The Framers Forum

I'm currently getting good results with a steel straight edge & a hand held, Logan cutter. I'm considering moving on to something a little more sophisticated but it's hard to determine the pros & cons and the benefits or pitfalls of the products available when viewing in a brochure.
Can anyone recommend a mid range (£400 - £700), robust, user-friendly mount cutter?
Many thanks, Helen

This is a question that comes up quite often. The answer is if you are getting reasonable results from your Logan and a steel edge, stick with it until you can afford a Keencut. They are superb bits of of kit and worth every penny. Finding something in you current price range although possible would probably be a false economy in the long run. Just my opinion of course...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2600885115


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https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3145108329


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If you are happy with second hand equipment, i can highly recommend the Keencut Ultimate Gold.

It was the one i jumped too from my 'hobby' level equipment. Picked mine up a couple of years ago at £400 which was very reasonable. No idea what a 'good' price would be in todays market.

Thank you all for the wise words & advice. Have taken it all onboard ie. - wait for the best, take a look at ebay and accept pre-owned.
The result is the ebay purchase of the Keencut Ultimate Futura 48" in new condition for £770 and what's more, only 9 miles down the road from home.
Have just been out to collect it - what an outcome - obviously meant to be!

That was great Helen as it is not the sort of thing you would want to be couriered.

I have the same one and after sorting out the correct blades that the previous owner was not using it works fantastic.

If you have any problems the technical man Andy at keencut is very patient and helpful

Was that Ashford Kent or Middlesex? if kent you are not far from me in Birchington

Paul

Hello Paul - yes, Ashford Kent and I know Thanet very well.
Many thanks for the e-bay link - it was listed after the last time I looked so I would, otherwise have missed it!

Hi Just wondering, what would be the wrong blade for a Keencut? I have the Ultimat Futura and use the Keencut double sided blades. I was told that I may get better results with the single sided blades. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

I can't advise on this from experience because I only got my Futura yesterday & haven't had a chance to play with it yet.
However, I've printed out the user instructions from the Keencut website and section 3.2 has a whole page about blade selection which is very informative. The previous owner of mine said he used the TECH S blades with it - S standing for "single" ground edge & on the strength of that I dropped into Wessex today and bought some.
The page in the instruction manual states - "If you require sample blades please contact Keencut direct and a small quantity will be sent F.O.C." and I intend to do just that.
Helen.

You want the tech s .012 for general mount cutting


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Thank you for the advice

These are excellent but dear
https://www.lionpic.co.uk/p/33287/Lion- ... 100-pieces

Ed209 wrote:You want the tech s .012 for general mount cutting

s blades are a single chisel edge and you can only cut on one side. I prefer the d knife edge blades as you can use both sides of the blades which means twice as many cuts per blade

I do use the chisel edge blades when cutting thicker board as I find they can prevent hooking. I have the Ultimat Gold.

A good idea, as you say, to order some free sample blades from Keencut... get some of each and see what you prefer for different makes and thickness of board. Chisel and knife edge blades come in two thicknesses.

When setting up a mount cutter for the first time:

1. Get it square
2. Set margin guide
3. Set blade depth just nice
4. Adjust start and stop positions so you just get a wee wee over cut. This way you will get a clean fall out and satisfying first windows. Under cuts will produce tear out of the corners and are not satisfying. If the over cuts show, make small adjustments until they don't.

Happy cutting on your Futura

The Lion Enduro blades mentioned by ED209 are not really all the expensive when you consider the fact that they will last and keep their edge for 10 to 20 times longer than normal blades. I still need to find mine after moving premises, but they are what I prefer to use.