Logan Graphic 424-1 Team System Plus Mat Cutting Kit

I haven’t done matting since college so I was a little rusty the first time using this. But I have to say it was extremely simple to use with a little but of brushing up research. Get some good clamps to keep the mat board from sliding and use napkins to keep the clamps from digging into your mat board. I also clamped the straight edge to my table for extra security while cutting and that helped a lot. A scrap piece of board to put underneath where you’ll be making your cuts so you don’t slice your work surface like I did. I’m going to use a quilting mat next time. I also had to make my own marks on the front and back of the bevel so I can tell exactly where the blade will begin to puncture the board and where I should stop. The line on the bevel tool is not always accurate depending on the thickness of the board. My marks are for standard thickness. Getting clean corners is just something I’ll have to practice in future. All in all, this did the job and will save me and my clients a ton of money. Getting it professionally matted can cost twice as much as just buying one of these and spending time learning how to use it properly. I’ll update when it breaks down so we have an idea of longevity but I’m honestly not concerned about that at all.

A brilliant professional quality mat cutter. If you mount your own images then the Logan Graphic system plus mat cutting kit is invaluable.

I took some artwork to be framed at Michaels Craft Store and they gave me an estimate that made me cringe. So, I decided to try framing the pieces myself. I bought some cheaper frames and since the size of my pieces were a bit odd, I would need to custom cut the mats. After doing some research, I found this mat cutter and decided to go for it. The process was very easy to learn and the most difficult part was keeping the mat and cutting board straight as I moved the blade across the mat. Once I got the hang of using the mat cutter, my artwork came out looking great and the mats were cut very straight and professional looking. I am very happy with this purchase, as I was able to frame the three pieces for about $50 each with frames and mats, compared to about $100 each if I went with Michaels Craft Store.

I bought this while preparing for my solo show to frame watercolor pieces. At first, I thought it was a bit pricey for what it was, but after using it—and with a little practice—I found it worked perfectly and showed excellent craftsmanship. In the end, it saved me a lot of trouble and money.

UPDATE 6/2 - I returned this item. I gave it another go and my thumb was on fire and then went numb again for a couple of hours. No can do... Original review - I'm so tempted to return this item, but I think I'll keep it just for the fact that it's a sturdy ruler. That's the only reason why I would keep it because the cutting process is sooooo difficult to do. I always come away with a numb thumb and the last time, my thumb stayed numb for 3 hours! Also, it's very hard to determine where to stop and start, no matter how much pre-taping and measuring you do. This will be a long process to get to where I feel I'm proficient with this contraption. For a framing designer/manufacturer, I'm surprised that this item is so non-functional.

As other buyers have mentioned, this tool can be a little difficult to use. I'm finally at the point where I can get near-professional results, but it has taken a good amount of practice (and wasted mat boards). The written instructions are not detailed enough, and the online video tutorial took some time to find. It would be great if the box had a QR code on in that would take you directly to the tutorial. Be sure to put a second mat board under the one you are cutting as instructed in order to ensure a clean cut without tearing. I thought thick non-corrugated cardboard would suffice, but it is not hard/dense enough. Overall, I'm pleased with this product. The blades seem to last a while without getting dull--I've cut dozens of mats and the first blade is still going strong. It's not perfect, but I'm glad that I went with this budget option over something twice as expensive that takes up a lot more space.

I have started a small art business and I sometimes need to cut a mat or resize a purchased mat, and this works great! Maybe the big set ups would be a little easier, but for the space and money of this, it's fantastic! I love it and it works great. You can control how deep the blade cuts, which I didn't even realize. The directions don't actually give you all the great benefits of the product. Read the reviews. They are the best information and were very helpful when I was making my decision on what to purchase. We don't all have a lot of money to spare these days, and getting something that functions and is easy to use, are priceless. Thanks to everyone who has submitted quality reviews. Much appreciated! Great product!

Excelente !!

This is perfect for my purposes. I can mat all the artwork I have collected with ease. I agree with others’ recommendations to get clamps to hold the straight edge in place. This helps. I wish I had been able to buy the complete kit, but this is a great start.

Have managed to do several excellent mounts but it does require strength to use and best for right handlers. There is nothing in the instructions to tell you to adjust the cutting depth - with the screw marked in photo. After adjusting the cutting depth so it only cuts through the mount and a piece of normal paper (80gsm) it is much easier to use. It has also been possible to recut mounts as long as you put some scrap in the old cutout to support the cutter. All in all well worth having despite the minor problems.

La graduation de la règle est en mesures impériales ce qui rend son usage peu pratique. En France, nous utilisons le système métrique que je sache ! Du coup il faut jongler avec deux règles.

Good

Written instructions are not very clear but if you search youtube you will find a great instruction video showing everything step by step. No learning curve when you watch the video. This does the same job as $3000 bevel cutting tools, works wonders for DIY framing. I love it!