The Framers Forum

Cutting circles by hand has driven me mad over the last few days! Sometimes I get a clean looking one but for most part there have been issues with them. All of them seem to get this thinnest extra cut right on the top of the bevelled edge which then needs to be peeled off. I have tried new blades, adjusting my pressure when turning the cutter, changing the mat underneath regularly. I am even thinking of buying a cutting mat to use with the circle cutter. Is there a special technique to using hand circle cutters or is this the nature of the beast? I am aware that alot of people have moved on to CMC, however, this is something I am unlikey to ever need or buy and I dont want to be getting someone else with a cmc cutting my mounts. I am determined to be able to use my fletcher circle cutter and would welcome any suggestions.

When you first start to cut make sure that the blade/cutting head is pointing to the inside of the circle, most of the hand machines have what is known as a trailing cutter, it takes a while for it to follow the right path of a circle / oval. You need to point the cutter towards the centre of the circle, then slowly turn the arm, then after you have done one circuit, the cutter/blade will follow the correct path, you may have to do 3 or 4 circuits to cut all the way through the mount, with each circuit, increase the depth of cut. Again it one of those jobs that has to be taken slow, don't try to rush it. Plus a new sharp blade is always an advantage.
A cutting mat is a worth while investment, for lots of cutting / trimming jobs in a framing workshop.

You can tidy up any slight niggly bits with fine sandpaper. Go steady though........