Used Equipment

Which Multi-Media Cutter Should You Purchase?

Wall-mounted glass cutters, (multi-media cutters) will increase your productivity many fold. The problem is, how to evaluate them.

In addition to cutting glass, they may cut Coroplast, foam board, Foamcore, acrylic, Plexiglass and of course, mat board. You have your choice of several machines. How do you choose the right one? Can you go by price alone?

Here is a list of factors you should consider:

Durability: Can you mount the machine on a wall made of concrete or brick? If so, will it corrode the metal over time? Over time, there will be an eroding action between steel and the concrete or brick wall and your attachment to the wall will corrode.

Ergonomics: Many of the older glass cutting machines were designed thirty or more years ago. They are difficult to use because they require you to have a strong thumb to apply pressure on the cutter. This can be a problem if you need to cut acrylic or glass in large volumes. A large volume user will make ten or more cuts per day. Look for a machine that allows you to put force to the cutter with your arm and shoulder. Applying force this way is very easy, and you won’t become fatigued.

Materials: The use of anodized aluminum is today’s way of making a machine that is resistant to wear and corrosion. If the company uses stainless steel, that is a tremendous bonus. Stainless steel will look good over many years of use and won’t gall or scratch under normal use.

One especially important factor to look for is whether there are places where aluminum and steel, or even stainless steel must wear against one another. As you might guess, aluminum is much softer than steel and will wear out quickly in this type of design. Make sure that there are oil-impregnated bearings between the aluminum and steel wear points. That is the only way to be assured that the machine will last.

Speed of tool change: Here’s an example: If you need to cut a mount board, then, a foam board backing, and finally glass or acrylic, you want to be able to make the change to the cutting tool quickly. Machines use several methods of changing the tools. Some employ the use of a turret. The turret will contain the glass cutter, the razor blade and the acrylic cutter. Although this sounds good, it is slow to use. Because of the size of the turret, special compromises had to be made in the design. It is much better to get a machine that can quickly exchange the complete cutting heads.

Delivery: Most glass cutting machines must be delivered by motor freight. Motor freight is two to three times more expensive than FedEx or UPS. Since you, the buyer will be responsible for paying the shipping, be sure to choose a machine that allows FedEx or UPS shipping.

Smoothness of operation: The better machines will use UHMWP in large amounts. UHMWP is Ultra High Molecular Weight Polystyrene. It is a great way to make the metal parts move against each other with hardly any friction. It is self-lubricating and resistant to abrasion and corrosion. Observe whether the UHMWP was properly manufactured for the proper fit. You can do this by feeling whether there is looseness or sloppiness in the fit of the tool cart.

Price: Most people feel that a machine that costs more must be better. Although this may be true in many cases, don’t be fooled. Examine the machine carefully or watch demonstration videos. Just because a machine has been around for thirty or more years, doesn’t mean that it is the best. Computer-aided-design and computer-aided-manufacturing have made it more economical for up to date companies to manufacture a quality product for a much lower price.

About the Author

Rich has been in the custom framing business for over twenty years. He consistently had trouble teaching his framing department employees how to cut glass and acrylic accurately and efficiently. Consider the Onyx 90 media cutter.

2 Inch New Cutting Head Plastic Roll Dispenser Sealing Packaging Parcel Cutter $0.99

Words moulding head w/cutters. $0.99

S Steel Stainless Cigar Cutter Knife Scissor Round Head $0.99

S Steel Stainless Cigar Cutter Knife Scissor Round Head $0.99

S Steel Stainless Cigar Cutter Knife Scissor Round Head $0.99

HRM Turtle Cookie Cutter Snapping Logger Head Box $1.40

Deer Head Cookie Cutter 3.75″ Hunting $1.40

Fleur De Lis Palm Tree Onesie Horse Cookie Cutter MINI $1.45

Horse Head Cookie Cutter for Edible Party Favor 4.25″ $1.49

Horse Head Cookie Cutter 3″ $1.55

WITCH HEAD Plastic COOKIE CUTTER 3 ¼” x 2 ¼” HALLOWEEN $1.58

MOOSE HEAD 4.5″ Metal Cookie Cutter * * RM-90922 * * $1.59

HORSE HEAD 4.5″ Metal Cookie Cutter * * RM-91225 * * $1.59

DEER HEAD 4″ Metal Cookie Cutter * * RM-91377 * * $1.59

Tulip Head Cookie Cutter 3.5″ $1.60

Skull Head Cookie Cutter 3″ Pirate Halloween $1.60

Eagle Hawk Head Cookie Cutter 4.5″ $1.60

R&M DEER HEAD 4″ Metal Cookie Cutter $1.69

R&M MOOSE HEAD 4.5″ Metal Cookie Cutter $1.69

R&M LINCOLN HEAD 3″ Metal Cookie Cutter $1.69

R&M WASHINGTON HEAD 3″ Metal Cookie Cutter $1.69

R&M HORSE HEAD 4.5″ Metal Cookie Cutter $1.69

G I JOE BODY PART 1984 Cutter Head $1.75

G I JOE BODY PART 1984 Cutter Head A $1.75

Moose Head Cookie Cutter 4.5″ $1.80

LINDSTROM 588EI TAPERED ANGLED HEAD SEMI FLUSH CUT CUTTER LIST $65 BRAND NEW NIB $1.82

Horse Head Western Derby Farm Cookie Cutter Supplies $1.90

NEW HORSE HEAD Cookie Cutter Western Equestrain $1.95

DEER HEAD Cookie cutter Hunting Reindeer Christmas $1.95

Red SANTA HEAD Plastic Cookie Cutter 3 x 2 7/8 x 3/8 $1.97

Walt Disney Mickey Minnie Mouse Clubhouse Birthday party Cookie Cutter head ears $1.99

NEW Cartoon Head Shape Nail Care Beauty Cutter Clippers $1.97

New SANTA HEAD Metal COOKIE CUTTER 3″ x 2 3/8″ $1.99

New SANTA HEAD Plastic Cookie Cutter 2 5/8″ x 2″ $1.99

REINDEER OR MOOSE HEAD Cookie cutter Hunting Christmas $2.00

3″ LINCOLN HEAD Cookie Cutter history President 1176 $2.10

3″ WASHINGTON HEAD Cookie Cutter history party 1177 $2.10

4.5″ MOOSE HEAD Cookie Cutters party favors animal 0922 $2.15

3″ Witch Head cookie cutters Halloween party favor 1313 $2.25

Radius Carbide Insert Cutter knife knives fo shaper spiral shelix head 14x14x1.7 $2.49

Witches Head Cookie Cutter, American Qualty Classic Tin $2.50

Horse Head Cookie Cutter American Quality Classic Tin $2.50

Lovely Cat head Cookie Cutter mousse ring Sponge Cake Cutter Chocolate mold $2.54

New Cat Head Shape Biscuit Cake Cookie Cutter Mold Mould $2.59

COOKIE CUTTER – Horse Head $2.60

COOKIE CUTTER – Deer Head $2.75

Cat Head Shape Biscuit Cake Cookie Cutter Mold Mould $2.79

PACIFIC HANDY CUTTER S7 SAFETY BOX CUTTER KNIFE film cutter replacement head $2.90

PACIFIC HANDY CUTTER S5 SAFETY BOX CUTTER KNIFE film cutter replacement head $2.90

EAGLE or Hawk Head Cookie Cutter New SCOUT, MILITARY, football, sports teams $2.95

WILTON Plastic Cookie Cutter RABBIT Bunny HEAD 4 ¼”x3″ $2.97

MOOSE HEAD Cookie Cutter 3.5 inch $2.99

UNUSED Hallmark ? EASTER CHICK HEAD baby chicken barnyard animal COOKIE CUTTER $2.99

SANTA HEAD/FACE METAL/TIN COOKIE CUTTER CUTTERS $3.00

CAT FACE/HEAD METAL/TIN COOKIE CUTTER CUTTERS $3.00

NEW MOOSE HEAD METAL/TIN COOKIE CUTTER CUTTERS $3.00

NEW DEER HEAD BUCK METAL/TIN COOKIE CUTTER CUTTERS $3.00

BUNNY HEAD PLASTIC COMFORT GRIP COOKIE CUTTER. WILTON. $3.29

4 NEW Easter Cookie Cutters Egg, Bunny Head, Rabbit, Duck $3.49

Disney Metal Mickey Mouse Full Head Cookie Cutter with handle – mint! $3.50

wilton cookie cutters,3 different size pink bunny heads(will nest) $3.50

hallmark cookie cutters,plastic detail hatching chic and bunny head $3.50

3 ICING CUTTERS ANIMALS FLOWERS LEAVES 8 DIFFNT DESIGNS $3.55

2 Pcs Small Cutting Tool Replacement Glass Cutter Heads $3.57

2 Pcs Small Cutting Tool Replacement Glass Cutter Heads $3.58

VINTAGE HALLMARK COOKIE CUTTER HALLOWEEN ORANGE CAT HEAD $3.65

VINTAGE HALLMARK COOKIE CUTTER HALLOWEEN ORANGE WITCH HEAD $3.65

TUBING CUTTER WITH METAL HEAD TAIT0328 $3.79

Carbide Cutting Wheel Blade Glass Cutter Heads 2 Pieces $3.93

KLEVER X-CHANGE SAFETY BOX CUTTER KNIFE replacement head GREAT BLADE HEAD $3.95

NIP Brand New VacuVin Salad Head Lettuce Cabbage Cutter Slicer $3.99

4 Hallmark ? EASTER COOKIE CUTTERS egg duck duckling rabbit head bunny UNUSED $3.99

HORSE HEAD COOKIE CUTTER -DMWS- $3.99

ANN CLARK~HORSE HEAD~ tin cookie cutter~MADE IN USA (NEW) $3.99

ANN CLARK~MOOSE HEAD~ tin cookie cutter~MADE IN USA (NEW) $3.99

Wilton Grippy Cookie Cutter Plastic Bunny Head Spring Summer New $3.99

Kawaii Animal Head shape BENTO FOOD CUTTERS – CUTE & NEW! $4.00

Troy-Bilt Brush Cutter Trimmer Attachment Bump Head spring replacement $4.00

2 Pieces Glass Cutting Tool Replacement Cutter Heads $4.05

2 Pcs Small Cutting Tool Replacement Glass Cutter Heads $4.10

DEER, BUCK HEAD, COOKIE CUTTER, METAL, 3.75 INCH. $4.19

Carbide Wheel Blade Glass Cutting Cutter Heads 2 Pieces $4.20

2 Pcs Small Cutting Tool Replacement Glass Cutter Heads $4.22

Carbide Cutting Wheel Blade Glass Cutter Heads 2 Pieces $4.22

Carbide Cutting Wheel Blade Glass Cutter Heads 2 Pieces $4.27

Yellow Handle Tipped Head Cutter Tools for Glasses $4.27

Steel Head Plastic Handle Glass Cutting Cutter Tool $4.30

Replacement Carbide Wheel Glass Cutter Head Blade Black $4.31

2 Pieces Glass Cutting Tool Replacement Cutter Heads $4.35

Carbide Wheel Blade Glass Cutting Cutter Heads 2 Pieces $4.38

Carbide Wheel Blade Glass Cutting Cutter Heads 2 Pieces $4.39

Yellow Handle Tipped Head Cutter Tools for Glasses $4.40

Metal Head Plastic Handle Oil Feed Type Glass Cutter Cutting Tool $4.41

Yellow Handle Tipped Head Cutter Tools for Glasses $4.42

2 Pieces Glass Cutting Tool Replacement Cutter Heads $4.44

Metal Head Plastic Handle Oil Feed Type Glass Cutter Cutting Tool $4.47

Steel Head Plastic Handle Glass Cutting Cutter Tool $4.49

Carbide Cutting Wheel Blade Glass Cutter Heads 2 Pieces $4.49

Steel Head Plastic Handle Glass Cutting Cutter Tool $4.50

Steel Head Plastic Handle Glass Cutting Cutter Tool $4.52