ragged edges

[New Albany Framer]

I recently purchased a used Fletcher-Terry 2100 Matt cutter. I'm getting ragged edges on my cuts. I suspected it was the blades, so I changed blades to no improvement. Could there be anything else besides the blades causing a ragged edge? Could I possibly have a bad batch of blades?

 

[Framar]

There have been recent problems with various matboards - some Crescent rags and also some Bainbridge ragboards have been leaving raggedy edges, no matter what kind of blade or how new it is.

220 sandpaper is your friend for smoothing these edges. Alphamats and Selects seem somewhat less likely to have this problem - the boards are harder, more compressed.

If you do a search you can find a lot of threads about this problem in the last couple of years.

 

[Larry Peterson]

220 sandpaper is your friend for smoothing these edges. Alphamats and Selects seem somewhat less likely to have this problem - the boards are harder, more compressed.

I find that an emery board also works well

 

[Jeff Rodier]

Do you have a slip sheet in place under the mat being cut. You must also move the slip sheet slightly each stroke to be sure there is a stiff surface where the blade is cutting.

 

[Susan May]

Most ragged edges will be fixed with the use of sharp blades, and a slip sheet. Also, check the moisture level in your shop. Moisture can make a mat cut wierd, and leave ragged edges.

A book making bone can smooth edges, as can an emory board. But always check the blade and slip sheet first.