Logan Mat Cutting Kit, Multicolor

While it's good value for the price, as a newbie, I find it difficult to get good results because this set doesn't have a backer board to stabilize the ruler and mat. Although the ruler has a pretty good non-slip bottom, the mat wasn't staying firmly enough in place for me and it's tougher to square up than the Classic.For $70, I picked up the Compact Classic 301-1 at a local "hobby" store and find it far easier to get good setup and cut results.The straight mat knife is harder to line up with the ruler than a regular box cutter. I won't use it anymore because it's fiddly to get the blade positioned and it doesn't ride on the ruler rail. Trying to guide it on the edge of the ruler is inaccurate, at best. Spend the money for a Logan straight cutter.I could see an experienced framer using the Team combo onsite at a craft fair because it's compact and its box has a carrying handle.The things I liked about the Team combo are the long and accurate ruler with the extremely handy guide rail, the really good bevel cutter that rides in the rail, the excellent 63-page mat cutting booklet, and the ten colored mat samples. (Neither the book nor the mats are included with the Compact Classic 301-1.)The Team combo does NOT include a slip sheet, so you'll need to cut one before you begin bevel cuts. The included sample mats are too small to use as slip sheets with anything larger than an 8x10" finished mat.I missed the return date, so I'll gift it to my local craft club and keep the Classic that I'm getting pretty good at using.

I'm used to a much larger permanently mounted cutter system so I was expecting a hard time from this much smaller kit. It's just a ruler and cutter actually. But, no, it was great. The ruler doesn't move around and the cutter slides easily in its track. Yes, you need to practice. Yes, you need to set the blade depth by trial and error. Yes, you need another sacrificial piece of mat board underneath the mat to keep from tearing the paper surface. Yes you should work on still yet another sheet of clean cardboard to protect the surface of the table you're working on and to keep clean the mat you're cutting.You can't be in a hurry and some physical force is needed to hold down the ruler, though it's got two rubber strips to help with that. Now here's the secret. Change the blade frequently. Make a deal with yourself. Decide what's more important the cost of a blade or the cost of a mat and your time and effort.The kit I bought was the least expensive because they had removed the small packet of blades that come in the kit. I had to buy a packet of blades anyway to make it useable. I was so pleased with the results that I bought a set of 50 blades which should last me the rest of my life (I'm 77).I cut so many mats that I ran out of frames which prompted me to try clear thin plastic bags for my 16x20 mats. It's a good combination.

Last Christmas I made some grosgrain ribbon mats for some small silver frames. I had to cut the mat board with an X-acto knife, and it was really difficult because I had to use a lot of pressure and make repeated cuts. I bought the Logan cutter because I wanted to make some more, and also to frame some other things. I've always felt like I can do framing just as well as (sometimes better than) the people we pay to do it. I was really dismayed after reading the Logan instruction manual because it specifically says to use your right hand. I'm left-handed, so I experimented with the mat knife, but even that is designed only to be used with your right hand. I am somewhat ambidextrous, and always use scissors with my right hand, so I figured it would just add to the learning curve. In order to make the grosgrain mats they don't need a bevel cut, so I tried using just the mat knife, with okay results. It takes a lot of patience to line everything up perfectly, and some of my first attempts were a little crooked, but the blades are very, very sharp and cut well. I then tried to cut a 5x7 mat with a 3x5 opening for a small frame, using the bevel cutter. It's also made only for right-handed use, but you push it instead of pull. As you can see from the picture, this was my first attempt and it went really well. When I cut the opening, the corners had about a 1/16 inch section that didn't cut through, but I used the mat knife to carefully cut them so the center came out. I'm very pleased. I was especially excited they include a set of ten 8x10 mats in different colors and textures. You're supposed to use them for practice and as "slip sheets" under the mats you're cutting, but I'll probably use all them, except the blue, for small frames. You also get some fun gold decals from Chartpak to dress up your mats. I had some trouble turning the screw in the bevel cutter that controls the blade depth, but I used a screwdriver and pliers to take it out and added a little machine oil to make it easy to turn. Also, the blades can be flipped over so that you get twice the use out of them.

The Logan 525 is a nice system. However, the item pictured shows cutter blades being included. As delivered, no blades. Ordered blades separately. System works as advertised.

I created an awesome picture gallery with this tool. The kit is super easy to use, just make sure to change the blades often to achieve the best results. If you like framing projects this kit is ideal!!! Very professional results.

The kit has everything you need for cutting mount boards. even has some small mount boards of a selection of colurs.But if baying from the USA, you have to pay Import VAT of about £6.64 and a Clearance Fee of about £8. This is only payable if postage is not included in the price you pay.

Works fine with the included samples, but does not cut well when I used mats from Michaels.

This item comes from America! Expect a bill of import tax at your door on arrival!

Professional finish and easy to use. You have to change your blade after most use for better results.