', so I'm hanging on to my Ultimat, thank you)

The Fletcher is also a great machine.

Pros & cons (IMHO) vv the Fletcher, which I have no practical experience of anyway.

It has stops that can 'dial out' under/over cuts - very useful.

No pegs that can be lost.

................ that's about it for the pros I think.

Cons - it has nylon bearings, the Fletcher has ball bearings.

The Fletcher has interchangeable blade holders so you can pre-set them for different board thicknesses - with the ultimat you have to re-calibrate and test-cut each time and it's a pain.

The squaring arm on the ultimat cannot be set to less than about 3" - The Fletcher's goes down to (?") much less, this is useful when cutting reverse bevels face down and other things.

(I think) The Fletcher can take a board larger than its bed; the Ultimat can't, therefore the Fletcher could cut larger apertures than the Ultimat.

There's probably more, but those are the main ones, however, Keencut have recently introduced the Ultimat Futura ............

http://www.keencut.com/uk/products/mat-cutter/ultimat-futura.aspx

So, ability to 'dial out' over/undercuts, no pegs - and now roller bearings & blade magazines - like the Fletcher. But (by looking at photos only) it seems the squaring arm can still not be set to less than the ultimat gold could be (it looks just the same) and the bed still can't take boards larger than it.
 
Practically every framer in the UK uses a Ultimat Gold. Well, more than half at least I'd say..... (excluding CMC equipped peeps.)

I have used one and they are very good.

Although personally I prefer my C&H. :D
 
Thanks....

Thanks for the input everyone.

Robframer, thanks for the Keencut-Fletcher comparision.
Gumby, college 400 years ago makes me 42... I think. :)

Really appreciate the opinions and information.
 
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