Do you cut your own mats? If you cut your own mats what tools do you use and what is your process? In school many years ago I cut my own, but the photo/art department had an expensive...

bleirer

If you cut your own mats what tools do you use and what is your process?

In school many years ago I cut my own, but the photo/art department had an expensive device that made it easy. Now i see there are mat cutters such as Logan that are not very expensive, are these worthwhile?

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Yes. I've had my Dexter since I was in Junior High, and have a more modern Logan as well. I have always shot a lot of 6x6 negatives, and I like framing and mounting at different aspect ratios. The work is a little fussy, but you can save hundreds of dollars by matting and framing yourself.

Andy

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

bleirer wrote:

If you cut your own mats what tools do you use and what is your process?

In school many years ago I cut my own, but the photo/art department had an expensive device that made it easy. Now i see there are mat cutters such as Logan that are not very expensive, are these worthwhile?

Yes. I use a Logan hand cutter and cork-backed ruler. Works great.

Joe

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

The real answer it depends. When I started I used a Logan. My reject rate was too high. I invested in a C&H mat cutter and never looked back. Those were the days I sold my images at shows and on line.All my mat cutting days are over, and I now buy precut mats.

Studio31

Yes, I have cut my own mats before and in the end decided it wasn't worth the time. If I had a large number of pictures to frame for sale, I would reconsider to save the money. But depends on qty needed.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I used a Logan, but no longer have the patience. Check with arts & crafts stores or other matting/framing places for bargain packages of remnant mat boards.

Paul J. Svetlik Loc: Colorado

Yes, Logan tool works just fine.
Simple and affordable.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Ysarex wrote:

Yes. I use a Logan hand cutter and cork-backed ruler. Works great.

Joe

I find that a heavy 20” plastic straightedge with cork backing keeps my lines tighter than a steel rule. Cheap, and available at many art stores. I also use an 18”x24” graphic cutting mat with grid lines.

Andy

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

I've used a Compact Classic Mat Cutter for decades. Easy to use, accurate, bevel cut mats up to 30 in. outside dimensions. With a little additional felt tip marking on the cutting board, I can cut up to 5 in. mats.

bleirer

artBob wrote:

I've used a Compact Classic Mat Cutter for decades. Easy to use, accurate, bevel cut mats up to 30 in. outside dimensions. With a little additional felt tip marking on the cutting board, I can cut up to 5 in. mats.

That looks like a winner for squaring up the corners and avoiding overcut if this is what you mean. How many times can you reuse a blade?

https://www.amazon.com/Logan-Graphics-Versatile-Portable-301-1/dp/B004J1B0BO?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B004J1B0BO

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

bleirer wrote:

If you cut your own mats what tools do you use and what is your process?

In school many years ago I cut my own, but the photo/art department had an expensive device that made it easy. Now i see there are mat cutters such as Logan that are not very expensive, are these worthwhile?

Yes. I use an earlier version of the Logan Framer's Edge 650 Elite. Not cheap, but fast, accurate, and can cut a 4 ply mat with the longer blades. The production stops really make it fast to cut a whole bunch of mats when I have a show.

bleirer

Gene51 wrote:

Yes. I use an earlier version of the Logan Framer's Edge 650 Elite. Not cheap, but fast, accurate, and can cut a 4 ply mat with the longer blades. The production stops really make it fast to cut a whole bunch of mats when I have a show.

https://www.amazon.com/Logan-Framers-Cutter-Framing-Matting/dp/B005QT5U0K

Now we are talking some real money.

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

bleirer wrote:

That looks like a winner for squaring up the corners and avoiding overcut if this is what you mean. How many times can you reuse a blade?

https://www.amazon.com/Logan-Graphics-Versatile-Portable-301-1/dp/B004J1B0BO?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B004J1B0BO

Not sure. When I feel a drag, I replace. I still have blades from a box I got ten years ago.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

AndyH wrote:

Yes. I've had my Dexter since I was in Junior High, and have a more modern Logan as well. I have always shot a lot of 6x6 negatives, and I like framing and mounting at different aspect ratios. The work is a little fussy, but you can save hundreds of dollars by matting and framing yourself.

Andy

Like you I nearly always need to make a custom mat and frame. I have used the Dexter cutter for nearly four decades.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

I am not a mat cutter.

I leave that to professionals who know not only how to cut a mat but can do the job properly, meaning that everything image, mat frame and environment match. I more than one way they are artists in their own way.