Do you cut your own mats? (Page 3): I do on occasion but it is a bit of a pain. PS I just sharpen the blade.. no reason to replace it all the time. Takes a few swipes on the whetstone...

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

I do on occasion but it is a bit of a pain.
PS
I just sharpen the blade.. no reason to replace it all the time.
Takes a few swipes on the whetstone and it's like new.

rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.

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?

I use a Logan that I got from Hobby Lobby for around $60.00 (at 40% off). I buy the mat board from them also when it's on sale. Takes me about 20 minutes to cut a mat for a 13x19 print. You can get a higher end model to make fancier cuts.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

I use a Logan I bought around $100 at Michael’s.
I used to be in the picture framing business so I know how to cut the mats. I can cut my own mats and fit them into standard frames I get on sale, also at Michael’s.
It’s especially convenient for me because I prefer horizontal format on many of my pictures and it’s tough to find everything that fits my images off the shelf.
BTW, there are good mat cutting apps to take the headache out of calculating the cuts.

ltatko

Too many good suppliers of quality and cheap mats. Use Google to find!!

LenT

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

ltatko wrote:

Too many good suppliers of quality and cheap mats. Use Google to find!!

LenT

That's true...if you use standard sizes. I make the image the way I want it, then cut the mat and frame to fit. To me, that makes more sense than making the image fit the frame.

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

I go to ac moore for frames basic black inexpensive and no mat

elee950021 Loc: New York, NY

bleirer wrote:

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

I've used the original Dexter mat cutter for many decades and cut many hundreds of mats when I still had my custom photo lab, here in NYC. The Dexter is still available on eBay for what it originally cost or less! It takes a little bit of practice but you can save $$ as well as cut non-standard size openings and use colored and special types of boards. If you cut large mats, say a 20x24 with an 11x14 or a 16x20 opening, you get the center piece of the board as well for another image!

The board is clamped to a larger drawing board with a smaller piece of waste board between to keep the clamps from marring the board. The mat's opening has been first penciled in (using a t-square) on the back of the board with the opening, 3/8" smaller than the dimensions of the print. 4 cuts are then made. Use sharp blades or you might get a snag while you cut. As I mentioned earlier, you should practice before your final cuts. Cheers and best wishes for Thanksgiving. Ed

cytafex Loc: Clarksburg MA

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?

I use a Dexter Mat Cutter and T Square. Once you get the hang of it it's simple and precise. At one point I was given a device that ran on tracks but it was a pain to use and the mats weren't as good as with the Dexter and I gave it away.

TreborLow

I use a Logan 450-1 for about 7 years. I like to make my images sized for the image and so custom mats are really needed. I also invested in a meter-stick instead a yard stick. Makes calculating the frame a whole lot easier in mm rather than inches. Picked up the cutter at Michaels with one of their sale coupons. Had a Dexter many years ago, and never got the corners just right! Very easy with the Logan. A little pin temporally extends into the back of the mat to hold the place as the cutter blade is started (no slippage). Guide marks help in the start and stop places. Finally, when doing more than one of the same size, stop-blocks make repeated cuts VERY easy. Instructional videos are available at the web site.
Have fun!
Bob

RLSprouse Loc: Encinitas CA (near Sandy Eggo)

I bought the Alto's system many years ago, and made some very fancy mats with it. I don't know if they are still being made.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

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?

I have a Logan matte cutter but I never can get neat corners. I gave up.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

Linda From Maine wrote:

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.

Ditto.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

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?

I did when I was young and strong. Today, little coordination neither. Tried a Dexter in school back in 1978-80. I was bad at it. I understand the process, but execution...

Today I buy pre-cut mats when I can find them. Usually 11x14" with 8x10" or 8x12" openings. I crop my images to all sorts of ratios so I often have to shell out large $$$ for custom professionally cut and framed work. When I can find a mat I do the framing myself. There are a few mail order places that sell all sorts of weird mat sizes and cut opening as normal stock but I have not ordered from any of those yet. Also roller wheel type paper cutter are best but beyond my budget so at home I have to struggle with a guillotine type cutter, or use scissors. I often have to cut InkJet 13x17 or 13x19 paper down to 11x14. My standard size "pic" for home is framed to 11x14" as I have little space here for huge prints on my walls. For photo school I've printed up to 20x24", more often large up to 16x20".

Mike1017

Logan is good but don't buy the cheep mat cutter spend the money and get the better one I have been using Logan for many years I have 3 of them. Mike

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Sidwalkadtronomy wrote:

I go to ac moore for frames basic black inexpensive and no mat

AC Moore just folded all their stores.