LoganSimplex Classic 40 Inch Mat Cutter

It takes a few minutes to set up. Make sure you have a good back and space for it. In the short time we've had the product, it has seen a lot of work - making the guy who was using a utility knife before really happy. This is a really good product. It's heavy and really stable, and the precision cuts are pretty close to effortless.

Put it to work right away with a limited edition of 500 mats. Did a relatively good job. Blades are rather poor quality and lack the stiffness to prevent occasional wandering. Dull quickly. Guide system works well and once set up seems to stay square. I worry about the bottom rail possibly breaking at the gap, seems very weak there. But still performed well.

There is a learning curve of course, plan on ruining a few mat boards learning. If you don't already know how to do mat cutting buy a couple of books on framing and matting. I've now done about a dozen framed photos for our house and saved a lot over what the pro framing shops will charge. Understand that it is a labor-intensive process and that is why it is expensive to have it done. I'm now at the point where my wife says something has to come down before I can put up anything new. Something about "not wanting to live in an art gallery". Grouch.They do include a basic book and instructional CD that is helpful but it is just the very basics.

I love this mat cutter it is very accurate and easy to use

.I really should have checked all of the settings that can be and should be checked and changed. Nothing came ready to use in that the cutter depth was far too shallow and just barely cut through standard 4 ply mat board and left uncut areas. The squaring bar was not square and adjusting it was a challenge but eventually I got it adjusted. I'd like to see the guide rail made with a weighty material. Adding a piece of angle iron the length of the guide rail or a clamp down method has crossed my mind to help with a straighter cut as two hands seems to be one short. On my first mat cut which I had to re-cut areas, not an easy chore if you ever have to do this. Blade cutting depth set is critical here. I still don't understand how the slip sheet can show a partial cut line and also a partial cut through the mat (skipped areas). When I first started the cut it looked like it was set up properly but then gaps in the cut were obvious both in the slip sheet and mat. Re-cuts were required that produced a less than great mat. This is when I increased the cut depth beyond the recommended 1/8 inch and the cut looks better. Also a friend pointed out to use the production stops to control the start and stop points to control the corners better however over or undercuts were not so much of a problem. Also possibly more pressure is required on the guide rail to make a straighter cut. My first mat had a curve on one of the long cuts.

Purchased for my husband and he loves this!! Much easier to use with a professional end result than other mat cutters he has owned. Buying custom cut mat boards is expensive, so this will soon pay for itself with the number of projects he frames.

This is a piece of crap. I was better at cutting mats with a simple hand cutter and a ruler. I should have bought a used professional cutter from a frame shop reseller. It would have cost a little more, but I would have had something I could continue to use. Cutting just a 20 mats damaged the surface enough that I didn't feel comfortable returning it. Perhaps I should have anyway...

I bought this mat cutter to save money on framing a few diplomas that were odd sizes. It is hard to get an extremely precise cut, but if you use a bone folder on any overcuts, it looks fine. Great tool for moderate personal use.