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pike

Grumbler in Training
Joined
Nov 6, 2004
Posts
4
Location
Holland Purmerend
Hi to you all,
(new to this forum, and our business is in Holland)
I am in the market for a new matcutter.
But there is no way I can't comparise different brands. Are there any of you who used different types of machines? My oldone is a keencut ultimat (small model) Now I want to be able to cut larger mats. So I want a bigger model. The best priced in this category is the Fletcher. ( I am talking about table mat cutters bye the way)
Are there framers who would suggest other brands beyond the Fletcher? and please tell me why?
I also want to cut bevels in thicker materials to make shadow boxes.

Kindly mail me suggestions pls
info@snoek-mooierwonen.nl
 
I say "Go with the Fletcher". For my money, the C&H was one of the finest machines made, but they are no longer available. Any one you buy used is likely to be worn out, so I say Fletcher would be the choice. It is well made, and there is a good sized company to stand behind your purchase. But what do I know? I use my Fletcher 2100 as a board cutter for my Wizard...
 
Originally posted by EllenAtHowards:
But what do I know? I use my Fletcher 2100 as a board cutter for my Wizard...
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Maybe it is because I am dutch, what do you mean exactly with this remark? and bye the way, thank you for replying.
(as I understand, C+H is still new available in Holland so if possible I really would like to know why you would choose C+H above Fletcher? C+H is about 500 euro more expensive)
 
I agree with Ellen, Fletcher is the choice.
I have 2 older C&H's and they still work very well, but I do't know about their newer models.

Jack
 
is the larger widht no problem in using the fletcher 2200? some say it is less easy to lift the handle to turn the mat.?
 
I had a C&H, a Logan and - now - a Fletcher. The Fletcher has already outlasted the first two combined and shows no sign of quitting, though I abuse it terribly.

Besides, if you buy the Fletcher, John Ranes will personally come by once-a-week to clean it for you. (A little Appleton humor there.)

Welcome to The Grumble, Pike.
 
In your market I would take a serious look at the VALIANI Astra model straight line mat cutter. The Astra is probably the best engineered and constructed straight line mat cutter available. We have sold hundreds of Fletchers, but the ASTRA is a better constructed and better engineered machine. The VALIANI line is just not that well known in North America, but it is in Europe, and is manufactured in Italy and interestingly Fletcher has a business alliance with Valiani to sell their Mat Pro stand up cutters. Simply pick the phone up Monday and call Nico Valiani at the factory in Italy and he can put you in touch with his distributor in the Netherlands. You can find the phone number at the web site below.

www.valiani.com

Valiani Astra 150

Alan
 
Originally posted by pike:
is the larger widht no problem in using the fletcher 2200? some say it is less easy to lift the handle to turn the mat.?
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Pike,

This function should be exactlly the same on both the F-2100 and the new F-2200. The changes between the two machines, were primarily ergonomic improvements. The weight and functionality of the clamp / handle and size of the base is exactlly the same.

Regards,

John
 
See, John Ranes didn't deny the fact that he would come by once a week to clean it, buy the Fletcher.
 
As a lefty who stands facing the cutter to cut I can tell you that the fletcher has a few drawbacks.(I can't see the right side scale is a big one) I prefer my C+H, perhaps beceause I learned on a Keaton and they are similar. Now that the C+H is waring out I have been looking at a few others and my short list is Valiani and Chronomat. There are none available to try out locally and this has left me holding off, I think a test drive is the best test.
 
again thanks, this forum really is awsome, your replies really can help me.
greetings from holland again
John Rames, I have very nice coffee :)
 
Jerry, to save a few hours each day, John just skips my posts and reads everything else.

I can tell you that, after you've used any cutter for a while, any new one is going to feel awkward - even if it's better.

If you're a brand-new framer, all of them feel awkward.
 
Originally posted by Grumbling Mike:
As a lefty who stands facing the cutter to cut I can tell you that the fletcher has a few drawbacks.(I can't see the right side scale is a big one)......
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Mike,

Go online and order an extra scale from the Fletcher-Terry website. Then just stick this in the equivalent matching channel on the left side of the clamp.
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John
 
Originally posted by Alan Sturgess:
In your market I would take a serious look at the VALIANI Astra model straight line mat cutter. The Astra is probably the best engineered and constructed straight line mat cutter available. ...

Alan
Click to expand...
I would agree with Alan - the Valiani is certainly worth taking a close look!

If we were in the market for a manual matcutter today, the first machine at which we'd look would be the Astra - this even more so, if we lived in Europe!

Having said that, you can't go wrong with Fletcher. It is a truly fine machine; we used it for many years prior to purchasing a (Valiani) CMC, and still use it to slice up strips of paper and fome board.

Oh, and one more (perhaps minor) thing, on a related note:
The Valiani mat cutting blades seem far better quality, and certainly LAST FAR LONGER than any others we've ever used!
 
OK OK what's with the C&H rumour/story? I got one, I love it, personally think it is better than the Fletcher because the head is quieter than the Fletcher, no bearings and all. But that is just personal opinion.
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But they're gone? not being made? What's the scoop folks?
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Thanks for the URL Mike.

We're thinking about replacing our 27 year old 48" next year.

Don't want to rush into anything.
 
Well, I stand corrected! Just because there are no Carritherses (Herb Carrithers was the moving force behind the C+H) that there were no machines; a false assumption. Sorry to start false rumors...
Pike, as to my remarks about using the F2100 as a board cutter, I meant that I use it to trim up matboards before cutting the openings on my Wizard computerized mat cutter. What a waste of a fine machine!
 
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