This cutter is actually better than I expected. The next bigger size would be a little more effortless to use because of the larger squaring bar but this cutter will cut matts up to its max capacity no problem. The first matt I cut with it was 24x36 with only an inch and a half border and it came out perfect the first try and i have never used a matt cutter before.

This will do most of your home framing relatively easily. Overall this is a pretty nice mat cutter and you can realize savings if you do a lot of framing yourself.
What I like about it:
Pretty simple operation, made a nearly perfect mat on my first try after watching the instructional DVD (included).
What I dislike about it:
The squaring bar doesn't go all the way across the bottom which makes it difficult to make minor corrections. For example, I needed to trim off a half inch and it was difficult to get a straight cut without being able to secure it.
The other issue is the right hand measuring bar, it could have been on a hinge and fold out to accommodate larger boards rather than the current design which only goes to 20".

First, this is an excellent mat cutter and at around $200 it is an incredible value. It is large enough to handle 32x40 mat boards (4-ply) and foam core (either 1/8" or 3/16") with mat borders up to about 6". This should be enough for framing needs for artwork up to 20x30 in size. I regularly cut mats for 16x20 and 16x24 prints, sometimes using a common 22x28 frame, and sometimes custom sizing to 20x24 and 20x28 respectively. This mat cutter can do this work with few hassles, and it very quickly paid for itself. A mat cut at 22x28 at a frame shop will run me around $35. Whole mat board costs less than half that. So this was a good decision.

That being said, it is not perfect, it has quirks, and you will need practice. It is not the "junk" that a few people on here claim it to be, and none of its quirks are deal-breakers. It can square a mat just fine. It can make straight cuts just fine. It just means that you need to spend more money if you want to be more efficient, and that you SHOULD spend money if you are going to be doing a LOT of framing. But this mat cutter has everything you need to do single-opening cuts in a 4-ply mat and do it well. Still, you will be more efficient with the 750-1 and it only costs $100 more. A lot more efficient, so you should seriously consider what your time is worth and if you have the budget, you will want to step up.

The pros:

* great price
* handles 4-ply mat boards up to 32x40
* handles 1/8" and 3/16" foam board
* has production stops for bevel cutting
* has a cutting stop/guide for the ruler
* big enough to be easy to use but not too big to manage

The cons:

* The squaring arm is short. I'd say it's too short. You need to be careful when you are squaring a mat or even just aligning an edge because you don't have a lot of length to work with.
* The squaring arm is only on one side. You really need a square on the ruler side as well. You'll have to step up to the 550-1/Simplex Classic to get that, but I'd skip that model and go straight to the 750-1.
* The ruler only goes out to 20", so if you need an edge longer than 20" you have to cut on the opposite side. You might think this is simple math, but mat boards may not be exactly 32"x40". They might be 32-1/8" x 40-3/16". So you need to measure with a tape measure very caefully if you are going to cut your 40" mat to a 28" length because just setting the edge at 12" on the ruler is not necessarily going to be right.
* It's difficult to cut less than 1-1/2" off of a mat or foam board because the straight cutter is designed to "glide" on the surface of the board you are cutting in order to keep it level. If you have to trim less than this from a mat's edge, you'll want to use a slip mat alongside your mat to give your straight cutter an even surface.
* The base is made of MDF. It is flat, but you need to store it flat for it to stay that way. DO NOT STORE IT STANDING UP OR ON ITS SIDE. It must lay flat. Which means: You. Will. Need. Room.

Some advice for how to use this to get good results:

First, expect that you are going to tear up a couple of mats as you are learning your way around it. Just factor that into your costs right now. Practice on some scrap mat board if you have any large pieces, but the best way to learn is to actually cut real mats to the size you need.

When making a straight cut, you need to use a straight, fluid motion with your arm. Stand so your forearm is lined up perfectly with the straight cut line and your upper arm is perpendicular and in-line. Pull your arm straight back in a fluid motion. Step backwards if you have to to make sure you don't rotate your shoulder, arm or upper body. You want the pulling motion to be perfectly straight. Keep pulling and don't slow down until you pull the straight cutter completely off the end of the rails. Do this and you will get super-straight cuts. Maybe a 1/16" variation in a 20" edge, but that is well within tolerance for framing.

Change your blades often. Go ahead and buy the pack of 100 blades RIGHT NOW. You are going to use them. This mat cutter comes with three of four and you will burn through blades quickly. The second key to a straight cut is a sharp blade. Once you start feeling a little resistance, turn the blade around to use the other side. Then once that starts to wear, throw it out and put in a fresh blade. DO NOT SKIMP ON BLADES.

The rails for the bevel cutting guide stick out past the edge of the mat cutter's base. They will scratch up your mat board because they are hard plastic with edges. It's a pain to constantly remove and install them so just leave them in there all the time, and lay a sheet of paper over them (tape it to the mat cutter's base) so that they don't come into direct contact with your mat board.

Don't press hard on the guide rail when making a cut. It's not necessary, and if you press with too much force it will flex. You just need enough force to hold the mat in place. It does not take much. Gentle but firm pressure is sufficient.

Get yourrself a good, metal carpenter's square and a metal rule. Use these to check your mat for square before you make your cuts. Measure twice, cut once, as the old adage goes. It will slow you down but you'll get better results.

Above all else? Practice, practice, practice. Your first few mats will be not-so-great. You'll get better quickly. I promise.

I don't have much to say on this except it rocks. Great cutter, good setup and easy to get things rolling.

Only thing is to be aware that the image in the book will not match the item in regards to the straight cutter. The book makes it look like there is another position click, but there is not. This only matters if cutting thick foam board, but that's what I was cutting. I thought it was a mistake, but it turns out it is not. It will still cut the foam board, it just doesn't look like the picture.

Other than that, it works very well!

For a beginner, this is a great product. Very simple to use and offers the minimum (basic) amount of features to do a good job.

Pros:
+ Simple to use
+ Easy to assemble

Cons:
- A little pricey, even here on Amazon
- Wish more of the tools would be made of metal instead of plastic
- Longer squaring rail (metal bar at the bottom to keep everything aligned) would be nice