Featured Anyone cut their own framing mats?

As I go through (very slowly I’m afraid) the prints and paintings I’ve accumulated, some of them need to be remounted in acid-free mat boards. This is somewhat urgent to halt doing further damage on some nice old pieces. I’ve already done this for some of the pieces I have, cutting replacement mats by hand using razor blade and straight edge. And the results are, as predictable, less than professional looking.

If anyone here has bought a semi-professional setup for home use, and can make recommendations on what tools are needed without being overkill, I would appreciate the advice (and I’m sure others would benefit also).

What should I buy?

 

I once had a thing called a Dexter Mat Cutter, from Russell Harrington of Southbridge, Massachusetts, that was a manual tool that would slide over the mat surface holding a fixed utility knife blade at a steady angle. Didn't personally like it, but it got snapped up wen I listed it. The mats I cut, I did manually with a straight edge and holding a utility knife at an angle for a bevel. It worked well enough.

 

Dexter or Logan Mat Cutters are both excellent-once you get the hang of it you can master it.You'll also want UV protective glass and acid free/neutral backing.
With a chop saw you can also make your own frames.You'll prob also want a brad- nailer,and a clean work table....nothing like dandruff on your original Lautrec litho !

 

Former framer, still married to a framer...

Logan is a fine brand for mat cutting. You can buy the hand held type that is cheaper, or the kind that runs on a rail and has stops. The Rail kind is more expensive but much easier to use since it's going to give you the correct angle, depth, straight cut, and has stops so you don't over cut your measurements. Professional framers use this type, but of course much larger. If you have many to cut, go ahead and spend the extra money to have backup blades. Once they dull, they will drag your mats.

 

One thing I remember about the Dexter cutter is that it was contoured for right hand use. I'm left handed and it was very awkward for me.

 

I am in awe of artists who mat and/or frame their own work. I tried once. Just once. Not in my skill set!

 

Ditto on the Logan 'Rail' model.Check Ebay,etc.

 

No wonder the handhelds always gave me catfits. I"m a southpaw too, and even using one backward, i.e. right-handed was wrong.

 

I use a Maped, also got a Jakar picked up from a car boot sale but haven’t tried that one yet. The Maped is pretty good.

 

Thanks, all. When I used the keyword makers you supplied I found no YouTube’s for Dexter, but tons for Logan. And so I just ordered a Logan rail. Nothing fancy, not their pro level, but the built in rail will make it a lot easier.

And yes, I have cut mats in the past with hand held razor blade and that works fine for 90 deg cuts, but it is much harder to get a consistent beveled edge. Hand cut bevels look fine from about three feet away, but not so much close up. Especially if you have perfectionist tendencies (I plead guilty).

 

I have one of those! Once you do it a few times it becomes very easy

 

I used to frame a lot of my own work. I would take classes at our art institute and use their professional mat cutter. It had a long rail and you could easily fit large sheets in it. I have a smaller one I use at home. Make sure to get a frame point shooter, they work great for holding in all your framing materials. Mine is made by Fletcher.

 

I worked as a framer years ago. I have a Fletcher, a Logan and several other pro cutters and a wide range of handhelds that aren't worth using. I prefer the Fletcher. (I bought the inventory of a local frame shop that closed.) Badly cut mats drive me crazy...I remove most and cut my own.