Cutting mountboard without marking it?

[arcon5]

So.. is there a special technique?

I've tried washing my hands prior but everytime I cut it, seem to get marks on it. Its very frustrating!

[easypopsgcf]

What sort of marks?..........Oily?.....maybe wash your mountcutter as well as your hands ..........and change your cutting mat for a clean one too

[sim.on]

It's easy to mark very dark mountboard with 'shiny' scuff lines for want of a better description. I've saved many a mount by wiping a slightly damp cloth quickly over the affected area and letting it dry. It's also handy to have a (white) pencil rubber to hand for light boards. You could always wear cotton gloves!

[arcon5]

The marks are scuff lines and surface marks (hard to explain). I've even layered a sheet of foam under it to protect it from the surface but keep getting marks. Lights and ivory end up looking grubby!

Maybe i'm just mis-handling it and need to wear gloves as mentioned for when moving it about.

[easypopsgcf]

I'm guessing you mean its the face of the board thats getting marked during the cutting of the window?.........If so the board should be face down on the cutting mat, never coming into direct contact with the base of the mountcutter...........you do use a cutting mat don't you?

[arcon5]

I was using a sheet of MDF lined with plastic stuff.

I think i'm mishandling it. Taking more care now and seems to be a bit better.

I did though yesterday buy a rubber cutting mat.... but when using a 45o blade to punch out the aparture it either: never cut through the mount properly OR when it did cut through the mount proprly the rubber was forcing the blade to go of course.... anybody has this problem?

[framemaker]

My first question would be what type of mountcutter are you using? I can't work out if you are getting the marks when you cut the boards to size or when you cut the aperture.

Use a piece of mountboard as a cutting mat.

[easypopsgcf]

I did though yesterday buy a rubber cutting mat

I think you need to get yourself a wee training course as its obvious you have little in the way of framing knowledge

[arcon5]

It's when cutting apartures thats causing problems.

I think you need to get yourself a wee training course as its obvious you have little in the way of framing knowledge

I agree! I'm hoping to at some point but i'm sooo busy at the moment.

I've been primarily framing canvas' so really trying to learn photo framing at the moment using trial & error - which will probably cost me alot more than a course anyway

[prospero]

What type of mountcutter are you using?

You might be better off investing in a better one rather than spending the same amount on training.


btw. Green cutting mats can leave green marks on card when they are new. They get worn in eventually, but it's a good idea to give a new one a good clean with glass cleaner until no green stuff comes off.

[ceebdub]

I had some marks on some black core black card, Sims suggestion of a damp cloth works a treat, thanks !

[Dave]

Whereabouts in lincolnshire are you?

Dave

[easypopsgcf]

This thread is a year and a half old btw

[Dave]

Doh!

[easypopsgcf]

He might still be about