Challenge Cutter: To Buy or Not to Buy

Can you go actuate it in person? Looks like surface rust to me, but wouldn’t be too hard to clean off.

FWIW, I sold a cutter similar for 400.00 recently- in perfect working order. In NYC. But I don’t know if it’s possible to talk him down. Do you think it would be worth your work to scrape and oil the rust off? You could always chemically de-rust it, if you have a trailer you could bring it to a car-wash to pressure wash the chemical de-rusting solution right off and then oil it back up before more rust appears.

Search for “Evaporust”.

This is a fairly common cutter, but much better than some of the “modern” tabletop models. Certainly worth what the seller is asking, particularly if an extra blade is included in the deal.

A little clean-up and you’ll have a good, heavy duty cutter for small work.

I agree with Haven and jhenry, it’s a nice tabletop cutter and a fair price. The rust should be cleaned off fairly easily, just look for excessive pitting. Make sure that the clamp and arm work smoothly. It will definitely take at least 2 people to move it. 23” is a good size for a tabletop, not large enough for parent sheets but a good compromise.
As far as blades go, 2 should be sufficient, but if they’re at the end of their life it shouldn’t be too hard to find a replacement. Good luck!
Steve

Uh, it’ll take 4 people to move it without tools or any kind of cherry picker/lift etc- if jut using hands and boards to lift it, no mechanical assistance, at least two VERY strong men, I would say, would be a risky endeavor.

It also looks to me like a 19.5” but I could be mistaken. I am looking at the scale of the clamp wheel in comparison to the width of the machine and guessing 19.5”.

This cutter is not so complex a mechanism that taking it apart would be a great burden. If that is the only way it can be transported, go ahead and take it apart. In any case, you would be wise to remove the blade and protect it and your self by housing it in a sturdy wooden support or box.

This is great cutter, once you clean it up. I had one back in the mid-60s. The only thing you have to remember is always bring the arm to the lock position before putting your hand in to get the paper out of the cutter.

Once I didn’t do that and the just before I reached in to get the paper the arm came down and hit me.

It a good cutter and will do a great job for a small shop. Just think safety first!

I did a Google for Challenge Multigraph and saw 23”, I can’t quite read the size on the nameplate in the picture but I think Haven is right about the size. I had a 16” Pavyer tabletop and while a bit heavy my Son and I managed to move it short distances.

Looks like my 19-1/2 cutter. It’s worth the asking price. Some WD40 and steel wool will take care or the surface rust. A good paste wax will remove excess wd40 and provide a slippery surface for the paper to slide on.

The cutter in the picture is the 19” Challenge (19.5” paper width).

I have one just like it, but mine has a stock Challenge nameplate where the one pictured has the Multigraph name - apparently Multi sold these cutters under their own name.

I’ve had my cutter for more than 40 years and it’s never needed any parts, just routine lubrication, occasional wiping down and getting the blades resharpened.

As mentioned above, there is a blade and handle-release latch; make sure it functions correctly.

Michael

http://nickel-plate-press.com

Right, I had a 19.5” that I sold to a buyer in Red Hook Brooklyn.

Sharecropper is right on with the paste wax! I use some paste wax on the bed of my Dexter-Lawson. It does the trick when I don’t wanna turn the air bed on. :humblebrag: