Hi Gang,
I need to bite the bullet and buy some basics. ( this is a good thing)
Any recommendations as to supplier/manufacturer/mode etc. on shears? A Corner punch and a beveler?

Thank you

Chuck,

I only have experience with Accu-Cutter products. I have a 12" plastic shear, metal shear, and corner rounder. They have served my well over the past five years. I'd buy them all over again.

There is another shop in town that uses two Maxi-Presses for corners and holes, with two of them, that tells me they must have been happy with the first.

Ditto what David said.

I have an old Accu-Cutter 12" shear that I bought used. It cost me about $150 on eBay. It's a workhorse.

I also bought a corner-rounder and hole punch (Accu-Cutter). I don't use them much, but my first order of serial plates paid for the punch and the rounder/hole tools.

I have Accu-Cutter's from Ability Plastics also. One for plastic, one for metal. They work fine.

I use the 3-In-1 Maxi Press from Main trophy. It is a very fine piece of equipment. I bought one of the other corner rounders first, a toy in comparison.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

Harvey's Tips Page When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

Chuck,

I think Accu Cutter makes a "hybrid" shear blade that allows for metal and plastic cutting. I knew a person who had one and unless I was missing something, it did a decent job on metal, but a mediocre job on plastic.

If you don't want to buy two shears (recommended, if you have enough volume of both substrates) you can buy a plastic blade and switch blades, back and forth, as necessary.

Just remember which blade is attached. Cutting metal with a plastic blade isn't recommended at all!

Don't ask me how I know. >.< 

Accu Cutter makes an 18" version of their table top model, which may be a consideration, to enable you to cut oversized plates. You'll be one of the very few in your area, or the industry as a whole, with that capability.

I like the 3-in-1 Maxi Press, as a means of notching, rounding and punching holes in plates. I was trying to hold out for a used one, but got tired of waiting.

Nobody gets rid of them. :-) 

James,
Are you satisfied with the 3 in 1?

I have a Maxi Press and 2 Accu-Cutter shears, one for plastic and 1 for metal. The combo blades are okay, but a plastic shear is MUCH better because the blade is razor sharp.

I also have Accu-Cutter corner punches and that's the only way to go. If you need something other than a 1/4" cove corner you just put in the new cutter and you have a 1/2" or whatever including some of the fancy corners. The cutters cost a little, but they go a LONG time before they need resharpening.

Chuck,

Yes I am. I like the adjustablility that is built in to it. I also like that when I change from the cornering table to the edge table (for punching holes in the side of a plate) and then switch back I will just need to fine tune it if any adjustment is needed at all as the adjustment screws are spring loaded and independent of the screws that lock the table in place.