Onyx 90 vs just about any other cutter??

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Sarah Winchester

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
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Nov 6, 2004
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After reading the article on multi-media cutters in PFM, I want one? Looked at the ad for the Onyx 90, called Framing Supplies and talked to a very helpful and knowledgeable lady. She favored the Onyx 90 over the C&H BG6100. Also the Onyx 90 is made in the USA. Anybody got one? Like it, love it or not?? Thanks for any help?
 
I don't have one, I have not seen one....however...

Think about what you do with a wall cutter. Cut boards down to size, cut glass, acrylic, maybe masonite. Almost always, the cuts you make with it are not seen - hidden by the frame.

And so, it:

Needs to be square
Needs to cut well and fast
Needs to last a long time

Fletcher and C&H models are established. They are easy to get square, cut well and fast, and will last nearly forever if you take care of them. You can get parts, and you can buy them used.

The onyx is black and shiny and certainly cool looking. But if it costs more than a Fletcher or C&H and does the same work, you are paying extra for black and shiny, and you potentially risk not being able to repair it ten years down the line.
 
Let me come back and modify my previous reply. I just looked the Onyx up and the price is less than the Fletcher. I think then you need to evaluate not only the machine, but also the manufacturer and determine if you will be able to find parts, buy blades, etc. 5-10-15 years down the road.

Case and point...My wife and I bought a Senseo a year ago. Costco no longer carries the coffee packs...now my grocery store has stopped carrying more than just the dark roast. 1-3 years from now, our Senseo will appear at a garage sale because it is no longer supported by the manufacturer or the market.
 
It's hard to beat Fletcher's wall cutters. They're simple, reliable, and last forever.
 
Cheaper isn't better.

Stick with the companies who have been around since the beginning.

Pay a little more and get ALOT more.

Same goes with buying Chinese Morso knockoffs.
 
We are a framers only picture framing forum
I bought and am using the Onyx 90. While I don't have any experience with any of the other brands, I am completely delighted with my purchase. It was easy to assemble, squared up easily, and cuts like a dream. The parts seem to be fairly standard so even if the mfg. eliminates support of the machine, I don't think I'll have a problem with repairs.
 
Onyx 90 vs C&H BG 6100

I'm doing more research and I appreciate the input so far. The Onyx 90 and the C&H BG6100 are approx. the same price. I am trying to compare features. Considering that I'm using an old Fletcher Terry manual cutter to square board and such, and an old Red Devil glass cutter;
It's older than I am and built like a tank, and about as big as one., I like the idea of one machine cutting everything. It's important to be able to cut at line of sight, in other words,to be able to cut exactly at the edge of a photo that's mounted on foamboard, and get a clean cut. Can both machines do that?
And do I want to keep changing heads, like on the Onyx; or is it better to cut board on the left side and glass on the right side, like the C & H??
 
2 things to consider...

If price is about the same go with the fletcher. You will be getting a proven workhorse compared to a newcomer without a track record. Parts are very easy to get for the fletcher. (not that you will need any for a LONG time)

Also, the lady that handled my order on the phone from framingsupplies.com was very nice until they tried to switch prices and told me the internet prices are wrong and wanted to charge me much more. They also renegged (sp?) on an agreement to purchase other items. (and I dealt directly with the owner Bill on that deal, yes the one mentioned in the article) If you can't trust the owner of a company, where will you turn if the machine breaks down?

Fletcher 6100 does everything the onyx does, better!

Bob
 
My Onyx is extremely easy to change heads. It takes about 1 second to do it. It cuts very cleanly. I'm a little concerned with the measurement on their scale...seems to be off 1/16th or less, but of course that could be that I need to find my glasses (can't ever remember where I put them). I'm surely have no ties to the people who make the Onyx, but I'm enjoying mine ALOT. But again, I've had not experience with the others either. My Onyx is pretty much all stainless steel, extruded aluminum. The only black on it is the clamping bar and cutter head. It works very smoothly and for the price difference between the Fletcher and this one, I thought I certainly owed it to myself to give it a try. They had a 30 day return policy when I bought mine. Don't know if that's still in effect or not.

Good luck with your choice, whatever it is.
 
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More information

Been doing some research, and thought I'd better tell what I need. I trim alot of photos after they have been mounted on foam board, so need "line of sight" ???. I want to see where the blade is going to cut. They tell me the Fletcher's round rails are in the way and the blade entry point can't be seen.
Often I want to trim foamboard to the edge of the mat, and I may have a double or triple mat, so the cutting 'head' needs to be depth adjustable. Then often I want to just barely cut through the release paper on QuickSTick, so I can peel a section out to mount something. Can any of the new machines do that?
And cutting glass, my old Red Devil has a very nice lever operated breaker bar to snap the glass. The C&H doesn't seem to have that. Does the Onyx?
I can do everything I need with my old machines. Adequately but not perfect. I thought getting one new machine would free up some floor space. But now I am totally confused.
And then someone just emailed me that a KeenCut Excalibur will do everything I need!
OH, and both the C&H and the Onyx are American made, and I like that too.
Pleeesse help??
 
Sarah....I haven't found the Onyx blade to be adjustable in depth. I think you either cut completely through or just score glass/acrylic. It does have a clean line of sight so you can see exactly where you're going to cut. The Onyx does have a lever on the handle to break the acrylic, but I haven't seen anywhere they say you can use it on glass. I guess I've never even considered trying it. usually after you've scored the glass, it seperates very easily either on the cutter or on my table. It's never been a problem. I'm very happy with my Onyx, but again I have no experience with any of the others, so maybe my opinion isn't worth much. I can just tell you that I researched a lot of different wall cutters and I'm happy with my decision. But of I would have probably been happy with the others too. Being made in the USA was one of my top considerations too.

Good luck with your decision
 
I purchased a used Fletcher 3000 and my experience has been:

  • Resquared it when I installed it four years ago, and forget it!
  • Except for replacing blades there isn't much to go wrong.
  • I did purchase some new bushings (they were only a couple of bucks, just to have on hand ) but I haven't had the need to replace them.
  • As far as line of sight cutting. Keep in mind that I am 6', but I have no trouble sighting where the blade is going to enter the board, even with the 2 tubes on either side. ( there's probably 3-4" inbetween those tubes )
  • Occasionaly I will put a 3/16" foamboard back in the machine with a layer or two of mat board and it can still cut that thickness
  • I score just the release paper on perfect mount board all of the time. Although there is not a depth adjuster to the blade (which would be a pain IMO) you adjust the depth easily just by the pressure you apply to the handle with your thumb.
This type of equipment IMO isn't has important to buy new (as things with electric motors or pneumatic parts might be ) keep your eyes out for a good used wall cutter close by.
 
Hoffmann Dovetail Joining System
Sarah Winchester said:
Still looking at multi-media cutters. The price has dropped $300 on the Onyx! What does that mean???
Click to expand...

I need a new upright cutter - this 60" C&H is wearing out and new parts dont seem to be available (am I wrong?). The $300 cut means that I can afford to pay the $424 shipping bill. A new Fletcher for me is out of the ballpark at $2700 when the Onyx is $1123. For that price difference I'm willing to put up with less than perfect, but on the other hand it just may be perfect!
:beer:
And now I'm off to our Arts Council Spring Art Show and Sale - their main event of the year and more of a wine event than a beer event.

Mike
 
It mean's that I'm ticked that I paid $200 too much!!!! It still like it very much though. It does everything I need it to do and the people are nice to work with.
 
We used to have a CH and now have an Onyx. I think the price difference between Onyx and any other brand is pretty significant. When we first set our Onyx up we were thrilled-it seemed like we didn't need to use as much pressure to cut through materials as when we used the CH. Our machine is also off about 1/16th so I was interested to hear that someone else has that problem. I am not the squaring person but I'm pretty sure she didn't just cop out when she was doing the installation. About 10 months in I am pretty badly out of square and just recently noticed that my mat cutting blade seems to be "swinging" through cuts...as in it enters the mat at one point and then seems to be pushed to the side. My squaring person is now VERY part time so I haven't had it looked at yet but our old CH was never square, either. I had it reinstalled no less than 3 times and adjusted endlessly and we could never get it square.
 
I had heard about this cutter for sometime. I have always used Fletcher and been happy with them. I saw an Onyx 90 yesterday during my travels. It seems pretty easy to use. It is a beefy machine, seems like it would be strong and hold up over time. I also heard the price comparison from my customer. I was shocked. I know if I was in the position to but I would definitely have this on my list. Try to find someone close to do a test drive and see if you like it. I was impressed.
 
onyx 90

I read the same article and purchased a 90. I had a little trouble getting it square when I first put it together, but nmow that I know how to do it, it works great. Plus the price was right, I got on sale for under $700
 
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