Logan Platinum Edge VS. fletcher 2200 - annnd.... fight!

[Steve Beswick]

Some of you might remember my previous thread from about a month ago: https://www.thegrumble.com/threads/need-info-regarding-mat-cutters-what-is-on-the-market-these-days.89644/ Question - Need info regarding mat cutters - What is on the market these days?

After many steps and much frustration - I actually like the old C&H cutters, but ours requires parts I cannot get for the cutting head - my organization and I have decided to go with a new cutter. I'm leaning towards the Logan, although I could still easily be talked into the fletcher. If any of you have specific things you like about either one VS. other mat cutters, or if you have a reason I definitely shouldn't recommend one, please share your information here. I need to have a fixed recommendation by Monday, and I can't seem to choose.

 

[Larry Peterson]

Right off the bat I have to admin I am a bit biased. I have had a Phaedra Chronomat for almost 20 years and love it. When Phaedra closed they sold the Chronomat to Logan and it became the Platinum Edge series. In the past I have looked at the manual for the Platinum Edge and it appears identical (except for branding and cosmetics) to the Chronomat. That being said, I don't know anyone here that actually has one and can give us their hands on experiences with it.

Now for the specifics. Bottom line is that the 2200 will cost you twice as much as the Edge. UMS sells the 60" Edge for $1301 and the 2200 for $2246. The Edge comes with measuring stops and squaring arm. It appears that the 2200 does not. The Measuring stops (they call them Production Stops) sells for $278.84 and the squaring arm goes for $199.51 so the fully equipped cost for both is $1301 vs $2716.

Is the 2200 worth twice the Edge. Without hands on experience I can't say.

 

[Rick Granick]

If you like the C+H, I'm guessing you would like the top-of-the-line Logan in terms of the "feel" of using it, because of the way the head slides on the rod/bar as opposed to being on bearings.
That said, they both have good reputations, so it is probably just a personal judgment call. I like the C+H type design, but my only personal experience in using the Fletcher cutter was trying it out at a trade show booth. I almost bought a Chronomat (as Larry mentioned), but decided to get a Wizrd CMC instead... so I still have my old, but reliable, C+H for cutting the occasional mat, cutting spacer strips, and sizing things that have been mounted to matboard.
Rick

 

[Nikodeumus]

I have only used the Fletcher 2100 mat cutter.
It is manufactured extremely well. Very solidly built and has required almost no maintenance, and this one is old.
I mention this because I have also got 3 Fletcher point drivers, and 1 Logan.
I got the Logan when I needed a driver for flexipoints, it works fine, but...not perfect.
Later I got an old used Fletcher flexipoint driver, it works better than the Logan.
In comparison, the Fletcher drivers are a higher degree of manufacture than the Logan. (In my opinion).
I don't know if the same is true with the Logan cutter you are considering as compared to the Fletcher.
Quality of build and possible maintenance issues are something to keep in mind.
Sometimes it is true, "You get what you pay for".
All the Fletcher tools I have are old and still in fantastic working order with little to no maintenance.
I did have to do a rebuild on one of the Fletcher point drivers, but that was after a couple of decades of use.

 

[Jleschak]

I bought the Platinum Edge and love it. I have not used any Fletcher cutter and upgraded from a low end Logan I used to cut my teeth on.
As with any new equipment of this type, practice was the key, mostly for entry and exit points. I actually don’t even use the measuring arm and the rail / guide holds the mat in place superbly.

 

[Steve Beswick]

I bought the Platinum Edge and love it. I have not used any Fletcher cutter and upgraded from a low end Logan I used to cut my teeth on.
As with any new equipment of this type, practice was the key, mostly for entry and exit points. I actually don’t even use the measuring arm and the rail / guide holds the mat in place superbly.

Since you have the model in question, may I ask you a specific question about it? The bar that the mat stops against … sorry I can’t remember what it’s called, but it’s the one that parallels the handle, that you adjust to set the mat opening border width. Does it flex, or can you reliably count on it to be accurate at both ends? I’m accustomed to cutters where that bar clamps at both ends. I’m guessing that the width of it at least largely mitigates flex issues, but unfortunately there isn’t a “come test drive mat cutters” store that I know of.

 

[neilframer]

Since you have the model in question, may I ask you a specific question about it? The bar that the mat stops against … sorry I can’t remember what it’s called, but it’s the one that parallels the handle, that you adjust to set the mat opening border width. Does it flex, or can you reliably count on it to be accurate at both ends? I’m accustomed to cutters where that bar clamps at both ends. I’m guessing that the width of it at least largely mitigates flex issues, but unfortunately there isn’t a “come test drive mat cutters” store that I know of.

I have used a number of mat cutters over the years that have just one clamp on the mat border gauge.
Chronomat, C+H Advantage pro, etc.
Never had an issue once it's set up.
I use a CMC now but once in a great while I still need to use the manual mat cutter.

 

[neilframer]

I bought the Platinum Edge and love it. I have not used any Fletcher cutter and upgraded from a low end Logan I used to cut my teeth on.
As with any new equipment of this type, practice was the key, mostly for entry and exit points. I actually don’t even use the measuring arm and the rail / guide holds the mat in place superbly.

As you can see, the Logan and the Chronomat are very similar (except for the gold and red...)



They even have the same arm lifter that I never used....

 

[Larry Peterson]

As you can see, the Logan and the Chronomat are very similar (except for the gold and red...)

They even have the same arm lifter that I never used....

And I use the arm lifter all the time when I slide a mat under the cutter. As to the mat border piece, I have used mine for almost 20 years with no problems with it.

 

[neilframer]

And I use the arm lifter all the time when I slide a mat under the cutter. As to the mat border piece, I have used mine for almost 20 years with no problems with it.

I was so used to using my Keeton Kutter back in the Stone Age and other cutters that didn't have an arm lifter that I just never used it when I used a cutter that had it.
I just would lift the arm with my left hand, slide the mat in with my right hand and cut.
I'm right handed.
(this might be different if you are left handed )
The guy I work for and with now is a "lefty".
My previous employer was a "lefty"
Most of the equipment is made for right handed people and I sometimes wonder what it's like to have to use equipment that is made for "righties" when you are a "lefty".

 

[Steve Beswick]

I was so used to using my Keeton Kutter back in the Stone Age and other cutters that didn't have an arm lifter that I just never used it when I used a cutter that had it.
I just would lift the arm with my left hand, slide the mat in with my right hand and cut.
I'm right handed.
(this might be different if you are left handed )
The guy I work for and with now is a "lefty".
My previous employer was a "lefty"
Most of the equipment is made for right handed people and I sometimes wonder what it's like to have to use equipment that is made for "righties" when you are a "lefty".

It depends how left handed you are. I’m left handed as far as writing is concerned, but I did better with a right strung guitar, and have learned to use several right-hand specific things, such as scissors, without real difficulty. But if the tool doesn’t try to force me right handed, I tend to use my left.

It’s interesting to think about using screwdrivers, because even though I can grip them equally well in either hand, if I use one in my left hand I’m twisting my wrist/arm in the opposite direction of a right handed person.