Mini review of Keencut's Evolution3 Smartfold 84" print and substrate cutter

[dgberg]

I have several new clients ordering larger prints mounted to gatorboard. I could not find anyone that has used this cutter or one like it to cut gatorboard so I elected to purchase one and try it for myself.

The Keencut folks said they have no gatorboard in the UK and have never tested it. I am here to tell you the cut on my first tests cutting 3/16" gator with Fine Art Baryta was absolutely perfect. It took two medium passes with the standard blade cutter. I also did a cut on 3/16" foam core and one pass and done. The unit comes with a dual head for cutting in opposite directions. Push the cutter down and cut right to left. Push the left cutter down and cut left to right. Pretty slick. I purchased the optional rotary cutter for photo and matte papers, PhotoTex, canvas and banner material, it cuts them all. I don't have it mounted yet but this is the Smartfold unit which flips down and makes most of your work surface available again. The levers on the right and left open just about and inch if you have thick material to cut. When using the rotary cutter there is a built in cutting strip that you can adjust directly under the rotary cutter for a perfect cut every time. For resizing 4x8' sheets into usable blanks we use our Keencut Steeltrack.
 For ten years I have used a 36" Rototrim and a 41" Blue Ruler with utility knife for trimming. This is a huge step up in cutting capabilities especially if you do large posters banners and large pano prints. Manufactured in the UK the build and finish is as good as it gets. With addl. cutter $2900

[Richard.Wills]

Nice machine - I'm still on a Mk1 with a big bench, and wish I had the hover and one sided lift.

How's the rotary cutter with materials like Platine or HPR?

[dgberg]

I have only tried it with Hahnemuhle Baryta 325gsm and canvas. One simple pass with both and a perfect cut. One of the big reasons I purchased this unit was for the replaceable cutting strip. It has 4 cutting strip positions. When you wear out one you move to the next. When you wear out all 4 you just order a new blue strip. All of the other Keencut models require you to insert a cutting mat below your photo before cutting. That just doesn't work if you have a 6 foot print and a 4 foot mat.

[Richard.Wills]

That is a nice feature.
Any chipping on the coating on the baryta? I run a lot of Presige Baryta which is pretty well behaved with a fresh scalpel blade, but sods law will have a slight chip come out of a dark area (a few clients insist on full bleed). I'm guessing that the rotary cutter doesn't exhibit the micro dragging that a pointy blade can

Are you seeing any signs of the (I'm assuming silicon strips) under the clamping top bar?

Sorry to bombard with questions - not often I get to quiz someone who is using many of the same materials and kit.

[dgberg]

I was concerned about the strips leaving marks but so far none,
The gator I trimmed with the print attached was cut with the blade and the edge was very good. Just slightly pushed up but I burnished it down perfectly.

[dpirazzi]

Thanks for posting this. Seems like it duplicates what your steeltrack provides?

I've been shopping for a used steeltrack for gator but this looks better.

thx, Dave

[dgberg]

The SteelTrack is for rough cutting to size. Breaking down sheets to mountable sizes with two excellent measuring devices with a hard clamping device.
The new cutter has two silicone gripping devices that will hold prints and prints mounted to substrates without damaging them.

[Ryan Mack]

What are you using to press mount such large prints onto the gatorboard?

[dgberg]

Those prints were mounted to the gatorboard that had mounting adhesive attached. Smoothed it down by hand then ran it through our Seal Base 62" laminator.
When we mount canvas to gator we use Miracle Muck a repositionable wet adhesive.