used mat cutter wanted

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Looking to buy a used mat cutter, C & H or Keeton 40" cutter with double head and all squaring attachments. I used to have a frame shop many years ago but now am adding a gallery to my retail gift shop. Would like to do my own matting. contact Kathy@accentsunlimitedinc.com
 
C&H and Keeton are great machines, but don't limit your purchase to what you have used in the past. There are good 48" Fletcher and C&H cutters for sale in this section of the forum. I would buy a Fletcher 2100 or 2200 before I would buy an antique C&H 40. I'd also look at the C&H 40Pro's. Those are great machines too. And you'll be able to learn to use either newer model really quickly. Easier than using the old C&H40, and easier to get a replacement part for the new ones, if god forbid the highly unlikely ever happens and you need a new part. (Only can think of the wooden base getting wet and warped, Fletcher's have a metal base)
 
Since Bob mentioned it, I have a Fletcher 2100, 48" mat cutter for sale. $350.00 plus shipping if you might be interested. Call or pm me. Ph.# 859-253-3885 Mike
 
mike said:
Since Bob mentioned it, I have a Fletcher 2100, 48" mat cutter for sale. $350.00 plus shipping if you might be interested. Call or pm me. Ph.# 859-253-3885 Mike
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Mike, I sent you a PM in case accents is not interested.
 
Bob Doyle said:
$350 for a 2100 is a great price, I hope Accents doesn't let it slip by...
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Funny enough, I just logged on here to ask if $350 for a Fletcher 2100 was a fair price or not...thanks for unintentionally answering my question.

I do have some questions concerning this machine. For starters, I'm a newbie just starting out hoping framing will become a profitable hobby one day. I have a cheap hobby mat cutter and I already see it's limitations. My questions are:

Does the Fletcher 2100 have any limitations?
Should I just save my money and eventually upgrade to a newer cutter?
What should I be aware of when using the 2100 (alignment issues etc.)?

Thanks in advance!
 
Not much difference between the 2100 and the 2200. The "limitations" with the 2100 that I can foresee is the length of the base if you do a lot of multi-opening mats. The nice thing about the Fletchers over the C&H is that since the base is metal you can buy an extension base as an add-on down the road. To get a longer base for the C&H you have to buy a complete replacement base.

I prefer to use a wall cutter to cut the square blanks for mat cutting. I have never even set up the squaring arm on the Fletcher and quickly took it off the C&H. Make a platform for the mats to rest on extending off the back of the fletcher. I made a table for the fletcher to sit in. Make sure your cutting table you set your mat cutter on is solid and level (that can go for your cheap mat cutter as well).

Use a slip sheet religiously and change your blades before you think you need to.

You'll get great advice here but be willing to wait a day after posting your questions. You can get sage advice from every time zone here so be patient :)
 
Thanks for the tips. I'm doing a 6 hour round trip to pick up the Fletcher 2100 tomorrow morning. :)
 
Good luck with the mat cutter. i am surprised others hadn't chimed in. If you have any questions using the 2100 just post them here. You'll get a lot of help and good tips...
 
Bob Doyle said:
Good luck with the mat cutter. i am surprised others hadn't chimed in. If you have any questions using the 2100 just post them here. You'll get a lot of help and good tips...
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And check out the manuals page - link in my signature line below - for the manual if you don't have one.
 
I have an old C&H 40" but it never came with a squaring arm and I couldn't locate one. If interested let me know.
Thanks!
 
Larry Peterson said:
And check out the manuals page - link in my signature line below - for the manual if you don't have one.
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Yeah, the lady selling it didn't have the manual. Thanks for the link!

Definitely needs a good cleaning and probably some setup/calibrating. Can't wait to start practicing some v-grooves.
 
accents said:
Looking to buy a used mat cutter, C & H or Keeton 40" cutter with double head and all squaring attachments. I used to have a frame shop many years ago but now am adding a gallery to my retail gift shop. Would like to do my own matting. contact Kathy@accentsunlimitedinc.com
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I have a 40" Keeton in very good shape, and it does have the double head with knobs and the T gauge. I even have a custom made wood cover for it. Where are you located?

 
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