Xacto Or Mount Cutter

Just wondering if people think it's worth investing in a mount cutter…. until now an Xacto knife and steel ruler have been fine as I've been only mounting a few stamps, but now I'm starting to create my own stamp pages for a USSR collection of around 1800 stamps, so a lot more cutting… am eyeing the Lighthouse mount cutter

*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

I use FISKARS "sure cut" paper trimmer.
Expensive but has lasted me 15 years
(some of the markings have worn off)
Replacable blades

You can cut mounts with the stamp inside.

Definitely a mount cutter. No matter how hard you try, you just cannot maintain a consistent straight line at a 90 deg. angle with a blade and a ruler. I started off as a teenager with a blade and a ruler until I could afford amount cutter when I graduated from university. I very quickly replaced all of the mounts that were done with a blade.

with PM. Always a straight cut and if cutting a bunch of the same size you can adjust the stop at size wanted and bang them out quite quickly.

I use Fiskars as well. Works like a champ.

Which champ, though - Jack Johnson or Primo Carnera?

Thanks everyone- just ordered a Fiskars!

Well done!
A few tips

Just occaisionally, you may miss a stamp. Where is it?
The Fiskars is plastic and static electricity, may just have it under the bottom.

2. The blade, follows a wire trapeze, the blade is double sided,
just pop it out (wide slot at end of runway) Turn it around, and you have a fresh ultra sharp titanium blade.

3. If you like open top mounts, Scott Mounts can be sliced in half lengthwise
to double your mounts for the same price.

4. Hold the clear plastic "holding bar" down when slicing to prevent the long
mount shifting.

5. If you have a wonky end, Fiscars can shave as little as 1-2 mm off one side
if needed.

With definitives, you can load up to 10 stamps in a mount,
adjust lengthwise leaving about 1/8 inch at top and slice off the top.
Then swivel 90 degrees and cut each stamp from the strip
(you need about 1/8th inch between stamps.)

Practice on common stamps first, I have yet to accidentally cut a stamp after 15 years.

I have a chest of drawers on my right hand side
Bottom drawer holds my Fiskars, drawer above holds my mounts

and......... eco friendly 80% recyclable materials used

I NEVER us anything thicker than one sheet of paper, or mounts,
to keep the blade sharp (should last 7 years)

New Blades are expensive $58 AUD for 2 modules (=4 cutting edges)

I use a straight paper cutter from Staples. Works fine for oversized Showgard mounts. Otherwise, I use the regular Showgard cutters for the normal stuff.

Jack Kelley

Jack Dempsey

I've been using the same Showgard mount cutter for 40+ years.

Robert

Likewise, I have been using my Showgard mount cutter since the mid 1980s. I've never tried cutting mounts with my Fiskars and I'm not sure how reliable a small trim would be since you do not have the plastic holding clamp as you would with a proper mount cutter.

Error.
The clear plastic track cutter holds the mount, as you slice.
If you havn't tried it, how can you comment?

As Rod states, the Fiskar's design uses the clear ruler's pressure as a clamp. It is natural and intuitive to use. Thousands of mounts cut to perfection, and I have never had an issue with alignment.

I have been using a Lighthouse cutter for a few years now. It was tricky to assemble if my memory serves me. Nothing else bad to say about it. Still sharp.

To rod222. I can comment because I use my Fiskars for my model railroad hobby. I occasionally need to cut thin clear plastic, similar to mount material, for windows and do not get a consistent clean trim. I need to use my mount cutter instead. So after having that issue, why would I attempt to use the Fiskars for stamp mounts?

It would be really interesting to see a scan of a 1-2mm trim off of a stamp mount done by both a Fiskars and a proper mount cutter.