Digital BW, The Print

>I am thinking about buying some framing equipment.  Any views
re FrameCo equipment?  For 
>example, the 1060B mat cutter vs, say, the Logan Simplex Plus
750 which is much more 
>expensive.  What about joiners and saws.


I hate to give you the bad news, but, there's no cheap way to
do what you want to do and get frameshop quality. You will
need a good chopper (not a chop saw) an underpinner, corner
vises and a quality mat cutter. The Logan PRO mat cutters are
barely adequite. I looked at the frameco stuff and wouldn't
recommend it. If you got around $7500 - $10000 then you can
get professional results without much sweat. If you're just
going to do a few pieces now and then and aren't looking for
frameshop quality then you can get by with a chop saw, brad
nailer, corner vises and a cheap mat cutter. Unless you're
really good with wood, you probably could get better looking
frames at Walmart.

Regards, Walt

http://www.kauaiphotos.biz

I am not up for a C&H mat
>cutter - amortising $1,200 (assuming I pay US prices) would
take a while. I
>am wondering if the Logan or Frameco cutter is for all
practical purposes
>just as good albeit not necessarily as "built to last".  (Not
even many
>frame shops use a computerised cutter.)  I would want to cut
8 ply mats
>comfortably.  

I don't think you're going to cut 8 ply comfortably with what
you're looking at. It's not about "built to last" as much as
accuracy. You might get by with a Logan framers edge. The
other thing that comes to mind is that here in the US most
molding companies will not sell to you unless you have a
storefront type shop. That may be different in you part of the
world. I would check with them before making the investment.

Regards, Walt

http://www.kauaiphotos.biz

I think you and John are right.  I think a good compromise may be to buy
mouldings on a "chop service" basis (ie pre-cut to the right lengths) and
outsource any mat cutting.  Assembly from there should be straight forward.

Surprisingly, or not so surprisingly actually, I can buy custom pre-cut
Nielsen Bainbridge 8 ply rag mats from the US cheaper than I can buy the
uncut boards from UK wholesalers (there are no issues buying from
wholesalers).  Most UK framers don't even offer an 8 ply mat because "it is
so expensive".  Go figure.

Cheers

Steve

> From: Walt Mucha <wkm@...>

> 
> I am not up for a C&H mat
>> cutter - amortising $1,200 (assuming I pay US prices) would
> take a while. I
>> am wondering if the Logan or Frameco cutter is for all
> practical purposes
>> just as good albeit not necessarily as "built to last".  (Not
> even many
>> frame shops use a computerised cutter.)  I would want to cut
> 8 ply mats
>> comfortably.  
> 
> I don't think you're going to cut 8 ply comfortably with what
> you're looking at. It's not about "built to last" as much as
> accuracy. You might get by with a Logan framers edge. The
> other thing that comes to mind is that here in the US most
> molding companies will not sell to you unless you have a
> storefront type shop. That may be different in you part of the
> world. I would check with them before making the investment.
> 
> Regards, Walt
> 
> http://www.kauaiphotos.biz