Georg R. Baumann
Inactive
Greetings,
I consider buying a 40x60 from http://www.speed-mat.com/
Anyone around here using it? Pros/Cons?
I consider buying a 40x60 from http://www.speed-mat.com/
Anyone around here using it? Pros/Cons?
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40" x 60" Mat Cutter
- Thread starter Georg R. Baumann
- Start date
Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Georg,
Which one are you considering? I see only lease prices! Did you get any prices? There are no prices I found on the website. Any on eBay and if you get a used one will they refurbish the knife unit?
Which one are you considering? I see only lease prices! Did you get any prices? There are no prices I found on the website. Any on eBay and if you get a used one will they refurbish the knife unit?
Georg R. Baumann
Inactive
I send you a PM
Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Georg,
Cutting matts or buying them? A big question as the matte can cost much more than it costs to print the image! Read this rant! This is a good opportunity to educate people as to why one should own one's matte cutter. What re the cost balances? What different features need to be considered? How did you arrive at this make?
I do love the capability to mount the huge matte cutter on the wall. That space saving idea really makes this a practical idea for those with more limited studio space. Still, one can get precut or custom cut mattes.
How do people do this?
Asher
Cutting matts or buying them? A big question as the matte can cost much more than it costs to print the image! Read this rant! This is a good opportunity to educate people as to why one should own one's matte cutter. What re the cost balances? What different features need to be considered? How did you arrive at this make?
I do love the capability to mount the huge matte cutter on the wall. That space saving idea really makes this a practical idea for those with more limited studio space. Still, one can get precut or custom cut mattes.
How do people do this?
Asher
Georg R. Baumann
Inactive
Yes Asher, this is crucial to me to have a best of breed, reliable and flexible system.
Prices vary, I would say from anything around 2K for starters to 4K depending on what you want, pneumatic etc. (Euros) and of course the computerised version (slurp), but this is out of my investment radar for year one.
I am considering the advanced 40"x60"version, that would enable me to cut ovals, circles etc as well.
For europe you have to calculate considerable shipping costs on top.
Prices vary, I would say from anything around 2K for starters to 4K depending on what you want, pneumatic etc. (Euros) and of course the computerised version (slurp), but this is out of my investment radar for year one.
I am considering the advanced 40"x60"version, that would enable me to cut ovals, circles etc as well.
For europe you have to calculate considerable shipping costs on top.
Georg R. Baumann
Inactive
<grins> LL fine art printing tutorial for 35 dollars.
Well, for me it is simple, I like being in control of quality and material, let aside flexibility. I can cut board, mat, and even glass if I wish to do so, but I intend to use a UV resistant antiglare material called acrylics instead of glass.
Georg R. Baumann
Inactive
Just off the phone with them, here is one more information I was interested to learn about, the pneumatic, compressor driven version.
For me it is crucial that I can achieve the highest precision, and I was wondering whether I can get the same quality by cutting manually, and in deed it is the same, however, the pneumatic version is more considered for really high volume output.
So for my needs, I am going with the "Schwarzenegger Version" <grins>
For me it is crucial that I can achieve the highest precision, and I was wondering whether I can get the same quality by cutting manually, and in deed it is the same, however, the pneumatic version is more considered for really high volume output.
So for my needs, I am going with the "Schwarzenegger Version" <grins>
Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Are you saying the model you are choosing (which you have not specified) cuts glass? Hmm!
asher
asher
Georg R. Baumann
Inactive
yup, esterly advanced 40"x60"
Cuts glas up to 1/4" thickness
http://www.speed-mat.com/mat-cutter-advanced-specs.html
You like it?
Cuts glas up to 1/4" thickness
http://www.speed-mat.com/mat-cutter-advanced-specs.html
You like it?
Jack_Flesher
New member
I have one of the manual 40x60 Easterly's Georg, and it is terrific. Single or double, even triple mats are a breeze and line up perfectly. Set once and cut as many as you need, all four sides at once The pneumatic is possibly an advantage if you cut mats in a shop all day long, but I can manage about a dozen perfect double-mats (16x24) per hour using the all manual version. And yes, they also inlude a straight-edge cutter that cuts straight, 90 degree edges on glass or plastic and of course trim all your mat and backing board to perfect rectangular dimension.
Cheers,
The pneumatic is possibly an advantage if you cut mats in a shop all day long, but I can manage about a dozen perfect double-mats (16x24) per hour using the all manual version. And yes, they also inlude a straight-edge cutter that cuts straight, 90 degree edges on glass or plastic and of course trim all your mat and backing board to perfect rectangular dimension. Cheers,
Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Hi Jack,
Glad you can share your experience. Some more details: the model you are using? Are they available on eBay? What's the need to get the cutting unit serviced?
Also what are your choices/methods for
Thanks again,
Asher
Glad you can share your experience. Some more details: the model you are using? Are they available on eBay? What's the need to get the cutting unit serviced?
Also what are your choices/methods for
- sprays to prints/canvas?
- framing?
- prints longer than 40"x60"?
Thanks again,
Asher
Jack_Flesher
New member
Hi Asher:
1) I don't know if they're available on eBay, I bought mine about 12 years ago direct from the Easterly company.
2) I have never needed any service on this unit (this is an industrial tool and very well built and robust). I'm sure replacement parts are available form Easterly, even upgrades are available. For example, I can buy a pneumatic head if I desire.
3) I had two different sprays I liked for canvas, but frankly don't print on it any more: Bulldog is the one I remember and I believe the other was Krylon Acrylic Marine Varnish, guaranteed not to yellow.
4) I frame mostly with metal channel frames, and usually a simple profile and usually satin black color. With the exception of glazing, I order all of my framing, matting and mounting supplies from "United mfrs Supplies Inc". For glass and plexiglass, I pick them up locally at a glass shop or Tap Plastics.
5) I have never framed a paper print larger than 40x60. (And let me add mounting prints over 24x36 is very much harder than doing a 16x24!) If I did, I would consider canvas and stretch mount on an appropriate stretcher frame. The other option would be to spray mount it to a piece of aluminum or vinyl sheeting and hang it unframed. For this, I would need at least two and preferably three assistants to aid me in doing it correctly. Another common solution is to print a large image as a tryptic and mount it in three separate frames.
Cheers,
Last edited:
Georg R. Baumann
Inactive
I have one of the manual 40x60 Easterly's Georg, and it is terrific. Single or double, even triple mats are a breeze and line up perfectly. Set once and cut as many as you need, all four sides at once
Cheers,
Heeey
Excellent!! Thanks for churning in here, I am excited about that speed mat, and have not seen anything else comparable. delivery is a bit of a bummer to europe, then again, I want a really good one.
Thanks Jack!
Georg R. Baumann
Inactive
Speaking to Matt Boutet of Speedmat he mentioned that to be a service mostly for people who bought used units, to refurbish the knife head in their shop. Sounds like you could snap one up used once in a while on ebay or the likes.
http://www.lyson.com/fineart/product_details.asp?id=14
DIY or for example: http://www.americanframe.com/
Paul Caldwell
New member
Canvas Spraying
A few more thoughts,
Canvas brands, to consider, Breathing color and Lexjet, I would stay away from the Epson brands. Breathing color currently has only a matte canvas, however Bill Atkinson has prepared a very good profile for this canvas for the Photo K3 inkset. Lexjet has a glossy and matte version, it's in their Sunset line. I helped prepare the profile for the glossy canvas for the K3 photo inkset and so far it has seemed to work fine.
Spraying, if you print canvas, you will need to spray it mainly for protection from handling, but also UV and fading. The two products that I seem to get the most consideration, are Clearstar and Glamour II. Both are water based and both have glossy, and semi-glossy versions. The Clearstar you need for Canvas is the Type C, either glossy or semi-glossy. I would recommend you use a HLVP sprayer, Wagner makes a nice one, that doesn't require a compressor. I spray before I stretch.
I prepare the print for Gallery wrapping, where the image will continue around the sides. I have an action that stretches the outside 2" of the image and then allows for the wrap. There are a ton of other ways to do this, but so far I like the results of the action. Depending on the size, I go with a 1" to 1 3/4" border.
I prefer to do a 40" x 60" on canvas. This is a size that is just easier to work with in Canvas. By the time you add a matt/frame and acrylic you have a big piece of art to handle. I wouldn't use glass due the weight and danger of breakage. 40 x 60 prints require special matting as the largest mat board I know of is 40 x 60. Most times you will see a junction style matting where a piece is put in the center to cover the gap. Note, on the 44" printer if you are going to Gallery wrap, you will need to make the print 38 x 60 to allow for the wrap.
One other note, it's a know issue that Epson's large printers have a problem on the set vertical width of the print. Example, if you print a 30 x 40, where the 30" is going the width of the paper, then you most likely will get a 29.75" x 40" print. I picked up a solution of adding 0.1875 to the vertical before I make the print, only to the vertical height. This at least gets you enough material to stretch.
As for mat cutters, I still use a Fletcher 2200 and 3000. The 2200 will do a nice job but it is very critical on the material being as square as possible. I purchased the 3000 used and it's not perfectly squared, I finally gave up on that. I need to purchased a entire new head for it sometime. I like the 3000 for cutting, both glass and mats. SpeedMat is a nice solution, but at the time I made the purchased the 3200.00 price point was too high (cutter and shipping). But it does allow you to handle all the operations that the 2200 and 3000 do in one machine.
There are just some observations from my work with Canvas.
Paul Caldwell
A few more thoughts,
Canvas brands, to consider, Breathing color and Lexjet, I would stay away from the Epson brands. Breathing color currently has only a matte canvas, however Bill Atkinson has prepared a very good profile for this canvas for the Photo K3 inkset. Lexjet has a glossy and matte version, it's in their Sunset line. I helped prepare the profile for the glossy canvas for the K3 photo inkset and so far it has seemed to work fine.
Spraying, if you print canvas, you will need to spray it mainly for protection from handling, but also UV and fading. The two products that I seem to get the most consideration, are Clearstar and Glamour II. Both are water based and both have glossy, and semi-glossy versions. The Clearstar you need for Canvas is the Type C, either glossy or semi-glossy. I would recommend you use a HLVP sprayer, Wagner makes a nice one, that doesn't require a compressor. I spray before I stretch.
I prepare the print for Gallery wrapping, where the image will continue around the sides. I have an action that stretches the outside 2" of the image and then allows for the wrap. There are a ton of other ways to do this, but so far I like the results of the action. Depending on the size, I go with a 1" to 1 3/4" border.
I prefer to do a 40" x 60" on canvas. This is a size that is just easier to work with in Canvas. By the time you add a matt/frame and acrylic you have a big piece of art to handle. I wouldn't use glass due the weight and danger of breakage. 40 x 60 prints require special matting as the largest mat board I know of is 40 x 60. Most times you will see a junction style matting where a piece is put in the center to cover the gap. Note, on the 44" printer if you are going to Gallery wrap, you will need to make the print 38 x 60 to allow for the wrap.
One other note, it's a know issue that Epson's large printers have a problem on the set vertical width of the print. Example, if you print a 30 x 40, where the 30" is going the width of the paper, then you most likely will get a 29.75" x 40" print. I picked up a solution of adding 0.1875 to the vertical before I make the print, only to the vertical height. This at least gets you enough material to stretch.
As for mat cutters, I still use a Fletcher 2200 and 3000. The 2200 will do a nice job but it is very critical on the material being as square as possible. I purchased the 3000 used and it's not perfectly squared, I finally gave up on that. I need to purchased a entire new head for it sometime. I like the 3000 for cutting, both glass and mats. SpeedMat is a nice solution, but at the time I made the purchased the 3200.00 price point was too high (cutter and shipping). But it does allow you to handle all the operations that the 2200 and 3000 do in one machine.
There are just some observations from my work with Canvas.
Paul Caldwell
Georg R. Baumann
Inactive
....and very usefull observations in deed!
Thanks for sharing Paul!
Thanks for sharing Paul!