Astrobirder
Grumbler in Training
Hello all,
I'm a newbie here and a newbie to cutting mats. I've been researching mat cutters for WAY to long, and think I have it narrowed down to two choices, but wanted your much more experienced opinions before I make the plunge. I've read almost every thread on this board about choosing a mat cutter and they've helped, but I notice that most of those threads are 2 or more years old, hence my decision to repost this familiar newbie topic!
First, a bit about the application. I'm not looking to open a framing store, but do have about 50 mats to cut right now, with more anticipated each year. I'm an advanced hobby photographer and my wife is a fine artist, so we have many photos and artwork to mat. Most of these works are smaller than 16"x20". Several of my photos and my wife's artworks are not standard sizes, so the interior mat cuts need to be custom. I'll also need to cut down foam core and mat board to size, so having one machine that does both would be a plus. I don't think I'm going to make my own frames at this time, but am considering cutting my own glass.
The two choices I'm considering: a new Alto 4590, which I saw demoed a year ago at a hobby show, or a used Fletcher 2100/2200.
I understand the "chevy vs. ford" issues in preferences, but the one thing I notice was that almost no one mentions Alto cutters here, and the 4590 in particular only has 1 mention. Does no one in the professional ranks use the 4590 or are the other choices just that much better?
I've seen the demo movies of Esterly, and they look nice, but they are beyond my budget (<$1000). Phaedra appears to have recently gone out of business. I haven't looked a lot at C&H, other than to read the opinions expressed here in other threads. The low end Logans that I've been able to examine don't appear to be particularly rugged. The engineer in me would LOVE a CMC, but that's just not reasonable for my limited application--and I can take my CMC needs to a local frame shop for the times I need that capability (they have a Wizard 5000).
So, what are the opinions of those here in 2010? Fletcher? Alto? or something I haven't considered?
Thank you in advance for your time and opinion!
--
I'm a newbie here and a newbie to cutting mats. I've been researching mat cutters for WAY to long, and think I have it narrowed down to two choices, but wanted your much more experienced opinions before I make the plunge. I've read almost every thread on this board about choosing a mat cutter and they've helped, but I notice that most of those threads are 2 or more years old, hence my decision to repost this familiar newbie topic!
First, a bit about the application. I'm not looking to open a framing store, but do have about 50 mats to cut right now, with more anticipated each year. I'm an advanced hobby photographer and my wife is a fine artist, so we have many photos and artwork to mat. Most of these works are smaller than 16"x20". Several of my photos and my wife's artworks are not standard sizes, so the interior mat cuts need to be custom. I'll also need to cut down foam core and mat board to size, so having one machine that does both would be a plus. I don't think I'm going to make my own frames at this time, but am considering cutting my own glass.
The two choices I'm considering: a new Alto 4590, which I saw demoed a year ago at a hobby show, or a used Fletcher 2100/2200.
I understand the "chevy vs. ford" issues in preferences, but the one thing I notice was that almost no one mentions Alto cutters here, and the 4590 in particular only has 1 mention. Does no one in the professional ranks use the 4590 or are the other choices just that much better?
I've seen the demo movies of Esterly, and they look nice, but they are beyond my budget (<$1000). Phaedra appears to have recently gone out of business. I haven't looked a lot at C&H, other than to read the opinions expressed here in other threads. The low end Logans that I've been able to examine don't appear to be particularly rugged. The engineer in me would LOVE a CMC, but that's just not reasonable for my limited application--and I can take my CMC needs to a local frame shop for the times I need that capability (they have a Wizard 5000).
So, what are the opinions of those here in 2010? Fletcher? Alto? or something I haven't considered?
Thank you in advance for your time and opinion!
--
..........Got a NEW(as in sealed in box) one for $734. Chunk of change, but half the usual cost.Stops were in the box as well! Paid for it with one painting I sold a week later.Course you could get a good used matcutter from a # of manufacturers from 
in 1986. I needed a larger matcutter so i purchased a 60" C&H 1996. I use both and they still work like a charm. I use the 40" the most and thoroughly clean it every week... the 60" about once a month.
